Meet Dr. Steven Paul: San Diego’s oral surgeon for women
Dr. Steven Paul is a board-certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon based in San Diego, holding dual M.D./D.D.S. degrees and 23+ years of experience. With over 44,000 procedures performed—including 9,500+ dental implants—Dr. Paul brings a holistic, whole-body approach to oral surgery, with a particular dedication to treating women across every stage of life.
Most women don’t think much about oral surgery until they need it. Then, suddenly, the questions pile up fast. Who can I trust? Will they listen to me? Will they treat my whole health, not just my teeth? These concerns are valid—and they’re exactly why so many women in San Diego are turning to one surgeon in particular.
Dr. Steven Paul isn’t your typical oral surgeon. With dual M.D./D.D.S. degrees, over two decades of hands-on experience, and a genuine commitment to treating women of all ages, Dr. Paul has built a practice that feels as much like a partnership as it does a medical appointment. His philosophy is simple: your mouth is connected to the rest of your body, and your care should reflect that.
This article covers everything you need to know about Dr. Paul—his background, his areas of expertise, his distinctive approach to oral surgery, and why women across San Diego consistently choose him for some of the most important procedures of their lives.
Why women are choosing Dr. Steven Paul
Oral surgery can feel intimidating. Many women report feeling dismissed or rushed in conventional medical settings, and complex procedures like jaw reconstruction or full-mouth rehabilitation only amplify that anxiety. Dr. Paul’s practice was deliberately designed to counter that experience.
From the first consultation, Dr. Paul prioritizes communication. He takes time to explain every step of a procedure, discuss recovery in real terms, and address concerns that are specific to women’s health—including how hormonal changes throughout life can affect oral health, bone density, and healing. For patients who have had their worries brushed aside elsewhere, this approach makes a meaningful difference.
His commitment to treating women of all ages means his patient base spans teenagers navigating wisdom teeth removal all the way to post-menopausal women exploring dental implants or bone regeneration. No matter the stage of life, Dr. Paul adjusts his treatment plan accordingly.
Dr. Paul’s background: From Las Vegas to San Diego
Dr. Steven Paul’s path to becoming one of San Diego’s most trusted oral surgeons started in Las Vegas, where he grew up before pursuing an ambitious academic and clinical career that would span multiple prestigious institutions.
After completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Dr. Paul earned his D.D.S. from UCLA—one of the most respected dental programs in the country. He then went on to complete his M.D. at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, one of the top medical schools in the United States. This dual-degree pathway is exceptionally rare and speaks to both his intellectual commitment and his belief that oral surgery cannot be separated from broader medical knowledge.
His residency training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery gave him hands-on exposure to the full scope of surgical procedures, from trauma reconstruction to complex implant cases. By the time he established his practice in San Diego, he had already accumulated the kind of experience most surgeons take decades to develop.
Academic journey: UNLV, UCLA, and UT Southwestern
Dr. Paul’s educational credentials are worth examining closely, because they directly shape how he practices.
UNLV gave him a rigorous scientific foundation. UCLA’s School of Dentistry provided world-class clinical training in one of the most demanding and diverse patient environments in California. UT Southwestern Medical Center—home to 27 Nobel Prize winners among its faculty and alumni—brought medical depth that goes well beyond what most oral surgeons are trained in.
Holding both an M.D. and a D.D.S. means Dr. Paul approaches every case with a physician’s mindset as well as a surgeon’s skill. He considers the systemic implications of oral conditions, the interaction between medications and surgical healing, and the downstream effects that oral health has on cardiovascular, hormonal, and immune function. For women navigating perimenopause, osteoporosis, or autoimmune conditions, that medical fluency is particularly valuable.
What Dr. Paul treats: Surgical expertise
Over the course of more than 23 years, Dr. Paul has performed over 44,000 procedures. That number isn’t a marketing figure—it represents thousands of patients whose lives were genuinely changed by surgical outcomes. Here’s a breakdown of his core areas of expertise.
