Get To Know Us & Our Surgeons

At Southwest Oral, we are leaders in dental implant technology and the full spectrum of oral and facial surgery, ranging from tooth extractions to corrective jaw surgery to facial reconstructive surgery for facial trauma and pathology.

We are among the only specialists in the dental field qualified to administer deep sedation/ general anesthesia. We are credentialed at St. George Regional Hospital where we provide oral surgery call coverage for the emergency room and facial trauma care for the trauma center. Although we perform most of our surgeries in state of the art operatories in our offices, we also operate at St. George Regional Hospital as necessary to accommodate patients with complex medical and surgical considerations. We also operate at Coral Desert Surgical Center.

Our assistants are DAANCE (Dental Anesthesia Assistant National Certification Exam) Certified, which means they meet national standards in training and testing set forth by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. This certification ensures that our assistants are qualified to provide supportive anesthesia care in a safe and effective manner.

We are proud to offer a cone beam CT (CBCT) machine at our facility. There is a significant financial investment involved in purchasing a CBCT machine, and we have made the choice to invest in this technology for all of our patients. Our CBCT machine is a critical piece of diagnostic equipment for our office. Not only does it provide valuable information about our patient’s oral health, but it also helps us to be more efficient in treatment planning. The technology is state of the art, giving incredible images of the jaws and facial structure, and even nerve patterns. Although it may not look like much, this greatly streamlines our surgeons’ ability to diagnose problems and formulate predictable treatment plans to address those problems, improving outcomes and healing times. Often, doctors refer patients to us for a scan if they do not have one available. Our team is committed to providing excellent service and results, and we want you to know that your care is always our top priority

MEET OUR TEAM

Matthew K. Mizukawa, D.M.D.

A highly-qualified and experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Mizukawa obtained a B.S. in Neuroscience from Brigham Young University and a Doctorate in Dental Medicine from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Mizukawa completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, where he was chosen amongst hundreds of medical and surgical residents as the Best Consultant to the Department of Emergency Medicine for his work in emergency medicine and trauma surgery in 2009. He served in private practice following graduation but soon after took the offered opportunity to return to Vanderbilt to teach in the residency program.

Erik J. Nielsen, D.D.S., M.D.

Erik J. Nielsen, D.D.S., M.D. joined our practice in July 2019 following his residency at
Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. A native of Escondido, California, Dr. Nielsen attended Palomar Junior College and played football before serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Washington, DC. After his mission, he attended Brigham Young University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science. He then received a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. He earned his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 2016 and completed a general surgery internship before enrolling in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery training they offer. Dr. Nielsen is now a partner of Southwest Oral Facial & Implant Surgery as of June 2022. We are so delighted to have him on board.

John H. Mizukawa, D.D.S.

Biography coming soon.

Casee Richmond

Front Office Manager, St. George Office

Amber Hansen

Treatment Coordinator, St. George Office

Amber Carter

Treatment Coordinator, St. George Office

Caitlyn Andersen

Treatment Coordinator, Cedar City Office

Ashlee Putich

Lead Assistant, St. George Office