Category: News

The Silberg Center for Dental Science has just celebrated its 40th year specializing in periodontics and dental implants. Looking at how far we’ve come, it’s safe to say it’s a far cry from the early days back when Dr. Mark E. Silberg graduated in 1978. In those days, dental implants were a rarity. “In 1974, when I started dental school, dental implants were generally not being done,” says Dr. Silberg. And while the stories of dental implants only being conducted by New York dentist, Dr. Leonard Linkow, were considered to be the experiments of a “mad man,” the world has changed considerably, and The Silberg Center for Dental Science has evolved alongside it.

A Brief History of The Silberg Center for Dental Science

When the Silberg Center opened its doors in 1980, the goal was simple, creating a new practice that would allow Dr. Silberg to gain a far better chance of delivering his vision of oral healthcare. With any dental practice, the early years were tempestuous, but by the mid-1980s, it hit its stride. Due to word-of-mouth at a high level of interest in patients, 1987 was the culmination of his early years, being one of the first to utilize dental implant technology. Pioneering, but still being used to this day, dental implants are the cornerstone of dental patient care provided by Dr. Silberg and his team.

But where does this drive come from? The aforementioned experiments of the “mad man,” Dr. Leonard Linkow, had a direct influence on Dr. Silberg. In 1984, Dr. Linkow had perfected the process of dental implants and was training others to do the same. Dr. Silberg’s first session with Dr. Linkow in 1985 set Dr. Silberg on a path that has changed his entire practice and outlook on oral health.

The evolving nature of The Silberg Center for Dental Science, combined with Dr. Silberg’s determination to focus on improving levels of patient care, resulted in new technology being incorporated. The pioneering LANAP laser has enabled the practice to treat gum disease with precision and focus. While the Cone Beam 3D CAT scan system has enabled us to increase the success rates of dental implants. Suffice to say, we would not be where we are today if Dr. Silberg did not hear about the experimental nature of Dr. Linkow.

About Dr. Mark E. Silberg

Dr. Silberg is driven by the need to pioneer, and going way back to his graduation from the University of Pittsburgh Dental School in 1978, moved on to the Advanced Specialty Training Program in Periodontics at the University of Pennsylvania, which solidified his belief in saving teeth, rather than removing them.

After following the teachings of Dr. Linkow, he incorporated his focus on the art of dental implants. His focus was to make them more available to patients, and over the 40 years of running The Silberg Center for Dental Science, the process continues to this day. His focus is on the fine-tuning of the dental implant process, ensuring that it’s not about removing teeth, but rather making the process efficient and safer.

And this work has not gone unnoticed! Dr. Silberg has been honored by his peers as the Top Periodontist in Pittsburgh over the last 15 years and has been named as one of the region’s top dentists between 2007 and 2020. However, his honors are secondary to the journey he has in crafting and molding the process of dental implants to increase their longevity and aesthetics. From periodontist to pioneer in his own way, Dr. Silberg is dedicated to the values of health, safety, and comfort, and this is evidenced in his practice, his staff, and his latest addition to the team.

Introducing… Dr. Katherine Roll

The latest addition to the team is our secret weapon in periodontics and implant dentistry. Dr. Katherine L. Roll was welcomed onto the team in 2018 as an associate periodontist. Dr. Roll doesn’t just provide a professional experience, but, like Dr. Silberg, appreciates the art that goes along with periodontal and implant surgery. And she knows first-hand what you, as the patient, is going through. Having undergone periodontal surgery as a teenager, she is right there in the dentist’s chair with you. Her background in her Bachelor of Science degree at Cornell University, as well as her doctorate of dental medicine from Rutgers University, has brought her training full circle. She has now settled at The Silberg Center for Dental Science where she specializes in cosmetic surgery, such as gum reconstruction and periodontal plastic surgery procedures.

Suffice to say, we are thrilled that Dr. Roll is on board. As well as her impressive experience and finesse with our patients, she has won her fair share of awards too. Having been selected for the Top Periodontist in Pittsburgh award by her peers, and her memberships at the American Academy of Periodontology, the Academy of Osseointegration, the American Dental Association, and the Seattle Study Club, it’s clear to see she is more than a qualified candidate to look after your oral health.

What Does the Future Look Like for The Silberg Center?

We’ve celebrated 40 years, now it is time to move on. With the addition of the Dentin Grinder in 2019, and our determination to bring more pioneering technologies and techniques into periodontal and implant dentistry, our goal is to seek out new levels of innovation, and pioneer practices so the patient can benefit. With our close-knit team going from strength to strength, we can now look back on what we’ve achieved over the last 40 years. But it is no time to rest. With the latest advances in technology coming thick and fast, we are now looking to the next wave of periodontics so we can remain true to our pledge, and ensure that whatever dental issue you have, you can rest assured that we provide you with the service with precision based upon our 5P process. Contact us to schedule an appointment for periodontal and dental implant treatment today!

