Periodontics
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)
Advanced Periodontics Fellowship Program
The Periodontics fellowship program is a one-year CE program offered as a post-certificate program that allows specialization in advanced implant surgery and mucogingival surgery.
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
Robert Schifferle, DDS, MMSc , PhD
Professor
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics; Department of Oral Biology
Isolde Rojas-Rudolph, DDS, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor; Research Associate Professor
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
Mehmet Akif Eskan, DDS, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor; Diplomate, American Board of Periodontology
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
Rubelisa Oliveira, DDS, MS, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
Part-Time Faculty
Christopher Heard
Clinical Professor
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
Janae N Garofalo
Clinical Assistant Professor HS
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
Alicia E Hulme
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
Paul Herrmann
Clinical Assistant Professor HS
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
Gina Pawlowski
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
250 Squire Hall
Phone: (716) 829-3845
Volunteer Faculty
Amarpreet Sabharwal
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
Phone: (716) 829-3845
Email: amarpree@buffalo.edu
Ayah Mobied
Clinical Assistant Instructor; Research Support Specialist
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
Phone: (716) 829-3845
Email: ayahmobi@buffalo.edu
Emeritus
Email: sabel2@buffalo.edu
Irwin L. Burstein
Emeritus, Clinical Assistant Professor HS
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
Email: ilburst@buffalo.edu
Robert C. Geckler
Emeritus, Clinical Assistant Professor, HS
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
Email: geckler@buffalo.edu
Michael J. Levine
Emeritus, Professor, HS
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
Staff
Barbara Sutton
Adminstrative Assistant 1
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
Lisa M. Solomon
Dental Hygienist
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
Sandra Law
Dental Hygienist/Research Project Assistant
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
Yahya Sayed Suliman Atassi
Research Support Specialist
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
Chika Kobayashi
Dental Assistant
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics
