What's Up Magazines

Top Dentists 2006

Your teeth and your smile are important assets that affect your health and your appearance. In a poll of county members of the Maryland State Dental Association What's Up? Annapolis recently conducted, we asked the question: "If you or a loved one needed to see a dental specialist, who would you recommend?" On the following pages we have published the names of all the dentists who were recommended by their peers in response to our survey. They are listed under the specialty for which their colleagues chose them.

Although cosmetic dentistry and family dentistry are not official specialties recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA), in practice many consumers specifically look for dentists who are geared to working with families or specifically on cosmetic concerns. Therefore we have added these categories. Please keep in mind that there are dentists who practice in more than one specialty area.

Choosing a dentist is a complex personal decision. You should feel comfortable and secure that the dentist you choose is compatible with your personality and understands your medical needs.

Many factors go into the equation: Does the practice take your insurance? Are they easily accessible in an emergency? Do you enjoy listening to the music they play in their office? Are their prices fair? Is their office staff pleasant?

If you are happy with your current dentist or dentists there is no reason to make a change. If you are not, we hope the information we have provided will help you start the process of making an informed choice.

Dr. Scott Finlay
Cosmetic Dentistry

Dr. Scott Finlay doesn't just change smiles, he changes lives. Since 1987 his practice in Arnold has been providing expert cosmetic dentistry to the region and building the self-confidence of hundreds of patients.

Finlay began his career in dentistry at the University of Maryland Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. He completed his residency at a Washington, D.C.-area trauma hospital and completed a number of postgraduate training programs focusing on restorative and dental aesthetics.

"I've always enjoyed working with my hands and the artistic side of cosmetic dentistry appeals to me," he says when asked why he pursued cosmetic dentistry. "I like the excitement of being able to see the positive impact on a person's life."

That mentality pervades all of his work. To him, a nice smile is not just an attractive fa�ade, but also a window into the health of a person and a great source of confidence. His work involves not only restoring the look of teeth, but also restoring the well-being of the teeth. "One of the key points of cosmetic dentistry is not just making teeth look pretty but, more importantly, enhancing the form, function, and health of the mouth," he says.

"Sometimes people seek a cosmetic dentist when things need to be done. That's usually too late for the health of the mouth," says Finlay, stressing the importance of preventive care. When you visit, he will sit down with you after a careful inspection and discuss what your teeth need to have done to be healthy, not just what you want done to look good.

When teeth do need extra help, Finlay has some of the best equipment on hand, including ultraviolet tooth whiteners, photospectrometers to measure tooth discoloration, and occlusal force meters to determine how teeth come together.

In his spare time, Finlay sails on the Bay, plays golf, and spends time with his wife and daughter. "I love the Annapolis area," he says, "it's a great place to raise a family."

Dr. Lou Berman
Endodontics

While visiting a college friend at a school of dentistry, Dr. Lou Berman saw the "toys" used to created dental models and thought, "This is pretty cool. I can do this." Now, after 23 years of practice, Berman is recognized as a top endodontic specialist.

Lecturing keeps Berman aware of emerging trends in his field. "I think that keeps me on top of my game," he says. And, because Berman's office is a test site for software companies and products involved in dentistry, he sees and makes suggestions for new equipment before it reaches the market.

Over the past year, Berman has dedicated time to what he describes as his fourth child-a textbook about mouth and face trauma. The 300-page book, which is due out this month and will be the only one of its kind, includes contributions from seventeen authors from around the world; eleven chapters; and 600 images, figures, and graphics.

Berman experiences the most rewarding aspect of his job when someone at a party says, "I remember you. You did my root canal. I was in a lot of pain before I saw you and I was fine after that."

"What could be better than that?" asks Berman. "Tooth pain can be exquisite and because the only thing we do in the office is root canals . . . somebody arrives in pain and we take them out of pain. There is tremendous gratification in that."

Berman credits his reputation to high office standards, referral-based practice, and a "phenomenal" desk staff. "I think when a patient comes into a doctor's office, it's not just the doctor," he says. "I've got the best desk staff I've ever had over the 23 years I've been in practice.

