2026 WSP AS SPEAKER - Western Society of Periodontology

2026 WSP And WDHS Annual Session

Georgios Romanos, DDS, PhD, Prof Dr med dent

Lecture: Revisited Peri-implantitis Therapy. Role of Implant Surface for the Implant Long-term Success

Professor of Periodontology (NY) and Professor of Oral Surgery (Germany). He is trained in Periodontology, Prosthodontics and Oral Surgery; Board Certified in Oral Surgery (Germany) and Diplomate by the American Board of Periodontology (USA).

Past President of Laser-Biophotonics Group, the Implantology Research Group of the IADR, the AO-Foundation, Fellow of AADR, AO, ICD, ICOI, and the ACD; author of more than 450 publications (h-Index: 86; >25,000 citations), editor in eight books, more than 800 presentations globally; Recipient of the Distinguished Scientist Award (AAP), Prosthodontics-Implant Research Award (IADR), Award for Excellence in Dental Laser Research and the Outstanding Educator Award (ALD).

Homa H. Zadeh, DDS, PhD

Lecture: Paradigm Shifts in Periodontal and Peri-implant Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Homa Zadeh is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and Implant Surgery and a former tenured associate professor at USC Ostrow School of Dentistry, where he served as Director of Postdoctoral Periodontology and Chair of the Periodontology Section. He earned his BS from UCLA, DDS from USC, and completed postdoctoral periodontal training and a PhD in immunology at the University of Connecticut. An internationally recognized lecturer in over 30 countries, Dr. Zadeh is the innovator of the VISTA technique for treating gum recession and has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications.

Dan Holtzclaw, DDS, MS

Sponsored By : Noris Medical – lecture and hands on

Lecture: Predictable Success with Zygomatic and Pterygoid Dental Implants in Clinical Practice

Dr. Dan Holtzclaw is a Diplomate of both the American Board of Periodontology and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. Dr. Holtzclaw has published over 60 articles in peer reviewed journals and has authored multiple textbooks specific to full arch remote anchorage dental implant treatment. Dr. Holtzclaw served as the Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Implant and Advanced Clinical Dentistry for 13 years and adjunct faculty for the Periodontal Residency Program at the United States Navy Post Graduate Dental School. After selling his private practice, which was dedicated to complex full arch implantology, he served as Director of Fixed Arch Services for Affordable Care LLC, a dental service organization with over 425 clinics in 42 states. Currently, Dr. Holtzclaw serves as President of Holzklau Full Arch Dental Implant Consulting Services.

Marianna Evans, DMD

Lecture: Non-Surgical Midfacial Expansion with MARPE as part of Interdisciplinary treatment of complex cases: periodontal perspective.

Marianna Evans, DMD is a board certified specialist in orthodontics and periodontics. She received her DMD and dual specialty training in orthodontics and periodontics the University of Pennsylvania. To serve her patients better she joined the University of Pennsylvania Sleep Surgery Department as adjunct professor. She is a founder of OrthoPerio Institute, an educational platform offering advanced courses for dental practitioners with extensive emphasis on MARPE, skeletal expansion for all ages and Airway. Dr. Evans is also the founder of Infinity Dental Specialists, an interdisciplinary practice focusing on orofacial development, periodontal, and airway health. Dr. Evans divides her time between her busy practice, teaching and conducting research on maxillary hypoplasia, skeletal expansion with MARPE, and their implications to oral and systemic health.

Clark Chen, DMD

Lecture: Complications from a Perio/Prosth Perspective

Clark Chen DMD is an Assistant Professor in the Prosthodontics department at the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health (ASDOH). He graduated dental school from ASDOH in 2012 where he also received a certificate in public health from AT Still’s Arizona School of Health Sciences. Dr. Chen received his certificate in Prosthodontics from the University of California, San Francisco in 2015 and his certificate in Periodontics from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2021. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and practices periodontics in a private practice in addition to his academic duties.

Dr Guilherme Cabral

Lecture: Precision and Efficiency in the Planning, Surgical, and Final Restorative Phases of Full- Arch Implant Rehabilitation.

