Meet Dr. J. Will Pledger, DMD
Prior to joining AOS, Dr. J. Will Pledger was the Program Director of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the UTHSC College of Dentistry. He is also an alumnus of UTHSC Oral Surgery program as well as the UT Dental College having graduated in 2001 and 2005 respectively. After residency he completed his commitment to the United States Air Force while stationed in San Antonio, Texas. During his 5 years on active duty, he was on the teaching staff for their AEGD-2 and Oral Surgery programs. He was also able to serve as Chief of Head and Neck Surgery for the 332 EMDG while deployed to Balad Air Base in Iraq. After honorably separating from the Air Force in 2010, he was in private practice for 7 years between Murray, Kentucky and Katy, Texas. After 7 years in private practice, he decided to return to academics at UTHSC where he has been an Associate Professor for the last 6 years and Program Director since 2019.
He has been happily married for 27 years to Jill Pledger who he met while at Augustana college in Rock Island, IL. She graced him with three fantastic boys. Dylan, a Bio-medical Engineer senior at the University of Arkansas currently in Germany; Jake Ryan, a Mechanical Engineer freshman at the University of Arkansas; and Lucas, a junior finishing his tenure in high school.
Leadership and Professional Membership
Dr. Otte is a member of the American Dental Association (ADA) and a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. The latter is the certifying board for the ADA’s specialty in oral and maxillofacial surgery. The Diplomate status requires that doctors maintain ongoing certification, which shows they are committed to providing patients the best care possible. Dr. Otte is also a Fellow of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, an organization that represents thousands of professionals and supports quality practices in the field.
Locally, Dr. Otte is an active member of the Illinois Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the Peoria District Dental Society. He continues to hone his skills by participating in the Central Illinois International Team for Implantology Study Club. As part of this group, Dr. Otte exchanges knowledge with colleagues about emerging techniques in tooth restoration. These experiences enhance the care he is able to provide to his patients.
