Peter D. Gauger, DDS

Dr. Peter D. Gauger was raised in Tacoma. He graduated from the historic Stadium High School and remains a proud Tiger alum today.  Both of Dr. Gauger’s parents are medical doctors who practiced in Following completion of residency, Dr. Gauger was invited to join as affiliate faculty at UW. Since 2013, Dr. Gauger has been involved part-time instructing residents and students at UW and providing oral maxillofacial surgical care to children at UW’s Center for Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Gauger also worked in private practice in Olympia prior to starting 

Dr. Gauger’s professional interests include:

  •          Dental Implants and bone-grafting
  •          3D and Digital treatment planning
  •          Oral Maxillofacial Pathology
  •          Maxillofacial Trauma
  •          Office-based general anesthesia

On these topics, Dr. Gauger has lectured at various local Dental Societies, Dental Hygienist and Denturist conventions, Military Continuing education, even Athletic Trainer associations. He has given well attended lectures on Dental implants, Wisdom teeth, Facial Trauma, Pathology, and Anesthesia/Medical emergencies in the office setting.  During residency, Dr. Gauger co-authored a landmark paper on the epidemiological-economic impact of facial trauma in the region – a paper now cited in numerous similar publications. To Dr. Gauger, education and continuation of knowledge is a core value.

Dr. Gauger maintains hospital appointments at:

  •  University of Washington Medical Center
  •  St. Josephs, Tacoma
  •  Tacoma General / Mary Bridge Hospital / Allenmore Hospital

He is a member of a number of professional organizations

  • American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS)
  • Washington State Society of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons (WSSOMS)
    • President 2020 – 2021
  • American Dental Association
  • Washington State Dental Association
  • Pierce County Dental Society
  • American Dental Society of Anesthesiology (ADSA)

In early 2015, Dr. Gauger was Board Certified in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. At age 30, he was one of the youngest in history to be recognized as a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Outside of dentistry, Dr. Gauger enjoys spending time with family. He and his wife Jenny have been married since 2006. Jenny is a Tacoma native and Stadium Tiger alum as well. Their family includes their two young children and dog. Dr. Gauger is an avid football fan and always is looking forward to autumn so he can root on his beloved Seahawks and Huskies. Dr. Gauger’s hobbies – outside of being a father/husband/dog-owner – are the outdoors. He likes to get outside whether working in the yard, hiking in the woods, on a run, or just in the backyard barbequeing. A food-enthusiast, Dr. Gauger always has his ears open for good places to get a bite to eat.

Dr. Gauger believes that the most important aspect of his practice is attention to patient care. He prioritizes delivering safe, effective, timely care with a personal connection between doctor and patient. He hopes he can make each patient feel safe, unpressured, and well-informed before making healthcare decisions. Dr. Gauger truly enjoys his profession and getting to meet new people each day.