Received his certification on Dental Technology in 1995, and completed his undergraduate studies at State University of Sao Paulo with DDS in 1999 . Developing consulting of Digital Smile Design System (DSD) with Dr Christian Coachman in partnership since 1995. As a Member of Brazilian Society of Esthetic dentistry (SBOE) he became teacher and speaker in several subjects including dental morphology, dental ceramic, Implantology, prosthetic planning, as well as CoAuthor of several articles and chapter’s books regarding implant Dentistry and Esthetic Dentistry. Last decade He was running his own Private Practice with in-house lab and Aesthetic Restorative Training Institute in São Paulo Brazil, focusing on microscope enhanced dentistry, clinical Research and developing Interdisciplinary Communication tools over sea for complex cases and oral rehabilitation. The constant movement for self-improvement inspired him to join again Team Atlanta 2.0 in 2024 (partnership since 2007) to seek for highest performance possible by incorporating the best materials, technology, clinical and dental laboratory practices.

Dr. Marcelo Silva

Lecture: All-on-X: A Digital Guided Journey — From Planning to Final Prosthesis

Dr. Silva is a highly trained clinician specializing in implant dentistry, with comprehensive expertise in both surgical and restorative procedures. Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, he completed his dental education in Mogi das Cruzes before moving to the United States to advance his career. He trained extensively at the renowned multidisciplinary practice “Team Atlanta,” working closely with Drs. Maurice Salama and David Garber.

Committed to practicing dentistry in the U.S., Dr. Silva earned his second DDS degree from the University of Southern California. He went on to complete advanced Post-Doctoral training in Prosthodontics at Augusta University, followed by a prestigious fellowship at the Ronald Goldstein Center for Esthetic and Implant Dentistry under Dr. Gerard Chiche.

Dr. Silva currently practices in Atlanta at Team Atlanta, one of the leading multidisciplinary dental practices in the country. He lives with his wife, Maria Paula Paranhos Silva, and their two children, Stela and Noah.

Dr. Suman Bathina

Lecture: Perio–Endo Synergy: Collaborative Strategies for Keeping Natural Teeth

Dr. Suman Bathina received his dental degree (BDS) from the Government Dental College & Hospital, Hyderabad, India, in 2001. Upon graduation, he moved to the Caribbean and practiced in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, for 8 years. Dr. Bathina did his Endodontic Preceptorship at UCLA. He received his Certificate in Endodontics from the University of Southern California College of Dentistry in 2013. He moved to Texas and has been practicing endodontics in Texas since 2013. He is a board-certified endodontist by the American Board of Endodontics. He is a Fellow of the International Association of Endodontists (IAE). Dr. Bathina is a member of the American Association of Endodontists (AAE), International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT), International Association of Dental Research (IADR), and American Dental Association (ADA). He was involved in voluntary work providing free endodontic care through mobile clinics, Union Rescue Mission, and Texas Mission of Mercy. He volunteered in conducting national oral health survey programs in Jamaica and also a dental mission trip to Cambodia. He believes that “To teach is to learn” and is very thankful for the opportunity to teach at the Department of Endodontics, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry. He was part of the team until 2021. He then moved to Austin and has been in full-time private practice ever since. Dr. Bathina’s journey since 2001 has been very humbling. This journey took him to different countries, dealing with different cultures and clinical setups, and helped him to improve both personally and professionally.

Antonia Teruel, DMD, MS, PhD

Lecture: TMD - Beyond Clicking and Clenching

Dr. Teruel is passionate about helping her patients and takes great pride in being able to help patients with chronic orofacial pain, temporomandibular joint disorders, neuropathic pain and neuralgias, sleep apnea, among others. Dr. Teruel is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain. Dr. Teruel has extensive experience in patient care and teaching since 2008 and has taught in major universities including Ostrow School of Dentistry of University of Southern California in Los Angeles, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine in Pittsburgh, and Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona. Dr. Teruel maintains a full-time private practice at the Head Pain Institute, in Scottsdale, Arizona. She provides continuing education courses in her field of expertise and is a published author having contributed several publications and book chapters. Dr. Teruel is a member of American Academy of Orofacial Pain. Dr. Teruel is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Lauralee Nygaard, DDS, MS

Lecture: Metabolic Dysfunction and Periodontal Disease

Dr. Lauralee Nygaard is a Board-Certified Periodontist who has been in private practice in Spokane, Washington since 1995. She is an active member of the American Academy of Periodontology, a fellow of the International Society of Periodontal Plastic Surgeons. And is director of the Meridian Dental Study Group an affiliate of the Seattle Study Club.

Dr. Nygaard was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta and attended dental school and periodontics residency at Loma Linda University. Were she received both her Doctor of Dental Surgery and Masters in periodontal science degrees.

