Scott K. Smith, D.D.S., has earned his reputation as one of the Philadelphia area’s most skilled and knowledgeable dental health professionals. As a leading periodontist with more than 20 years of experience providing expert care, Dr. Smith has adopted state-of-the-art technology and cutting-edge techniques to produce the best possible outcomes for patients, both in terms of dental health and overall esthetics.
Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease and infection of the gum and bone tissue around the teeth which causes bleeding, bad breath, separation of teeth and tooth loss. Patients suffering from this condition formerly had very few options, most of which required surgery, sutures, pain and significant recovery time.
“About five years ago I changed my philosophy towards treatment,” says Dr. Smith, whose practice is based in King of Prussia. “There was sufficient research and technology that proved a more effective more comfortable approach to treating periodontal disease. I became one of the pioneers to introduce the LANAP protocol.
“For the first 15 years of my career I was most concerned with eradicating disease; esthetics was a secondary thought,” he continues. “In the past I used scalpels and burrs to remove the diseased gum and bone. I now treat patients using light and sound, which assures the results of health, function and esthetics while minimizing pain and downtime.”
LANAP, short for laser-assisted new attachment procedure, enables Dr. Smith to spare patients from such laborious and often painful treatments, which left many patients at an esthetic disadvantage. He received specialized training in LANAP from Millennium Dental Technologies Inc., which developed the procedure. LANAP’s laser energy selectively removes diseased and infected tissue, leaving the healthy tissue unscathed, thereby permitting healing and regeneration while maintaining the integrity of the smile.
“Such dramatic results can be accomplished in two relatively brief appointments—one for each side of the mouth,” Dr. Smith says. “This compares to years of treatment for the traditional methods.” Dr. Smith points out another very important reason for LANAP: “Medically compromised people, those on blood thinners or undergoing heart surgery or joint replacement surgery can safely be treated for gum disease with LANAP.” Effectively treating periodontitis can have remarkable effects on the quality of life of so many people, according to Dr. Smith.
“Periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease have strong correlation,” he says. “We’re starting to see significant research that suggests periodontal disease affects arteriosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and low birth weight in women who are pregnant. Periodontal disease is not just an oral concern but also a medical issue.”
To complement his periodontal practice, Dr. Smith has built on his expertise to offer a comprehensive suite of procedures to treat patients’ health and esthetics—both inside the mouth and out. This includes replacement of teeth with implants, reconstruction of the jawbone by regeneration with stem-cell technology and biologic materials, procedures that utilize techniques similar to those utilized by orthopedic surgeons to stimulate bone growth. He also offers facial esthetic treatments, such as Botox and dermal fillers, as well as laser skin resurfacing, to minimize the effects of aging by rejuvenating the soft tissue around patients’ eyes, forehead and mouth.
Clearly, Dr. Smith is “not your grandfather’s periodontist,” as patient Melissa Jones can attest. Jones came to Dr. Smith because she had been unhappy with the appearance of her teeth for most of her life. When she found herself in the middle of a divorce and wanting to “reinvent” herself, she decided it was time to invest in a new smile.
“When I was a child, we didn’t use braces like what’s now available for children and teenagers, so my teeth were very bad,” says Jones, who asked that her real name not be used. “I needed several teeth replaced, and with the technology [Dr. Smith has], he can figure out the condition and health of the gums and bones.”
Dr. Smith applied his expertise in smile reconstruction and tooth replacement to Jones’ smile. This required the planning and placement of several dental implants.
“Dr. Smith did a fantastic job,” Jones says. “He was excellent in explaining to me exactly what it was that I needed, which helped me a lot because I had a lot of questions. … My experience with Dr. Smith was very good. I now see a big difference in smiling and eating; it really is unbelievable. You can tell that he and his team understand patients, and you can tell how much he likes his job.”
Another patient, Mary Thompson, came to see Dr. Smith because she felt she was beginning to look “tired” and “drained.” She sought to change her appearance through his facial esthetics practice, SKS Facial Esthetics. She now considers the minimally invasive procedures offered by Dr. Smith to be “maintenance,” similar to getting her hair highlighted.
“Women tend to have a really critical eye about themselves,” says Thompson, who did not want to share her real name. “I think we’re looking for some help, a little tweaking, and looking to have the outside appearance match the energy that we feel inside. Every so often you come in for tweaking. It’s not like you’re redoing your whole appearance; you’re just making yourself look as good as you can.”
If a patient such as Thompson wants to have fuller lips or eliminate vertical lines around the mouth called “smoker’s lines” that is caused by loss of volume of the skin, Dr. Smith might suggest the use of Botox or a dermal fillers such as Juvéderm, Belotero and Radiesse. Here, he will use a blunt-tipped instrument called a microcannula to place the filler into the desired area. “The micro-cannula avoids the need for multiple needles, which is traditionally done, and thereby avoids pain, bruising and swelling,” Dr. Smith says. “My patients don’t even need anesthetic to provide these amazing results.”
“Dr. Smith happens to have a really good eye,” says Thompson. “He’s very artistic. I like to look ageless more than ‘a certain age.’ I really admire people in the media that keep themselves looking really good, and I know they’ve had all the work done. Why shouldn’t I? We’re in an era where you don’t have to look tired or drained or older than you feel inside, and I think that’s pretty great.
“I went to a reunion in New York City, where I saw people I hadn’t seen in for over 35 years,” she adds. “Someone came up to me and said, ‘You look terrific.’ So, after 35-plus years, that’s pretty nice thing to hear.”
Dr. Smith delivers such exceptional results in an environment designed to put patients at ease and “ameliorate their fears.” He is supported in his practice by a team of hygienists, estheticians, dental assistants and nurses who were handpicked for their skills. Although the procedures he performs are relatively painless, patients with anxiety can receive oral sedation or the services of an in-house anesthesiologist.
“I’m treating the whole patient,” he says. “If you have been diagnosed with or know you have periodontal disease, know that there are procedures that can bring you back to health that are noninvasive and very, very comfortable. Also, if you are not happy with how you look on the outside, we can treat that easily to match how you feel on the inside.
“We live in a day and age where you don’t have to accept not liking how you feel or how you look,” he continues. “We can treat everything from periodontal disease, missing teeth with implants and improving your smile with plastic surgical techniques to restoring your lost youthfulness with esthetic treatments, all in a safe, easy and effective manner.”
CPI Dental
www.cpident.com
SKS Facial Esthetics
www.skscosmeticprocedures.com
170 N. Henderson Road, Suite 308
King of Prussia, PA 19406
610-265-7023
Photograph by Allure West Studios
