09/03/2026
Apex Dentistry & Implants is a fully private, locally owned practice. With Dr. Don Ratliff now retired, Dr. John Nauss purchased both the practice (formerly Sunset Dental: Donald R. Ratliff, DDS) and the entire practice suite on August 7th, 2026— ensuring no private equity ownership. Dr. Nauss intends to practice the remainder of his career at Apex and, when the time comes, he plans to personally employ, train, and empower his private‑practice successor to preserve continuity of care, relationships, a patient‑first philosophy, and no private equity ownership in the practice that he is building for decades to come.
Dr. Nauss has completed over 1,000 hours of continuing education to date, far exceeding Tennessee’s 20‑hour annual requirement. This extensive training allows him to provide elite full‑mouth cosmetic and surgical treatments, advanced implant surgery, and refined restorative and cosmetic dentistry with modern precision.
The name Apex Dentistry & Implants reflects his commitment to a team‑oriented environment where every clinical member practices with pride, autonomy, excellence, and shared purpose. He wants team members to be empowered and proud of where they work and what they do. It isn't about his name. It's about 'our name' and what we can do for people if we work together. Dr. Nauss is making significant investments in the practice to ensure it is equipped for the full spectrum of surgical, implant‑related, cosmetic, and comprehensive full mouth cases he has performed in the past, and to remain equipped as he advances his skills through additional investments in continuing education. Dr. Nauss loves to learn because he is always striving to better take care of patients. He does dentistry for the love of the game, and his love for learning and his new passion for developing Apex Dentistry & Implants is no different.
Most recently, Dr. Nauss served as the primary provider at Briggs Family Dental in New Market, Virginia. However, he is originally from Wise, Virginia, and he spent much of his childhood in East Tennessee and is thrilled to be effectively returning home to pour his passion into creating a special place for patients and staff. Dr. Nauss and his wife, Jordan, have four young children—the oldest just five—and they look forward to being part of this community for the rest of his career, and hopefully well into retirement.
If you had a special bond with Dr. Ratliff, Dr. Nauss welcomes you, as well. And if you'd like to simply stop in and meet him, then you are welcome to do so.
- Dr. Nauss and the team at Apex Dentistry & Implants
