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Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon James MacDowell, DDS

Meet Dr. MacDowell

Oral Surgeon Dr. James MacDowell La Jolla San DiegoDr. James MacDowell is a board-certified oral surgeon providing comprehensive oral and maxillofacial surgery services, including dental implants, wisdom teeth removal, facial trauma reconstruction, and cosmetic jaw surgery. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. MacDowell is known for blending cutting-edge surgical technology with exceptional safety standards and personalized care in a patient-centered environment.

Dr. MacDowell is a proud alumnus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), graduating in 1997, and earned his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the prestigious University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He completed two National Institute of Health Fellowships in Oral Surgery and an Advanced Education in Dentistry Residency with full surgical privileges.

His extensive training continued through the United States Navy Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency at Naval Medical Center San Diego, where he also completed a General Surgery Internship.

During his active duty, Dr. MacDowell served as Department Head of Dental Clinics and the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Department, while also mentoring as a residency faculty member. He continues to lecture dental professionals today.

After performing thousands of surgeries, Dr. MacDowell joined Scripps Center for Dental Care to continue delivering top-tier care to the San Diego community.

Dr. MacDowell has contributed to oral surgery research and has published papers, as well as contributing to an oral surgery textbook. He actively gives back to his community by providing surgical services to veterans and underserved patients. Outside of surgery, Dr. MacDowell enjoys sailing, traveling, and hiking.

Experience

  • Department Head of Dental Clinics — United States Navy
  • Department Head of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery — United States Navy
  • Residency Faculty Member — United States Navy

Education & Training

  • General Surgery Internship — Naval Medical Center San Diego
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency — Naval Medical Center San Diego
  • Fellowship in Oral Surgery — National Institutes of Health
  • Fellowship in Advanced Education in Dentistry Residency — National Institutes of Health
  • Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS) — University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
  • Bachelor’s Degree — 1997 — University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

To learn more about Dr. MacDowell’s credentials or to speak with a friendly member of our team about your goals, please don’t hesitate to contact Scripps Center for Dental Care today.