Dr. Tyson Teeples has always been fascinated with the biological sciences, and he excelled in his high school anatomy and physiology class. It wasn’t until college, however, after reading an article about cleft lip and palate surgery, that Dr. Teeples looked seriously into dentistry and medicine as a career. This article spurred Dr. Teeples to observe a family friend at a local dental office. With this experience, Dr. Teeples knew that dental school was the obvious next step.
While studying for a dental board exam, Dr. Teeples was thumbing through an oral surgery textbook and was fascinated at the before and after pictures of facial trauma injuries. He felt something deep down and knew then that he would pursue a career in oral and maxillofacial surgery. From that point, he never looked back. Observing and participating in facial trauma surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, corrective jaw surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, and cleft lip and palate surgery at Children’s Hospital Boston, Dr. Teeples developed a clear vision of what his career would hold. Rubbing shoulders with world-renowned surgeons and world-class physicians influenced Dr. Teeples deeply.
The pathway to becoming a full-scope oral and maxillofacial surgeon has instilled within Dr. Teeples a love of people and a passion for seeing and caring for patients of all ages. Dr. Teeples truly enjoys his job. He says, “I didn’t just want to do the surgery; I wanted to be a surgeon. It’s what I am, not what I do. It’s the patient connection that makes the difference.”
As a native of Southeastern Idaho, Dr. Teeples attended Ricks College, where he received an associate degree in pre-medicine/biology. At Ricks, he was the captain of the track team and earned the Distinguished Academic All-American Award for his 4.0 GPA and a 4th place finish at the National Championships in the 800-meter run. Dr. Teeples then went on to graduate with high honors from Idaho State University in 2003, earning his bachelor’s degree in biology.
The Teeples family then moved to New England where Dr. Teeples attended dental school at Harvard. In 2007, he graduated with his Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) degree, earning honors marks in Advanced Surgical Treatment courses and scoring an honors grade for his externship at Massachusetts General Hospital. After dental school, Dr. Teeples pursued his dream of OMFS training at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He graduated from the prestigious Mayo Medical School in 2011 with his MD degree.
Dr. Teeples completed the Mayo Clinic dual-degree oral and maxillofacial surgery residency in 2013. As a dual-degree oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Teeples has the highest qualifications to treat a broad range of oral and facial conditions. During residency, Dr. Teeples gained valuable knowledge and skills in surgery, medicine, and anesthesia administration. He worked alongside physicians, surgeons, and anesthesiologists and completed rigorous training in a wide variety of surgical procedures and clinical scenarios.
Following residency, Dr. Teeples’ credentials and continued interest in hospital-based procedures allow him to be on staff at three local hospitals—Kadlec Regional Medical Center, Trios Medical Center, and Lourdes Medical Center—in addition to practicing at Columbia Basin Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons.
In 2015, Dr. Teeples obtained his board certification title from the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery by completing a rigorous and extensive examination process that tested his knowledge of the clinical practices and biological sciences of oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Dr. Teeples is Stemodontics-certified and is proud to offer stem cell services at this practice. Patients can have stem cells from their wisdom teeth harvested and stored in a laboratory for future use in combating illness or disease.
Dr. Teeples loves the Pacific Northwest. After a long educational adventure away from home, he enjoys the close proximity to family and takes every opportunity he can to spend time with the people he loves.
Tyson and his wife Stephanie—along with their seven children—enjoy family adventures, running, service projects, gardening, and travel. They are always on the move with the kids’ sports and activities, living life to the fullest.