Reconstructive and Corrective Jaw Surgery
Jaw surgery—also called orthognathic surgery—corrects structural problems that affect how a patient bites, speaks, breathes, and chews. For women dealing with TMJ disorders, sleep apnea related to jaw positioning, or facial asymmetry, this type of surgery can be life-changing.
Dr. Paul performs both upper jaw (maxillary) and lower jaw (mandibular) corrections, often in coordination with orthodontic treatment. The results are functional, but for many patients, the aesthetic improvements to facial balance are an equally important outcome.
Implant Dentistry and Full-Mouth Rehabilitation (All-on-4)
Dr. Paul has placed over 9,500 dental implants—a volume that puts him among the most experienced implant surgeons in Southern California. Implants replace missing teeth with permanent, natural-looking restorations anchored directly into the jawbone.
For patients who have lost multiple teeth or are dealing with significant dental deterioration, the All-on-4 procedure offers a full-arch solution using just four strategically placed implants. This approach minimizes the need for bone grafting in many cases and significantly reduces treatment time compared to traditional implant protocols. Women who have experienced tooth loss due to pregnancy-related calcium depletion, eating disorders, or long-term medication use often find All-on-4 to be a transformative option.
Bone and Tissue Regeneration (PRP/PRF, Bone Grafting, Sinus Lift)
Bone loss is a reality for many women, particularly after menopause when declining estrogen accelerates bone density reduction. Before implants can be placed, some patients need bone grafting to rebuild the jaw’s structural foundation.
Dr. Paul uses advanced regenerative techniques including Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF)—therapies derived from the patient’s own blood that accelerate healing and tissue regeneration. Sinus lifts are another specialty, creating the necessary space in the upper jaw for implant placement when bone height is insufficient.
These aren’t just procedural add-ons. For women with compromised bone density, they are often the difference between being a candidate for implants and not.
Additional Procedures: Wisdom Teeth, Cavitation Treatment, and Sedation
Dr. Paul’s scope extends to routine but consequential procedures, too. Wisdom tooth extractions, when performed by an experienced surgeon, carry far lower complication rates and shorter recovery times. Cavitation treatment—addressing areas of infected or necrotic bone within the jaw—is a specialty that intersects conventional oral surgery with a more holistic view of systemic health.
For patients with dental anxiety, Dr. Paul offers multiple sedation options to ensure a comfortable surgical experience. This is especially important for women who may have delayed necessary care due to fear or prior negative experiences.
How Dr. Paul’s holistic approach differs from conventional oral surgery
The term “holistic” gets used loosely in healthcare, but Dr. Paul’s approach has concrete meaning. Rather than treating a tooth, a jaw, or a socket in isolation, he evaluates each patient’s overall health picture before developing a treatment plan.
That means looking at nutritional status, hormonal health, medications that may affect bone healing, inflammatory markers, and lifestyle factors. For women managing thyroid conditions, autoimmune disorders, or the bone density changes that accompany menopause, this level of consideration isn’t optional—it’s essential to getting outcomes right.
Dr. Paul also emphasizes minimally traumatic techniques wherever possible, which supports faster recovery and less post-operative discomfort. His use of PRP and PRF reflects a preference for biological, patient-derived therapies over purely pharmaceutical approaches to healing.
23 years and 44,000+ surgeries: What that experience means for you
Experience in surgery compounds differently than experience in most fields. Each procedure builds pattern recognition—the ability to anticipate complications before they arise, to adapt mid-surgery when anatomy doesn’t match the textbook, and to make judgment calls that no amount of classroom training can fully prepare a surgeon for.
At 44,000+ procedures and counting, Dr. Paul has encountered and managed an exceptionally broad range of surgical scenarios. For a patient, that translates to lower risk, more predictable outcomes, and a surgeon who has almost certainly seen and successfully navigated whatever challenge your specific case presents.
His 9,500+ implant placements alone represent a depth of experience that puts him in a small category of surgeons nationally. Volume matters in implant dentistry—precision at that scale reflects a level of refined technique that directly benefits every patient on his table.
Life outside the OR: Who is Dr. Paul beyond surgery?
Understanding a surgeon as a person matters. The values someone brings to their personal life often reveal a great deal about how they approach their professional one.