Berman, a third-generation Annapolitan, loves spending time with his three sons and his wife of 13 years, Laurie.

Dr. Robert Andrews
Family Dentistry

Dr. Robert Andrews first became interested in dentistry during a fifth-grade baseball game. An errant line drive popped off a base and chipped his two front teeth. His dentist back then did not have the skills or technology to fix the break and suggested he wait until age 18 for crowns. The incident convinced Andrews of his desire to help those in similar situations, gaining the best knowledge and training possible.

After his undergraduate years, Andrews studied at Columbia University Dental School and completed his residency at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. "Being so close to Washington allowed me to work with and learn from the top dentists in the Army," he says.

After 2 more years, in southern Germany, Andrews left the army for the Medical University of South Carolina, wanting more and better training. In 1979, he began a private practice in Annapolis with another dentist.

Andrews' work revolves around the patient. "It comes down to treating the patient as you want to be treated," he says.

This golden rule philosophy is not just idle talk. Andrews tells of a time when he went out of his way to help a patient. He'd done crowns for her, using an older technology, 20 years earlier and she wanted an upgrade. Andrews flew to a lab in New York and spent the day getting to know its methods and equipment-all for this one patient.

"My name is on my work," says Andrews. "When I see a patient, I don't want to have to cross the street." With some patients coming back for their 15th year and from other states, it's obvious his philosophy works.

When not working in his office, Andrews spends his time with his 3- and 20-month-old grandchildren and his wife of 25 years.

Dr. Clifford Walzer
Oral Surgery

For the second year in a row, Dr. Clifford Walzer is ranked by his peers top in his specialty, repairing teeth through oral surgery. "The biggest advancements are the technology in treatment planning and implementation, replacing teeth with implants," Walzer says of something he refers to as "Teeth in a day." Walzer discusses the advancements he used in a recent encounter with a patient. "A woman came from L.A. who had lost all her upper and lower teeth. She's in the entertainment industry and has dentures," Walzer says. "Through working with local dentists and advanced CT imagery (you may know it as a CAT scan), we produced 3-D images of her jawbone so we could place exactly on the image where the implants are placed. All this is done from images and an exam. She walked in Friday with dentures and walked out with eight upper implants and seven lower implants and a full set of teeth."

Walzer acknowledges that the problems in oral surgery are becoming more predictable-even easier-to treat. "We can avoid having to build on bone grafting," he says. "The use of dental implants has been increasingly advanced."

A native New Yorker, Walzer moved to Annapolis after a 3-year residency at Johns Hopkins. He lives with his wife, Heleen; his son, Riley; two dogs; one cat; and five fish. "We're very fortunate and blessed," he says. "I feel like I don't go to work. It's all based on relationships. I love relationships I have with people even if it's 15 minutes. You develop a relationship that carries through the years."

Dr. Mairead O'Reilly
Adult Orthodontics

Most people think of orthodontics as a dental specialty that deals with straightening teeth. But patients who go to the office of Dr. Mairead O'Reilly learn that orthodontics deals with much more.

"We're learning to look at the patient as a complete person as opposed to just straight teeth," O'Reilly says. "We're looking at every aspect of their care-their muscles, their joints, their gums." O'Reilly stresses the importance of maintaining a stable bite that is aligned with your head and neck, allowing muscles, teeth, and joints to work properly.

In fact, O'Reilly sees a number of patients referred to her by chiropractors. By striking a balance in the head and neck, O'Reilly can help alleviate chiropractic pain. "The whole body experience has to do with a stable oral environment," O'Reilly says.

Advancements have allowed O'Reilly's practice to accomplish more with clear invisible braces, known by the brand name Invisalign. "And for patients who need the more traditional braces, we do have ceramic or tooth-colored braces, which don't stain or discolor," she says. And O'Reilly has been using mini pins, or orthodontic implants, to help move teeth to avoid future extensive restorative work.

"Adults are loving the options we can now give them that we didn't have 3 or 4 years ago," she says.

O'Reilly says that orthodontic treatment of adults is challenging because it deals with patients with multi-specialty requirements. "There is a tremendous awareness in the Annapolis area of the need for adult orthodontics," O'Reilly says.