Dr. Katherine L. Roll, a periodontist at The Silberg Center for Dental Science, has been awarded Top Dentist Pittsburg 2020 – an accolade she has received every year since 2006.

Dr. Roll embarked on a career in periodontics following positive personal experiences as a teenager. Having undergone invasive procedures herself at a young age, she intimately understands the feelings of anxiety and fear that can accompany sitting in the dentist’s chair. For that reason, she makes it her mission to provide the highest quality of care to her patients, replicating the favorable treatment she received when she was younger.

Dr. Roll is a board-certified dental implant surgeon and periodontist. A Pittsburgh native, she received her Doctorate of Medicine from Rutgers University, followed by a residency in periodontics at the University of Washington.

At the core of her clinical philosophy is a desire to treat patients with compassion. Her goal is to help them reclaim their lost smiles, giving them confidence and pride in their appearance.

Her education reflects this. While at the University of Washington, she focused on full mouth rehabilitative care, including cosmetic procedures such as sinus reconstruction, gum reconstruction, dental implant surgery, and periodontally accelerated osteogenic orthodontics. She is also trained in intravenous sedation, which, again, chimes with her desire to keep patients calm and relaxed.

This unique approach explains why Pittsburg Magazine awarded Dr. Roll Top Dentist Pittsburg 2020. The media outlet determines the recipients of its annual award using data from topDentist – an outfit that began operating in the mid-2000s to identify the best dental professionals in the country by collating peer evaluations. It is currently the only list of its type operating in the United States and contains scores for more than 360 dentists working in the Pittsburgh tri-state metropolitan area.

The survey asks dentists the following question:

“If you had a patient in need of a dentist, which dentist would you refer them to?”

Dentists must then think carefully about which of their fellow practitioners they would most trust to look after their patients. Respondents consider factors that include their nominated dentist’s manner with patients, level of training, the contribution they make to the dental community, and years of experience.

topDentist allows the nomination of peers who appear on the American Dental Association website or other local societies, meaning that virtually any practitioner in the area can take part. The survey asks respondents to eliminate any bias in their decision-making, focusing solely on the dentist’s professional merits to keep the process fair. Survey organizers also ask practitioners only to evaluate their peers in areas that they understand.

At the end of the process, Pittsburgh Magazine collates the scores and calculates the average. With this in hand, the media outlet then eliminates low-scoring candidates and considers the remainder in further detail, taking into account the role of bias in the voting process. Before finalizing any decision, the organization checks all dentists against state dental boards for disciplinary action. Editors also give careful care and consideration to whether a dentist has received any other awards from professional bodies.

Dr. Roll and her colleague, Dr. Mark E. Silberg (also a recipient of Pittsburgh Magazine’s Top Dentists Pittsburgh 2020), operate The Silberg Center for Dental Science, an innovative dental practice committed to the latest prosthetics, technology, and patient care. The clinic believes in adopting state of the art techniques and educating fellow dentists about them. Dr. Roll lectures nationally and internationally about her clinical work and has had speaking engagements at prestigious institutions, such as the American Academy of Periodontology.

Interestingly, Pittsburgh Magazine’s Top Dentist 2020 award isn’t the only accolade Dr. Roll has received in recent years. In 2018, the Academy of Osseointegration awarded her Best Oral Clinical Research Presentation. Since then, various associations have invited her to more speaking engagements.

Dr. Roll is heavily involved in continuing education in both surgical and non-surgical areas. And she currently has a role as an assistant professional at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and maintains membership at several professional organizations, including the Academy of Periodontology and Academy of Osseointegration. Her professional involvement provided her with an extensive network and the chance to share her expertise – a factor that contributed to her Pittsburgh Magazine award.

Dr. Roll’s peers nominated her for the Top Dentist award owing to her qualities as a clinical practitioner. As a specialist, she prides herself on honesty, integrity, and providing the highest quality of care possible to her patients.

Patients also rate Dr. Roll and The Silberg Center for Dental Science in general very highly. There is a genuine sense that the practice cares about the patients that come through its doors. Everyone on the team commits themselves to the patient from the moment they arrive until they leave. The goal is to make ostensibly unpleasant procedures (such as root canals) as comfortable as possible. Dr. Roll does not want patients to feel unmanageable feelings of distress when in her care and offers various techniques that ensure that they don’t.

Dr. Roll instinctively understands that effective dental practices must go beyond mere procedures and facilitate their patients’ emotional needs. She endeavors to build trust from the outset, guiding the patient through dental work at every step of the process. Ultimately, her goal is to find ways to transform the experience into something that is both medically sound and psychologically pleasant. Going to the dentist should not, in her view, be a negative experience.

Dr. Roll is widely considered a leader in her field for those considering cosmetic work. She uses state of the art clinical procedures to rebuild gums and lost teeth, and repair crooked teeth. Dr. Roll regularly receives referrals from other dentists who trust the quality of her work. She and the team at The Silber Center for Dental Science are currently accepting new patients. Contact us today!

