Category: News

Pinnacle Center Dental Implants and Periodontics 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 Pinnacle Center Dental Implants and Periodontics has evolved alongside it.

A Brief History of Pinnacle Center Dental Implants and Periodontics

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 Pinnacle Center Dental Implants and Periodontics.

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 Pinnacle Center Dental Implants and Periodontics, 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 Pinnacle Center Dental Implants and Periodontics, 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 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 Pinnacle Center Dental Implants and Periodontics 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 Pinnacle Center Dental Implants and Periodontics?

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 Pinnacle Center Dental Implants and Periodontics, 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 Pinnacle Center Dental Implants and Periodontics, 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 Pinnacle Center Dental Implants and Periodontics 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 Pinnacle Center Dental Implants and Periodontics are currently accepting new patients. Contact us today!