In her free time, O'Reilly is a runner and busy mother of three. She recently returned from the last of many college trips with her eldest child. "I felt I've seen more of America in the last 6 months than I've seen in 25 years of being here," she says. "It's been fun."

Dr. Phil Philbin
Child Orthodontics

It wasn't until college that Dr. Phil Philbin knew what he wanted to do. He always knew he wanted to enter the health care field and he loved working with his hands. He ultimately decided on the perfect combination of the two: dentistry.

After obtaining his undergraduate degree at Dickenson College in Pennsylvania, Philbin attended the University of Maryland Dental School and completed his residency and specialty training at the University of Maryland Orthodontic School.

But his education did not stop there. After establishing his practice in Annapolis in 1988, Philbin worked toward and received board certification in 1994. Certification is a rigorous but voluntary program of oral and written exams designed to test knowledge of past cases and accredit dentists. "Most orthodontists don't receive certification," says Philbin, smiling and revealing perfectly straight teeth. "It is the highest form and completely voluntary."

The extra commitment to learning has bolstered his practice's success. Philbin's practice in Annapolis was so successful he opened a second, in Stevensville. But Philbin does not take all of the credit. "My staff is the best in the business," he says of the people who keep his two offices running smoothly.

"We combine state-of-the-art technology with exceptional service," he says; the two go hand in hand. But technology is not only a means to satisfying his patients. Philbin cites the Invisalign system as an example.

Invisalign is a type of clear braces considered less unsightly and less painful than traditional braces and easy to remove and clean. Though they are mainly meant for adults, newer versions are now available for teenagers, according to Philbin, who was twice chosen as a "premier provider" by the Invisalign Corporation.

Philbin enjoys fixing children's teeth, saying that early evaluation can prevent problems in adulthood. "Parents seem to be waiting for someone to suggest orthodontics," he says, "but they should bring it up themselves. Everyone can benefit from teeth alignment."

Philbin is also an avid traveler and frequently takes his wife, and three children, to exotic destinations like Costa Rica and Italy. He also sometimes coaches his children's sports teams and goes biking with his family. He likes the Annapolis area, saying, "It's nice to live around my client base in such a beautiful setting."

Dr. Nilda Collins
Pediatric Dentistry

Dr. Nilda Collins is the reason behind many children's healthy smiles. Since beginning pediatric dentistry in 1984 and her own practice in 1990, Collins has invested her warm personality, knowledge, and expertise in her young patients, sometimes cultivating relationships that last until they're adults.

"There are so many developments in pediatric dentistry," Collins says. "Materials are getting better, especially in the field of composites, bite tight fillings-they're getting better and stronger."

Collins stresses that the most important improvement in the last 2 years has been the awareness of prevention. "We've had a major awareness from the parents and the public that they need to bring their children in early," she says, crediting the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. "One of their slogans is: 'First birthday, first visit.' So the biggest breakthrough is the major awareness of bringing the children in for infant and toddler screening. That is actually even more important than technology. Most of technology is to treat, but the most important thing in pediatric dentistry is to prevent."

Collins ensures that her patients maintain the two h's: healthy and happy. "I have been able to see children who came to me when they were 2 and have seen them grow with me," Collins says. "Some are going to college. They have beautiful smiles and they're so happy to be here."

Outside of dentistry, Collins loves to travel, paint, read, and write. She aspires to one day write children's books for dentistry. "Awhile ago, I wrote a couple of plays for children and presented it at the Annapolis mall," she says. "My interest is to be able to teach prevention in a fun way."

It's easy to see that Collins loves what she does and is genuine about each patient relationship. "There are so many rewarding things about pediatric dentistry," she says. "I feel like I am touching the future and making a difference."

Dr. Deborah Odell
Periodontics

Dr. Deborah Odell doesn't settle for less. As a young dental hygienist, she gained an appreciation for periodontics and was excited at the prospect of taking patients to the next level of dental treatment. After six years of dental school and residency, she came back to start Annapolis Periodontics, her own practice dedicated to periodontics and implant dentistry.

