About the dentists
Dr. Robert F. Berger, D.D.S.
Dr. Robert Berger opened this practice May 5, 1969. He had graduated from Emory University Dental School in 1966 and had spent 2 and a half years in the US Army Dental Corps. This included a year tour in Vietnam.
Dr. Berger has taken over 1500 hours of postgraduate study and has earned Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry, Fellowship in the International Congress of Implantology and Fellowship in the American College of Dentists. He is a life member of the American Dental Association and the American Equilibration Society. Dr. Berger is also certified in Invisalign orthodontics and Lumineers placement. He both places and restores implants and performs all types of restorative dentistry. He has also lectured on Temporomandibular Joint treatment and has mastered the art of dentistry as to restoration and esthetics. He had the first CEREC*** camera unit in South Carolina and currently has the newest CEREC III in our office.
Dr. Berger jogs, plays golf and is active in the community. He is married to Amy Berger and has five children and two stepsons. Dr. Berger’s son, Marc F. Berger, and his daughter, Deidre Crockett, are members of Berger Dental Group and practice here. Rhett is an MBA and Kenny is an attorney. Francie is a student at University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Alex is working in Virginia with a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, and Matt is a student at the University of Georgia. Dr. Berger’s wife, Amy, is a speech pathologist.
Dr. Marc Berger, D.M.D.
Dr. Marc Berger graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Sciences in Marine Science in 1994. After working a year, he was accepted to dental school at the Medical University of South Carolina where he graduated in 2000 with a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. Dr. Berger then came into practice with his father, Dr. Robert Berger in 2000.
Dr. Robert Berger has remarked many times that he's never seen anyone start so confidently and with so much skill as Dr. Marc Berger. Dr. Marc Berger's production and skill was so great that patients and staff thought that he had been in dental practice for many years. Dr. Berger also took advanced study in Occlusion and Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry. This enabled him to restore advanced and restorative cases. His father helped him early on, and as he picked up knowledge and took more courses, he then moved on and has handled his cases beautifully for the last seven years. Dr. Berger has a winning way with his patients and shows care and confidence in his ability to treat them. He also has excellent skills in root canal therapy, as well as all routine family dentistry. Some of the most advanced cases are done by Dr. Marc Berger sometimes with consultation with his father, Dr. Robert Berger.
Dr. Berger lives in Columbia with his lovely family, his wife Julie, and his children, Lennon and Marlie, ages four and two. Dr. Berger is an avid outdoorsman and is very dedicated to his family. Dr. Robert Berger says he is so happy to have Dr. Marc Berger and Dr. Deidre Crockett as children, for when the time comes for him to move on and let them assume responsibility for the practice he knows it will be in good hands. Dr. Berger is a member of the American Dental Association, Greater Columbia Dental Society, past president of the Palmetto Study Club, and volunteers at the Richland County Children's Dental Clinic.
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Dr. Deidre B. Crockett, D.M.D.
Dr. Deidre Crockett graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the College of Charleston in 1994. She taught math and history for four years in Berkeley County, SC. Dr. Crockett was respected as a teacher in the years she taught and had many honors and distinctions, including writing the Berkeley County curriculum for PAC testing. When her husband, Tyler Crockett, was finishing his Chemical Engineering degree at the University of South Carolina, Mrs. Crockett became office manager for Berger Dental Group and was planning to perhaps take a Master's to advance her teaching capability. However, after seeing firsthand that maybe she could contribute more in dentistry, she decided to take the required science courses and entered the Medical University of South Carolina in 2002, graduating in 2006. She received many honors while in dental school, including being named President of the Honor Council. She also participated in Give Kids a Smile, head and neck cancer screenings, and volunteered in a free dental clinic for two years. Dr. Crockett graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina in May of 2006 with a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree.
Dr. Crockett is currently a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and has taken courses that have expanded her, as well as Doctors Marc and Robert Berger (who have also studied to enhance appearance), abilities in this area and make her more capable of bringing the practice a higher degree of aesthetic dentistry, as well as functionality for their patients. One outstanding quality that Dr. Crockett has is her ability to relate to her patients and children; and she's shown that ability in her caring and kindness, and in her excellent bonding with her young patients. Her career, as with her brother Dr. Marc Berger, has gotten off to an excellent start, in her first two years, and there's been nothing but outstanding professional accomplishments as the time goes on. She brings a high degree of skill, caring and professionalism to Berger Dental Group. Patients will feel fortunate to have her as their dentist.
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Dr. William P. Smith, Jr., D.D.S.
Dr. William Smith is a native of Cheraw, SC. Dr. Smith attended the University of South Carolina and majored in Art. After completing his education at USC, he was employed for five years at WBT/WBTV in Charlotte, NC, as a commercial artist. Dr. Smith then decided to apply his artistic ability in the profession of dentistry. He graduated from the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and opened his practice Columbia. With his artistic background, he focused on aesthetic and cosmetic dentistry for 33 years. Dr. Smith was also the dentist for the University of South Carolina football team for 20 years. During that interim, he designed both the Block-C Logo for the Gamecocks and the Gamecock football uniforms for Coach Joe Morrison.
In 2003, Dr. Robert Berger asked Dr. Smith to join his dental practice in his Forest Drive and Elgin offices. Knowing of Dr. Berger's reputation for quality and comprehensive dental care, Dr. Smith readily accepted this offer and has been applying his artistic talents. His many years of experience have made him an outstanding addition to Berger Dental Group.
He and his wife, Janet, live in Columbia and love to travel, especially to the beach.
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Dr. Milton L. Adams, D.D.S.
Dr. Milton Adams was raised in Columbia, SC, and received his Bachelor of Sciences degree from the University of South Carolina in 1958. He then attended the University of Tennessee Dental School, where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in 1962. Upon graduation from UT, Dr. Adams joined the U.S. Navy and served two years of active duty. Dr. Adams practiced general dentistry in Columbia for two years, then entered Baylor University's College of Dentistry in 1966, where he earned his Periodontics degree in 1968. Dr. Adams has practiced in Columbia for over 40 years and is highly respected in his field. His periodontal surgery is on the highest level anywhere. Dr. Adams is an outstanding golfer and "student of the game". He and his wife Dawn have been married for many years and love animals. We are proud to have him performing the periodontal care at Berger Dental Group, P.A.
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Dr. Robert H. Blease, D.D.S.
Dr. Robert Blease grew up in Columbia, South Carolina, and received his Bachelor of Sciences degree from Clemson University. He then attended the Medical College of Virginia, where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in 1963. He completed his oral surgery residency at the Medical College of Virginia in 1966, and then served in the U.S. Army as an Oral Surgeon for two years. In 1968, Dr. Blease opened his oral surgery practice in Columbia, South Carolina, where he practiced for over 35 years. Dr. Blease has served as President of the South Carolina Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Chief of Staff of Palmetto Baptist Medical Center. He is highly respected by both the medical and dental community.
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