Dr. Mark E. Silberg – a periodontist and Pennsylvania native – has won the coveted Top Dentist Pittsburgh 2020 for the 14th year in a row. Pittsburgh Magazine made the award based on thousands of peer evaluations using a robust methodology to reduce bias.

Dr. Silberg is a different type of dentist. From an early stage of his training, he saw that current methodologies were outdated and ripe for improvement. He wondered why dental schools were still teaching students to grind down teeth to replace crowns and fit dentures. These technologies were more than three hundred years old. Surely, he thought, there must be a better way.

With this in mind, Dr. Silberg became interested in dental implants. Replacing the root of a tooth with a post fused with the bone seemed like a better approach than trying to use ad-hoc or imperfect solutions. However, back in 1974, when he was completing his medical training, attitudes towards implants were overwhelmingly negative. Rumors even circulated that New York dentist Leonard Linkow – a pioneer using implants in his patients – was a “madman.”

Dr. Silberg, however, wasn’t convinced that current practice was the best that it could be. He had gone into dentistry to save teeth, not remove them, so he decided to do something about it.

In the early 1980s, Dr. Silberg discovered that Linkow had perfected his implement technology and could create highly functional false teeth. In 1985, he arranged to get training from Dr. Linkow directly, transforming his dental career. Once trained, he dedicated his energies to fine-tuning the placement process, using implant techniques that accurately reproduced the original teeth’ aesthetic. His goal was (and still is) to make dental implants more predictable and available to patients while reducing discomfort.

This attention to detail and desire to improve patient care forms the basis of Pittsburgh Magazine’s decision to name Dr. Silberg as a Top Dentist for the 14th year in succession. He has courage of his convictions and a willingness to pursue novel treatments if there is a good chance to improve patient outcomes.

Pittsburgh Magazine uses an excerpted list from the 2020 edition of topDENTISTS to determine who the Top Dentist should be. No popularity contest, this survey relies on peer testimony from a pool of dentists listed at the American Dental Association and local societies. It asks dentists to nominate which professionals they would send their patients to if they needed dental care. Respondents are encouraged to put aside their personal or political differences and make assessments based on professional evaluations only.

Once topDENTISTS completes balloting, Pittsburgh Magazine compiles the scores to create an average. All those dentists with scores above the threshold for the Pittsburgh area enter a shortlist for further consideration. The media outlet considers marginal cases as well as how bias might influence voting patterns. It then checks the dentists’ records against state dental board disciplinary action before coming to a final decision.

Dr. Silberg is well-known in professional dental circles for his role as an educator. When he is not practicing, he shares his experience and insights with fellow dentists. He loves teaching and sharing knowledge and is the Discovery Study Club founder, begun in 1994. His mission is to continue educating and training members of the organization so that their patients can benefit from state-of-the-art implant treatments.

Dr. Silberg sees part of his role as providing a forum for like-minded professionals. For him, the most rewarding part of directing a club is that he gets to work with fellow doctors who all share a passion for excellence, integrity, and patient care. He also lectures extensively on dental implants and periodontics, traveling to various dental associations and societies, including The Three Rivers Dental Meeting, Children’s Hospital Pediatric Residents, Allegheny General Hospital Dental Department, and the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine.

In addition to his speaking work, Dr. Silberg is also the co-author of Valuocity with Dr. Marc Cooper – a practice management book written as a fable. The novel reflects Dr. Silberg’s struggles running a dental practice in the recession-ravaged economy of the 1980s. It follows the fictional story of Dr. Carl Oldquist – a formerly successful practice owner, now facing a 20 percent decline in revenue. The book chronicles how he manages to turn his situation around by attending various educational seminars and modernizing his operations. Eventually, he learns the tools that enable him to thrive in the new economy and turn his practice around.

Patients rate Dr. Silberg and his team very highly. Primarily, they appreciate the friendly yet professional vibe of his practice and the quality of care received. The Silberg team are exceptionally knowledgeable and help patients feel relaxed, even when going for ostensibly unpleasant procedures, such as tooth extractions,

Pittsburgh Magazine collected questionnaire data on more than 360 dentists in the tri-state metropolitan area to determine the winner. Dr. Silberg says that he is deeply honored to have been selected for the Top Dentist award for fourteen years in a row. From the outset as a periodontist, he has promoted the best treatments and encouraged his peers to move away from redundant methods. Now he has gained recognition for the work that he has done to move the dental profession forwards.

For those considering dental implants or periodontics, Dr. Silberg is widely regarded as a leader in his field, as judged by his peers. He not only uses the latest techniques but works hard to educate the remainder of the dental professional community about them. He is always keen to improve patient care and compliance by placing safety at the forefront of everything that he does. Dr. Silberg is currently accepting new patients and takes the time to learn about everyone he takes on board. He receives referrals from other dentists and from existing patients who recommend him to their friends. Contact us to schedule an appointment today!