"A lot of dental work is cosmetic these days," Dr. Odell says. "Often, enhancing the smile requires adjustment of the gums because they frame the smile. We work to restore the health of patients' gums and will add tissue through grafting or remove tissue to improve the look of a person's smile. We also place dental implants when teeth are not restorable and are best removed."

Dr. Odell and her team take continuing education courses to stay at the forefront of developments in their field. "There continue to be advances in implant technology and placement," she says. "We use bone grafts around implants to improve long-term results. Instead of taking bone from patients' mouths, bone banks and some synthetic materials are producing excellent results." She adds, "We are constantly looking at how we can prevent periodontal disease and educate patients, dental hygienists and the rest of the dental community on the importance of preventing and treating periodontal disease."

Dr. Odell knows the challenge of motivating her patients. "We can't overlook the importance of enlisting patients in taking responsibility for their care. I need to do what I can to help them make the next step. Ours is more like a treatment for a chronic disease-it requires patient commitment and sometimes lifestyle change. That's hard for people to do in anything."

Overall, Dr. Odell strongly values the relationships that result form meeting with patients. "What I really enjoy isn't just one procedure. It's about developing a long-term relationship with a patient," she says. "And for me, that's the most rewarding."

Dr. Odell lives in Annapolis with her husband Tom and four year-old daughter, Kristina.

Dr. John P. Davliakos
Prosthodontics

Dr. John P. Davliakos likes to give credit where credit is due. For the second time, Davliakos has ranked top in his specialty, prosthodontics, in our survey. Yet he doesn't hesitate to recognize his two associates, Dr. Robert A. Cook and Dr. Arezoo Bahar, whom he refers to as "two equally talented prosthodontics." Having recently renovated their dental office, the trio has combined its dental knowledge and talents with the most current technologies. "We've incorporated digital radiology, which exposes our patients to less radiation," he says. "This also allows us to work towards a more paperless office where the records are now kept on the computer, and the same with the charts." Essentially, Davliakos and his associates want to provide medical and dental clinical excellence. "It's a goal to continue using dental implants to replace missing teeth in the most natural, aesthetic state as possible," he says. "Technology has allowed us to replace structures that have been missing due to trauma or disease that we try to get as lifelike again. It's always a challenge." Davliakos also dedicates his time to clinical treatment and education. He has taught thousands of dentists locally and nationally since 1990, helping them understand how to incorporate his dental implant techniques into their practice.

Outside of the office, Davliakos spends his time with his wife, Peggy, and coaching his 10-year-old son, Zach, in lacrosse and soccer.

Dr. John Droter
Temporomandibular Disorders

Dr. John Droter is riding the crest of the wave of dental technology. Since we profiled him 2 years ago, he has obtained a number of digital gadgets that can pinpoint the causes of temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, pain.

"Rarely is TMJ caused by one issue. Most people come to me with two or three problems on top of one another," says Droter. With these new technologies, Droter claims he can separate and diagnose each problem. "If they're persistent, I'm persistent," he says.

One device he uses is a joint vibration analyzer, a cap with a magnet, microphones, and two sensors that look like square tusks. A nearby computer records the sounds, vibrations, and path of a patient's jaw as it opens and closes. "It can detect movement within 1 or 2 millimeters," he explains.

Another device is a small array of printed circuits on which a patient bites down. The resulting bite pattern is recorded on a computer, mapping which teeth make contact first and whether the bite shifts as it comes together.

His top tool is 3-D modeling software that reads CAT scan data. "We're getting three times more information than we were before," says Droter. Instead of looking at a series of cross-sectional images, he can inspect a model of a patient's skull in real time.

In addition to using all he's learned in the field to improve his practice, Droter has held seminars for dentists about diagnosing and treating TMJ disorder. He is also a visiting professor at the Children's Hospital in Washington, D.C., and he has written numerous manuals for patients and professors about TMJ.

This year's Top Dentists profiles were written by Conal Darcy, Kristin Janssen, and Kimi Raspa.

For a list of Top Dentists based on their specialties and votes, click here.