By Dr. Kateryna Latypova, DMD
My name is Dr. Kateryna Latypova, DMD. I lived the first half of my life in Ukraine, which seems like a dream now. This year will mark my 50/50 split in my life between Ukraine and USA. Maturity has been a personal quest for me ever since I turned 50. It seems both inevitable and unexpected. These 50 numbers appear to follow me everywhere.
My professional focus as a periodontist is largely in the over-50 age group, as the prevalence of periodontal disease increases significantly with age. Around 2 in 5 adults between ages 45 and 64 experience periodontitis, unfortunately it often goes undiagnosed. Additional risk factors are seen in individuals with diabetes or who smoke, as well as in certain racial and ethnic minorities.
My periodontal practice was first started in 1997 by Doctor William Guild. What began as a celebrity-filled periodontal practice in New York City turned into a dental office in the scenic Vermont town of Bennington. Dr. Guild was in his 50s when he made the radical decision to move from NYC to VT. Maturity spoke to him loud and clear. He slowly built dental relationships in the community, and the part-time practice became bustling and busy. When the practice became too busy for one provider in 2008, he posted an ad looking for an associate. Long story short, I took the position and joined the practice.
Fast forward a few years – he sold the practice to me, and we continued to practice side by side until the time of the 2020 pandemic. He chose retirement over returning to the practice as he had reached retirement age.
The COVID impact gave us a reality check and showed the vulnerability of a referral business in a small town. We were closed for almost four full months, and it is a blessing we were able to bounce back. Many patients had reservations about coming back to an office setting for dental care.
The disaster of the COVID closure did have certain victories – we were awarded a state grant, which allowed us to buy a new CBCT scan unit. It is essential for quality implant placement and assists in various ways with many other procedures. I’m very thankful that I have a high-quality machine that allows me to do very precise work. We had to adapt to the new circumstances after 2020. After a sharp turn our practice flows with generous new perks.
A few years ago, I took the necessary courses to become an Invisalign Provider. I can successfully treat periodontally involved ortho cases. Periodontal patients with orthodontic problems are generally not a welcome scenario for a traditional orthodontist. This skill became a niche. I’ve learned to help people realign their teeth, open spaces for implants, or sometimes close the spaces and not have implants.
Additionally, I have embraced lasers. I regularly utilize a small but powerful diode laser tool that helps treatment of periimplantitis and aids with photobiomodulation of a surgical site.
Despite a nationwide hygiene shortage, we feel fortunate and proud to have hygienist extraordinaire Kate Smith on our team. She works efficiently to deliver a completely thorough and painless visit. Kate also employs an airflow machine that helps to keep inflammation at bay around teeth and implants, which does not damage any of the dental work as opposed to the conventional tools.
Speaking of advantages of maturity, over 20 years of professional experience covered proverbial 10,000 hours more than twice. That, combined with wisdom, enables the stable discerning of right from wrong; clinically and otherwise. Diagnosing periodontal diseases is no longer tricky. Having the internal compass calibrated by experience provides confidence and peace of mind. I am constantly learning, and the science of periodontology broadens my horizons. I continuously participate in a multitude of continued education courses that help me improve my skills and stay on top of my game.
Periodontal specialty is closely related to the medical profession as it addresses systemic disease. The whole person is treated, not just parts.
I’m so full of joy and contentment to be in my beautiful practice along with my wonderful staff working by my side. I take pride in the professionalism of the practice, and the fact that we get to help people every day.
Maturity is a constant practice, an ongoing process. I strive to continue to share the fruits of my labor with the community.
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