In 2005 Dr Nygaard suffered a stroke while doing surgery on a patient. As she battled to restore her health she learned about the connection between her dental disease and her stroke. Since recovering from her stroke and fighting to regain her own optimal health she has learned it is not possible to separate oral health from systemic health and she is committed to partnering with her patients in their journey to achieve both oral and systemic health. Dr. Nygaard also provides her patients with the full range of periodontal services including dental implants, osseous surgery, sinus lifts, ridge augmentations, and genetic testing and inflammation management. She has a passion for esthetic periodontal procedures as well as exceptional customer service.

John Kim, DMD, MS

Lecture: Incorporating Biologics for Predicable Implant Therapy

Dr. John Kim began his education by receiving his undergraduate degree with honors in Biology from the University of Virginia in 1999. He earned his D.M.D. degree from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 2003. In 2006, Dr. Kim earned his Masters of Science in Periodontology as well as his Certificate of Advanced Study in Periodontology from the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Dentistry at Chapel Hill. Dr. Kim’s three year residency emphasized dental implants, bone grafting, gum grafting, periodontal regeneration, sinus grafting and cosmetic surgery. The UNC School of Dentistry has awarded him the Elsie & Baxter Sapp Fellowship and also nominated him as a candidate for the Kramer Award for Excellence in Periodontics. During his studies and training in dental school, Dr. Kim was actively involved in research. At Harvard, his research focused on implant survival and risk factors. At the UNC School of Dentistry, he collaborated with the late Dr. Stephen Offenbacher and Dr. David Paquette on the relationship between periodontal disease and heart disease. In 2007, he became board-certified and was awarded Diplomate status after being examined by a panel of internationally respected peers.

Dr. Kim actively participates in a wide range of training activities both nationally and internationally, including conducting hands on courses and delivering lectures at conferences, seminars, and webinars. He is known as an expert on guided bone regeneration, implant therapy, and soft tissue grafting.

When not in the office, Dr. Kim enjoys spending time with his family. He has been married to his wife, Dr. Heather Kim since 2006. They have 2 boys and 1 Japanese Spitz. Dr. Kim’s hobbies include exercising, traveling, following sports, and playing poker. Growing up in Virginia, he is an avid Washington pro football fan as he has not missed watching a single game in 35+ years!

Dr. Robert Carvalho da Silva

Lecture: Preventing and Solving esthetic/biological complications at implant-supported restorations: ImplantePerio decision trees

Robert Carvalho da Silva received his dental degree from Uberlândia Federal University in 1994. Is board certificated in Periodontics at the Brazilian Dental Association/Brasília section in 1997, and completed his Master (2002) and PhD (2004) programs at Piracicaba Dental School/ Campinas University. He was the first recipient of the first edition of the e Bud Tarson award granted by the AAP (2005), and one of the winners of the “Growth Against Recession – Esthetic case competition” – esthetic case book (2011). He is also a professor at the ImplantePerio Institute – research and advanced dental training in São Paulo, and is author and co-author of several scientific publications and chapters in textbooks with emphasis on periodontal tissue management around teeth and implants. He is one of the authors of the book “Reconstrução Tecidual Estética” (2009) published in Portuguese, Spanish and Italian, and “PerioImplantodontia Estética”(2016) published in Portuguese, English, Spanish, Chinese and Russian.

Irene Marron-Tarrazzi, DMD, MS

Lecture: The Anterior Edit: The Art of Invisibility in the Esthetic Zone

Dr. Irene Marron-Tarrazzi is a board-certified periodontist with a full-time private practice in Brickell, Miami. She earned her dental degree from Nova Southeastern University and completed her post-doctoral training in Periodontics at UNC-Chapel Hill. She also serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Post-Graduate Periodontics Program at Nova Southeastern University.

Dr. Marron-Tarrazzi is Chair of the FDI Membership Liaison and Support Committee and former Chair of the FDI Section on Women Dentists Worldwide. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and a Fellow of the ITI. A past Vice President of the American Dental Association, she was the youngest and first Latina in that role. She has been recognized with honors including Florida Dentist of the Year, NSU Alumni of the Year, and the Lucy Hobbs Woman-to-Watch Award.

