James L. Nager DMD
Dr. Nager is a general dentist with a special interest in replacement of missing teeth with artificial roots, called Dental Implants. Since he was a college student working as a tech for a Harvard based research team, from his first implant surgeries in 1987, Dr. Nager has built on his knowledge and his skills. Now as an associate Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID), he is a lecturer at the Boston Maxicourse. This is the accredited course of study by the AAID in providing a literate credential to serious students of dental implantology.
“I remember when most implants failed, when we took a wrongheaded approach to it. With our modern robust understanding of the biology driving success, we can do predictable, comfortable and long lasting replacements of missing teeth, leaving the adjacent teeth untouched. It’s a whole optimistic era of dental rehabilitation where previous solutions have fallen short. To me it’s like working magic.”
Education
- 1977 Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
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1974 Brandeis University
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1970 The Boston Latin School
Awards
- Recipient of The International College of Dentists Award
- Best of Boston for Cosmetic Dentistry 2021
Professional Appointments
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Clinical Instructor, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Department of Restorative Dentistry, 1991 to present
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Associate Clinical Instructor, Boston University School of Dental Medicine, Department of Oral Diagnosis, 1991 to present
- Chief Dental Consultant, The McLean Hospital, Belmont Massachusetts
Professional Memberships
- Associate Fellow of The American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID)
- Fellow of International Congress of Implantologists (ICOI)
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Member of the Massachusetts Dental Society, serving on many boards including: Council on Nutrition and Council on Public Relations
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Member of the American Dental Association (ADA) 1974 to present
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Middlesex District Dental Society 1977 to present
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Emerson Study Club
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Harvard Odontological Society, Past President, and active member
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Member Pierre Farchaurd Academy, 1994 to present
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Member of The International Team of Implantology (ITI)
Charitable:
Dr. Nager has completed the Pan Mass Challenge 17 times. This bicycle ride starts in Wellesley and finishes in Provincetown. Over the years, Dr. Nager has raised considerable amounts of money for the Dana Farber Cancer Center.
Service to the Profession
Dr. Nager has served on numerous boards for the MDIL, a committee of The Massachusetts Dental Society that lobbies for the good of the consumer and the profession. He has participated in several official capacities during the prestigious Yankee Dental Congress over each of the last 28 years. Dr. Nager served as President of the Harvard Odontological Society, an Honor Society who’s membership is restricted to distinguished Harvard affiliated dentists. Dr. Nager has written extensively for local media on a wide range of topics related to dentistry. Most recently, Dr. Nager and Dr. Lapidus have been invited speakers at the world renowned Yankee Dental Congress as well as the Middlesex Dental Society
On a Personal Note
Dr. Nager’s passions are bicycling, cooking, and teaching. He is enormously proud of his wife, notable author Diana Renn, and their 15-year-old son, Gabriel. Helping dental students up the ladder is a great joy. Mentoring new dental graduates is enormously satisfying. “But what really makes me swell with pride are all the people I work with that may have started with no dental knowledge and are now important, educated professionals”. Dr. Nager strives to aid in the development of young dentists, hygienists, and dental assistants to inspire them in their careers.
“After all, you want to make a positive impact on the lives of people around you”.
“The greatest asset an individual can have is a sense of humor – including about themselves. Living without a sense of humor is more limiting than any physical challenge”.