Dr. Steven Paul is known among patients and colleagues for his warmth, his patience, and his genuine curiosity about the people he treats. Outside the operating room, he is an avid reader with a particular interest in the intersection of medicine, nutrition, and longevity. He is committed to ongoing education, regularly attending advanced surgical training and staying current on emerging techniques in regenerative medicine.
He is also a strong advocate for women’s healthcare literacy—believing that women who understand their surgical options make better decisions, heal better, and experience less anxiety throughout the process. That advocacy shapes how every consultation in his practice is conducted.
Why women in San Diego choose Dr. Steven Paul
San Diego has no shortage of oral surgeons. What distinguishes Dr. Paul isn’t any single credential or procedure—it’s the combination of deep technical expertise, genuine attentiveness to women’s health concerns, and a philosophy that treats the patient as a whole person rather than a set of dental problems.
Women across all life stages—teenagers needing wisdom teeth removed, women in their 30s and 40s dealing with jaw dysfunction or tooth loss, and older women rebuilding their smiles with implants after bone density loss—find in Dr. Paul a surgeon who understands that their oral health doesn’t exist separately from the rest of their lives.
The result is a practice built on trust. Many of Dr. Paul’s patients refer their mothers, daughters, and friends—a pattern that speaks more than any credential could.
Your next step toward better oral health
Finding the right oral surgeon is a decision that carries real consequences. It affects not only the outcome of a specific procedure, but the trajectory of your dental and overall health for years to come.
Dr. Steven Paul’s combination of dual medical and dental degrees, 23+ years of focused surgical experience, and a genuinely holistic approach to women’s oral health makes him a standout choice for women in San Diego seeking care they can trust. Whether you’re exploring dental implants, considering jaw surgery, or simply looking for a surgeon who will take your concerns seriously, Dr. Paul’s practice is worth a conversation.
Book a consultation with Dr. Steven Paul’s San Diego practice and take the first step toward oral health that supports your whole wellbeing.
Frequently asked questions about Dr. Steven Paul
What makes Dr. Steven Paul different from other oral surgeons in San Diego?
Dr. Paul holds dual M.D. and D.D.S. degrees, which is rare among oral surgeons. This means he approaches every case with both a physician’s medical knowledge and a surgeon’s technical precision. Combined with 23+ years of experience and a holistic, whole-body philosophy, his approach is distinctly comprehensive compared to conventional oral surgery practices.
Is Dr. Steven Paul experienced with treating older women or women with bone density concerns?
Yes. Dr. Paul has extensive experience treating women experiencing age-related bone density loss, including post-menopausal patients. He uses advanced regenerative techniques such as PRP, PRF, and bone grafting to create the right conditions for successful implant placement, even when bone density is a limiting factor.
What is the All-on-4 procedure, and is it suitable for women?
All-on-4 is a full-arch dental restoration technique that replaces an entire row of teeth using just four dental implants. It is suitable for many women who have experienced significant tooth loss or deterioration. Dr. Paul has placed over 9,500 dental implants and frequently performs All-on-4 procedures for patients seeking a permanent, stable alternative to dentures.
Does Dr. Paul offer sedation options for patients with dental anxiety?
Yes. Dr. Paul’s practice offers multiple sedation options for patients who experience anxiety around dental procedures. His team prioritizes patient comfort throughout every stage of treatment.
What conditions can cavitation treatment address?
Cavitation treatment targets areas of the jawbone that have become infected or necrotic—often without causing obvious symptoms. Dr. Paul’s holistic approach means he considers whether cavitations may be contributing to systemic health issues, a perspective not all conventional oral surgeons take.
Where did Dr. Steven Paul receive his training?
Dr. Paul completed his dental degree (D.D.S.) at UCLA and his medical degree (M.D.) at UT Southwestern Medical Center, followed by a full residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He began his academic career at UNLV.
How many dental implant procedures has Dr. Paul performed?
Dr. Paul has placed over 9,500 dental implants across his 23+ year career, making him one of the most experienced implant surgeons in Southern California.
