Shuster Abe DDS

Dr Shuster and staff are the ultimate professionals and just all around great people. My dentist is Dr Smith who is just down the hall and it’s so convenient that they can consult with one another and make sure everything is done just right! I had crown lengthening done for my entire top gum line (8 – 10 teeth) and everything was impeccable. Dr Shuster even called me after the surgery (both times — I had a minor follow up surgery after main one — just to get everything extra perfect) to check on me and answer any questions. But I was perfectly fine, didn’t even take painkillers after the first day. And now I get to enjoy the amazing results while waiting for continuation of my restoration work. Parking in the deck is free with validation from the office and the are lots of yummy places nearby. I like to treat myself to a juice or tea at nearby Ardens garden or sweet hut after my visits sometimes.

I had receding gums so my dentist referred me to Dr. Abe Shuster, an Atlanta periodontist. From what I’ve been told, Dr. Shuster is one of the top periodontists in the state, if not, the country. Originally from Montréal, he’s been in Atlanta since 1979 and used to be the chairman of the periodontics department at Emory. In addition to his practice in Atlanta, he does work with the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. Dr. Shuster has patients that fly in from other states, some even internationally, just because they like him that much.
Dr. Shuster’s office is located on the 7^th floor of the 999 Peachtree building in Midtown, across from the Margaret Mitchell House. It’s the same building where Empire State South is located. The office validates parking.
The staff is great, from Marci at the front desk to the surgical assistants. I was able to speed up my first visit by printing paperwork from the office’s web site and completing it ahead of time.
I was promptly seen at my appointment time for my initial consultation. Kylee checked my vitals, gave me a brief and informative overview of the office’s processes and procedures, and taught me the proper way to brush and floss my teeth. My gums receded for a variety of reasons: genetics/​anatomy, braces, and brushing too hard.
I was then seen by Dr. Shuster. He did a quick inspection of my teeth and gums. This included mobility tests on each tooth. After examination, Dr. Shuster told me the diagnosis and treatment plan. I previously consulted with other dental professionals and did research online, so I generally knew what to expect.
Dr. Shuster did a fine job explaining my gum issue and how to resolve it. He showed me two educational video clips, which he watched with me, that showed how the procedure would be done.
I needed a gingival graft (or «gum graft»). This is where the doctor slices out a piece of strong gum from the roof of the mouth and grafts (transplants) it into the area (s) of gum recession. Dr. Shuster uses cadaver gums, but in my case, he recommended to use my own gum for the graft.
The initial consultation cost $ 155 plus the cost of X-​rays required (about $ 30 per X-​ray). The total cost of my actual treatment, which included a CT scan of the lower and upper jaw to further check structure and nerves, was nearly $ 4,500. It was expensive, but a necessary procedure to help ensure good long-​term dental health and prevent problems from happening in the future. Dr. Shuster’s office accepted my dental insurance and I was also able to save money by using my flexible spending account.
On the day of my surgery, I was promptly seen at my appointment time. Dr. Shuster’s assistant for my operation was Danielle. She was mindful and made me feel at ease. Dr. Shuster grafted my lower anterior (front) gums in front of every tooth except for my two back molars. For such a big site, a lot of healthy donor tissue was needed. Fortunately, my palate gums were ripe for harvesting.
Dr. Shuster sliced out two strips. One was bigger than the other. Dr. Shuster cut the bigger strip into two strips, so he had three strips total to work with. He then cut open my lower anterior gums and grafted the three strips on with sutures. Local anesthesia was used so I was awake during the entire procedure. It was intense.
My entire office visit lasted four hours. Hardly any time was wasted. It was a complicated, major procedure. There was a handful of short «breaks» between anesthesia (numbing) and the various stages of cutting out my gums and grafting/​suturing them. I must have been stuck about 15 – 20 times with needles to inject numbing medicine into my mouth.
I think the suturing process took the most time. There was a lot to stitch! It’s amazing how quick and efficient Dr. Shuster worked. He was confident and I could tell he knew exactly what he was doing. I felt safe in his hands.
The afternoon/​evening after the procedure, I was in pain. Not excruciating pain, but more pain than I anticipated. During the first 24 – 48 hours post-​op, my gums felt «burned,» bruised, sore, tender, sensitive, and uncomfortably tight. I was prescribed painkillers, antibiotics, and an oral rinse. Dr. Shuster called me in the evening to check up on me. I thought that was kind of him.
He gave me his personal mobile number and asked me to call him if I had any questions or concerns. I did that first night at 10pm. I was worried about continued bleeding in my mouth. Dr. Shuster answered my call immediately and was helpful. In general, he and his staff are very nice, accommodating people. During the procedure, they even let me take a photo of my subepithelial connective tissue strips before they were grafted.
Sutures were removed a week later and I had a post-​op cleaning (included) by experienced hygienist Vanessa, who did a marvelous job. Thank you to Dr. Shuster and his staff. They are truly a first-​rate operation. If you ever need periodontic work done, don’t hesitate to give them a call.