Dr. Nelson is a third generation dentist and second generation periodontist from the Bay Area. His grandfather, Willis Nelson, practiced general dentistry in Menlo Park for 31 years and his father, Stephen, is a periodontist in San Mateo. His office in Mountain View is less than three miles from his childhood home.

Dr. Nelson is dedicated to education and volunteering, and was an Assistant Clinical Professor at the UCSF School of Dentistry for over ten years. He has lectured to dental students and residents in periodontics, oral surgery, endodontics, prosthodontics and hospital dentistry.

Outside of dentistry, Dr. Nelson enjoys nature photography, volunteering, mountain biking, hiking, snowboarding, surfing, camping and SCUBA diving. Dr. Nelson’s wife, Melanie, is a teacher and volunteers with him on dental trips, teaching local children the importance of brushing, flossing and preventive care. They have three young children.

EDUCATION

• 2011 Certificate of Periodontics - University of California, Los Angeles

• 2008 Doctor of Dental Surgery - University of California, Los Angeles

• 2001 Bachelor of Science - Duke University

• 1997 Los Altos High School

HONORS AND AWARDS

• 2012 - Current. Diplomate, American Board of Periodontology

• Omicron Kappa Upsilon - National Dental Honor Society

• Graduation with Honors (cum laude) - UCLA School of Dentistry

• Regents Scholarship - UCLA School of Dentistry

FACULTY Positions

• Former Assistant Clinical Professor a the UCSF School of Dentistry

  • Department of Orofacial Sciences, Division of Periodontology

  • March 2012 to October 2022, voluntarily stepped down to focus on his young children

    • Dr. Nelson’s last day teaching at UCSF on October 18, 2022

licenses

• California Dental License

  • Dental Board of California Verification

• California Moderate Sedation Permit

  • Dental Board of California Verification

COMMUNITY SERVICE

• Community Dental Clinic at UCSF - 2012 to 2014

• Costa Rica Dental Mission Trip - June 2009

• Vietnam Dental Mission Trip - June 2010

• Sacramento Remote Area Medical - March 2012

• CDA Cares Sacramento - August 2012

• Jamaica Dental Mission Trip - September 2012

• Jamaica Dental Mission Trip - September 2013

• Jamaica Dental Mission Trip - September 2014

• Honduras Dental Mission Trip - June 2015

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• American Board of Periodontology, Diplomate

  • Photo of certificate

• American Academy of Periodontology

• California Society of Periodontists

• American Dental Association

• American Dental Society of Anesthesiology

• California Dental Society of Anesthesiology

• California Dental Association

• Mid-Peninsula Dental Society

• Academy of Osseointegration

• International Team for Implantology

CONTINUING EDUCATION

The fields of periodontology and dental implants continually evolve. Dr. Nelson invests heavily in continuing education, averaging 100-150 hours per year.