Dr. Michael J. Costa, Jr. is a dedicated dentist and owner of Knoxville Smiles. Originally from New Jersey, he has enjoyed living progressively further south over the past 15 years. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Public Health from The George Washington University in Washington, DC, while serving as a volunteer paramedic in southern Maryland. He went on to receive his Master of Healthcare Administration (M.H.A.) from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health in Chapel Hill, NC, and his Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) from the UNC School of Dentistry in 2014. After dental school, Dr. Costa completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at Camp Lejeune, NC, while serving as an active duty Naval Dental Officer. He provided comprehensive care to thousands of Marines and Sailors during his military service. Following his time in the Navy, he worked as the lead dentist in a large group practice in Wilmington, NC. As the sole provider in a busy satellite office, he developed extensive experience in oral surgery, dental implants, bone grafting, and implant-supported dentures. Today, Dr. Costa places 150–200 dental implants per month and restores 6–10 full-arch cases every week, transforming patients’ smiles and quality of life. He is a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) for Neocis, the company behind Yomi — the only FDA-approved dental robot in the world — and teaches robotic implant surgery courses for other doctors quarterly at the Knoxville Smiles office. He uses the Yomi robot to make surgeries more efficient, safer, and to support faster healing. He also lectures online for TRI, the world’s first fully digital implant system, and serves as a KOL for Instarisa, a 3D facial scanning company that enables the creation of beautiful, personalized smiles regardless of a patient’s starting point. Additionally, he serves as Associate Faculty at the Pankey Institute, a prestigious post-doctoral education program for dentists. Dr. Costa owns a full-service commercial laboratory in-house, allowing his team to design and fabricate custom prosthetics on-site with complete control over quality and turnaround time. Dr. Costa takes great pride in making every patient feel comfortable and cared for as a special individual. He has transformed Knoxville Smiles into a comprehensive sedation center, allowing even the most anxious patients to feel completely at ease and even sleep through their procedures. Using advanced techniques and a gentle approach, he ensures treatments are pain-free. Patients consistently praise his calm demeanor and clear communication, especially during surgical procedures. Committed to providing the highest standard of care, Dr. Costa actively pursues continuing education. He completed the comprehensive implant dentistry training program at Augusta University in 2016 and continues to refine implant techniques through ongoing education and advanced technology. He is a member of the American Dental Association, Academy of Oral Implantology, American Academy of Implant Dentistry, Tennessee Dental Association, and the 2nd District Dental Society. Dr. Costa loves sharing his passion for dentistry with both patients and fellow clinicians. He regularly consults with and mentors other dentists on advanced surgical procedures and is always available for second opinions. Follow his dental work on Instagram @knoxvillesmiles. When not in the office, Dr. Costa enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, staying active with CrossFit, running, and hiking, and spending time with the family’s dogs. He’s a big fan of Apple, Tesla, and—above all—dentistry. At Knoxville Smiles, Dr. Costa and his team combine advanced technology, extensive surgical expertise, and genuine compassion to deliver exceptional dental care in a comfortable environment.
