Dr. Larry L. Cunningham, Jr., MD, DDS

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Get to know Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr. Larry L. Cunningham, Jr., who serves patients in Waco, Texas.

Dr. Cunningham is a partner with Waco Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. With experience spanning 2 decades and two major teaching institutions, Dr. Cunningham has seen and managed a wide variety of diseases and disorders of the jaws and face.  

Now in private practice, he maintains a special interest in the surgical management of patients who have jaw deformities and or surgical temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease, including total joint replacements. Dr. Cunningham has years of experience treating patients with injuries to the inferior alveolar and lingual nerves. Dr. Cunningham happily accepts referrals for dentoalveolar surgery (adults and children), dental implant surgery, maxillofacial pathology, orthognathic surgery, and for surgical management of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease.  

A native of Texas, Dr. Cunningham received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio and his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He then completed residency training in oral and maxillofacial surgery from the renowned program at Parkland Health and Hospital System.

He rose from his initial assistant professor appointment to full professor and Chief of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Kentucky School of College of Dentistry. He then went on to serve as Chair of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, and as Chair of Hospital Dentistry at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).

Dr. Cunningham is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS), and served as President of the ABOMS from 2021 to 2022. The ABOMS is the certifying board for the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery in the United States and is recognized and approved by the Council on Dental Education of the American Dental Association.

Dr. Cunningham is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and a Fellow of the International College of Dentists (FICD), and is an active member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a surgical specialty focusing on reconstructive surgery of the face, facial trauma surgery, the oral cavity, head and neck, mouth, and jaws, as well as facial cosmetic surgery/facial plastic surgery including cleft lip and cleft palate surgery. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon is a regional specialist surgeon who treats the entire craniomaxillofacial complex: anatomical area of the mouth, jaws, face, and skull, head and neck as well as associated structures.

Dr. Cunningham is an author of over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts, reviews, and chapters. His research interests have included bioengineering and resorbable allogeneic grafting materials, craniofacial trauma and reconstruction, and inflammatory mediators associated with oral disease.

Dr. Cunningham is an experienced medical and dental educator who has taught learners at both the pre-doctoral and residency levels. This includes serving as course director for multiple dental student courses and serving as residency program director for more than 10 years. His national and international recognition is well reflected in his visiting professorships and invitations to speak around the world at many scientific society meetings.

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