Periodontics

radiograph of tooth.
radiograph of implant.

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, affects periodontal tissues. These tissues include the gums, the periodontal ligament and the alveolar bone supporting the teeth. Poor oral hygiene, genetics and systemic disease (along with smoking) influence the occurrence of gum disease — a chronic condition that leads to tooth loss if left untreated, and affects a staggering 40% of the adult population in the United States.

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About Periodontics

Periodontics is the specialty of dentistry that encompasses the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the periodontal tissues that support and surround the teeth. The practice of periodontics is focused on prolonging the life of teeth with periodontal disease by utilizing resective and regenerative surgical approaches. Periodontics also encompasses the provision of surgical alveolar augmentation, surgical implant placement and mucogingival surgery for supporting and enhancing esthetic dental prostheses.

Education and Training

The Periodontics Certificate Program

The Periodontics Certificate is offered as a combined degree with a MS in Oral Sciences or a PhD in Oral Biology. This clinical program is well balanced with a research training program to train students for academic, research or clinical careers. Apart from research our program also involves teaching as an important component of training. The postgraduate students participate in mandatory tier-based teaching in predoctoral clinics during the 2nd and 3rd years of training.

The graduates from our program are serving as leaders in dental education in the United States as well as across the world. Graduates of our program have also received several generous awards and scholarships from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Foundation. Some of our notable award recipients in the recent past include:

  • Dr. Abhiram Maddi (Abram & Sylvia Chasens Fellowship 2012; AAP Teaching Fellowship 2016)
  • Dr. Srinivas Myneni (AAP Educator Award 2014)
  • Dr. Bin-Yan Wang (Bud and Linda Tarrson Fellowship 2010)
  • Dr. Giuseppe Intini (AAP Teaching Fellowship 2008)

Individualized Advanced Education Program in Periodontics

The Periodontics Individualized Advanced Education Program (IAEP) is a customized, variable-length continuing education program offered to dentists who wish to obtain additional training in periodontics and implant dentistry. Details can be found here.

Our Faculty and Staff

The Periodontics division houses nationally and internationally recognized award-winning faculty. A majority of our faculty have received doctoral and post-doctoral clinical and research training and have DDS and PhD degrees. A majority of our faculty are also Diplomates of the American Board of Periodontology, making them highly qualified clinicians.

Full-Time Faculty

Marcelo W.B. Araujo, DDS, PhD, MS

Dean and Professor

Department of Periodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-2976

Email: araujo@buffalo.edu

Robert Cohen, DDS, MS, PhD

Professor, Chair

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250F Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-6183

Email: rcohen@buffalo.edu

Robert Schifferle, DDS, MMSc , PhD

Professor

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics; Department of Oral Biology

250H Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-2013

Email: res@buffalo.edu

Lisa Yerke, DDS, MS

Clinical Associate Professor

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250G Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3295

Email: lmyerke@buffalo.edu

Isolde Rojas-Rudolph, DDS, PhD

Clinical Assistant Professor; Research Associate Professor

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3845

Email: isoldero@buffalo.edu

Anna Paritsky, DMD

Clinical Assistant Professor

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250D Squire Hall

Phone: (716)829-6181

Email: aparitsk@buffalo.edu

Rubelisa Oliveira, DDS, MS, PhD

Clinical Assistant Professor

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3845

Email: rubelisa@buffalo.edu

Nathalia Paiva de Andrade, DDS, MSc, PhD

Clinical Assistant Professor;

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250B Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3845

Email: andradnp@buffalo.edu

Christina Zachariadou, DDS, MS, PhD

Assistant Professor

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250B Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3850

Email: czachari@buffalo.edu

Part-Time Faculty

Waqar Ahmad, DDS, MSD

Clinical Assistant Professor

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3845

Email: waqarahm@buffalo.edu

Photo of Dr. Breloff.

Joseph P Breloff, DDS, MS

Clinical Assistant Professor

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3845

Email: jbreloff@buffalo.edu

Marah Damdoum

Clinical Instructor

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-2442

Email: marahdam@buffalo.edu

Janae N Garofalo

Clinical Assistant Professor HS

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3845

Email: janaegar@buffalo.edu

Joshua Grant

Clinical Assistant Professor

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3845

Email: jpgrant@buffalo.edu

Christopher Heard

Clinical Professor

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3845

Email: cheard@buffalo.edu

Paul Herrmann

Clinical Assistant Professor HS

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3845

Email: paulherr@buffalo.edu

Alicia E Hulme

Clinical Assistant Professor

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3845

Email: aebarone@buffalo.edu

Thomas Mang

Clinical Associate Professor

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3845

Email: tsmang@buffalo.edu

Gina Reid

Clinical Assistant Professor

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3845

Email: ginapawl@buffalo.edu

Eric Schroeder

Clinical Instructor

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3845

Email: es42@buffalo.edu

Ryan S. Schure

Clinical Assistant Professor

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3845

Email: rsschure@buffalo.edu

Volunteer Faculty

Mehmet Akif Eskan, DDS, PhD

Clinical Assistant Professor; Diplomate, American Board of Periodontology

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3845

Email: mehmetes@buffalo.edu

Sabrina Gomes, PhD, MS

Research Scholar

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

549 BRB

Phone: (716) 829-6314

Email: scgomes@buffalo.edu

Saif Haif, BDS, MS

Clinical Assistant Professor

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3845

Email: saifhaif@buffalo.edu

Photo of Dr. Lazarus.

John P. Lazarus

Clinical Assistant Professor

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3845

Email: jlazarus@buffalo.edu

Amarpreet Sabharwal

Clinical Assistant Professor

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3845

Email: amarpree@buffalo.edu

Emeritus

Stephen Abel

Emeritus, Assoc. Professor HS

Department of Periodontics & Endodontics

Irwin L. Burstein

Emeritus, Clinical Assistant Professor HS

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

Michael J. Levine

Emeritus, Professor, HS

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

Staff

pruyn.

Katrina Pruyn

Administrative Assistant 1

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 829-3845

Email: katrinia@buffalo.edu

Lisa M. Solomon

Dental Hygienist

Department of Periodontics and Endodontics

250 Squire Hall

Phone: (716) 820-3845

Email: lisasolo@buffalo.edu