Meet Dr. Rasmussen

Tyler Rasmussen, DDS

“My vision has always been to be part of a practice whose main focus is on taking care of people and offering an exceptional experience, rather than obtaining certain production goals. Upon meeting Dr. Cavaretta and observing how he and the outstanding team at Hill Country Oral Surgery were already doing just that, I knew I had found my dream practice”. “Dr. Rasmussen is personable, respectful and treats everyone like he would his own family members. This guiding principle combined with excellent surgical skills and a passion for ongoing learning made him the perfect fit for our ever-expanding practice”, says Dr. Cavaretta.

Dr. Rasmussen had a unique path to becoming a top oral surgeon. Between dental school and his oral surgery residency, he spent two years practicing “real world” clinical dentistry. This along with having four small children and one on the way, truly gives him a ‘360 degree’ view. He brings the different perspectives of father, dentist, and oral surgeon as he approaches problems and patients, and this elevates the care he delivers. For example, he completely empathizes with parents who fear anesthesia and surgery for their children. At the same time, he’s great with kids and knows how to calm the young, scared and possibly, uncooperative child. He also understands the importance of clear communication of the treatment plan with your referring dentist or orthodontist. He is dedicated to not only delivering the best result possible but in the safest, most comfortable way.

 

More about Dr. Rasmussen

Dr. Tyler Rasmussen grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah where much of his time was spent on the ski slopes or in the ice rink. He began his college career at Utah State University where he played division II hockey. During his college years, he served on a two-year service mission in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Upon returning home, he transferred to the University of Utah to complete his degree in medical biology and be closer to a certain girl, Bonnie, that he’d known since seventh grade. He and Bonnie soon married and started a family.

He received an academic scholarship to attend dental school at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska where he graduated Cum Laude. While in dental school he developed a particular interest in oral surgery and went on to complete an internship in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Nashville, Tennessee. He then worked as a practicing dentist for two years before following his passion and going on to complete a residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Western New York.

He and Bonnie are now personal chauffeurs to four children that keep them very busy with friends, sports, school and church activities. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, indoor soccer, and exploring the great outdoors with his family. Tyler and Bonnie feel fortunate to call Austin home and look forward to raising a family here.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
• American Dental Society of Anesthesiology
• Texas Dental Association
• Capital Area Dental Society
• American Dental Association
• Texas Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

A Chat with Dr. Rasmussen

Where did you grow up?

Sandy, Utah. At the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon, which gives easy access to Snowbird and Alta ski resorts.

Tell us about your education and training.

I attended Utah State University for two years where I played Division II ice hockey. Then I transferred to the University of Utah to get closer to the love of my life. I quit playing hockey to focus on my studies.

What is your philosophy at your practice?

Always treat patients and staff like you would treat your own family.

Why did you become an oral surgeon?

As a senior dental student, I witnessed a medical emergency in the student dental clinic. The supervising dentist immediately paged the oral surgeon from another department. The surgeon quickly came and assessed the patient, placed an IV and was able to stabilize the patient until EMS arrived. At that moment I realized that I wanted to be someone that has the advanced skill and training to be able help patients when called upon by my colleague dentists.

What do you like most about being an oral surgeon?

Although it is a challenging career, I love the satisfaction of having a unique skillset that I use to help people in need. Whether it be treating someone at the hospital with facial fractures after a traumatic injury or helping replace a fractured front tooth to proper form and function with a dental implant and tissue grafting, there is never a dull moment.

What methods did you employ to accomplish your goal of becoming a successful oral surgeon?

I married a strong woman, hard work, and perseverance.

What do you like to do in your leisure time when you are not operating or seeing patients?

I love to cycle on long country roads. This is where I spend a lot of time in deep thought.

I spend as much time as I can on the lake with family and friends. This is how I recharge. If Austin had a mountain with snow, I’m sure most of my time would be spent there.

What epiphany did you experience while studying to become a surgeon that led you to choose oral surgery?

I realized that people generally do not like the dentist, and many are scared of you, especially when it comes to surgery. You can have great bedside manner, but many people still only “tolerate” going to the dentist. I found that If you can offer advanced level anesthesia, patients are not scared of you anymore, and most of them will come back and recount how wonderful their surgical experience was.

What setbacks or obstacles did you encounter while pursuing your goals?

With acceptance rates close to 50%, it is very competitive to get accepted into an oral surgery residency program. I decided very late in dental school to pursue oral surgery. Because of this, I had not done certain things that would make me a stronger applicant. I initially did not get accepted into a program, so I worked with an oral surgeon for a couple of years. I then was able to gain acceptance into and go on to complete a surgical residency.

What three words best describe you?

Perfectionist, motivated, joker

What mentors do you currently have, or have you had during your career that made a lasting impact on you?

Many attending dentists and surgeons have helped mentor me over the course of my training. Dr Cavaretta is someone I have known for 5 years and whom I look up to and respect. I feel like he mentors me on almost a daily basis, both in and outside of work life.

How did your journey to become an oral surgeon change you internally?

As you are starting out on the 12+ year educational journey to become a surgeon, it is easy to harbor doubt in yourself and fear of failure. You are placed in many intimidating situations and often feel overwhelmed and overburdened every single day. You have experiences that most people cannot even fathom without having the reference of residency life. At some point along the way, you are transformed into this strong confident person who understands that you have the power to take control of your life and you can do challenging things.

Why do patients choose you as their oral surgeon, and what makes you different and unique?

You get a different feel from the moment you step into our office.  Our practice is centered around patient care, rather than hitting certain production goals, and people will pick up on that. I am not a salesman, nor would I ever want to come off as one. I am a problem solver and a skilled surgeon. People come to me with complex problems, and we have an expert team. You and I will tailor a realistic surgical plan to fit your goals and needs. Often times, it may take several months to achieve our end result, but we are in it together every step of the way.