Dr. Satish Kumar

Lecture: Next Generation Regeneration: From Biomaterials to AI in Periodontal and Implant Therapy

Dr. Kumar received his DMD degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and completed advanced specialty training in periodontics, dental implant surgery, oral medicine, temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and orofacial pain at the Ostrow School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California. He is a board-certified specialist and Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, the American Board of Oral Medicine, and the American Board of Orofacial Pain. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Dentists. Dr. Kumar practices at Arrowhead Periodontics & Dental Implants in Glendale, Arizona.

In addition to patient care, he is active in teaching and research and currently serves as an adjunct professor at the USC Ostrow School of Dentistry and the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health at A.T. Still University. His commitment to education and research has been recognized with numerous honors, including the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation’s Educator Scholarship, the AAP’s Balint Orban Memorial Award for Clinical Research, and the American Academy of Oral Medicine’s Lester Burket Memorial Award. His academic work includes more than 75 publications, including original articles, reviews, critical summaries, and book chapters, and he serves as a peer reviewer for high-impact scientific journals in dentistry and medicine.

He is a frequently invited speaker and provides continuing education nationwide on topics including periodontal regeneration, oral-systemic health connections, peri-implant diseases, oral cancer, and oral medicine. Dr. Kumar is also active in many professional organizations and serves on numerous committees at the state and national levels.

Outside of dentistry, Dr. Kumar enjoys books, music, and movies, and he loves playing tennis, spending time with his family, and traveling.

Dr. Vahid Khoshkam

Lecture: Optimizing the Outcomes of Immediate Implant Placement with Peri-implant Soft Tissue Phenotype Modification

Dr. Vahid Khoshkam is a board-certified periodontist whose work centers on periodontal plastic surgery and Implant Dentistry with extensive experience in soft-tissue augmentation, recession coverage, and peri-implant mucosal optimization. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and is a frequent invited speaker at national and international meetings.He is an International Team for Implantology (ITI) fellow and an adjunct assistant professor of the University of Southern California.

Harjit Singh Sehgal BDS, MS, FAGE

Lecture: From Risk Identification to Clinical Management: The AO/AAP Consensus on Peri-Implant Diseases

Dr. Sehgal is the Immediate Past President of the Western Society of Periodontology and a Tenured Associate Professor and Associate Director of Predoctoral Periodontics at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) School of Dentistry in Portland, Oregon. A Diplomate and Board Examiner of the American Board of Periodontology, he teaches predoctoral and postdoctoral students while maintaining a clinical practice focused on periodontics and implant dentistry at OHSU. Dr. Sehgal lectures nationally and internationally and has received numerous awards, including Educator Awards from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) and the Western Society of Periodontology (WSP). His research focuses on peri-implant diseases, CBCT accuracy, electronic health records, dental quality measures, and opioid prescribing behaviors, and he serves as a reviewer for leading peer-reviewed journals.

Bobby Birdi, DMD, MSc, Dip. Perio, Dip. Prosth, FRCD(C), FACP, DABP

Lecture: Perio-Prosthetic Digital Planning & Implementation

Bobby received his dental degree from the University of Saskatchewan and his post-graduate specialty training in both periodontics and prosthodontics from the University of Minnesota. He is a Fellow and former Examiner for the Royal College of Dentists of Canada and a Diplomate of both the American Board of Periodontology and the American Board of Prosthodontics.

Bobby is the co-founder of the Digital Dentistry Institute and maintains a full-time private practice at the BC Perio & Imperio Dental Health & Implant Centres in Vancouver , North Vancouver & Coquitlam.

He is the past president of the Western Society of Periodontology (WSP) and the Vancouver District Dental Society. Bobby is often seen lecturing both nationally & internationally in the areas of implant surgery, prosthetics and esthetic dentistry.

Kian Kar DDS, MS

Lecture: Beyond the Curettes Modern Strategies for Optimizing Periodontal Inflammation Control with Mechanical and Adjunctive Therapies

Dr. Kian Kar received his dental degree from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1995. He completed a fellowship in Periodontology and Implant Dentistry in 1996. He received a certificate in Periodontology after completing a three-year postgraduate training program in Periodontology and Implant Dentistry from USC in 1999, and a Master of Science degree in Craniofacial Biology for his research on the Immunology of periodontal disease in 2000. He has published his research in peer-reviewed journals and presented his findings in scientific meetings. He is the recipient of the California Society of Periodontology research Award, the American Academy of Periodontology Award for Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring in Periodontics, the USC Mellon Mentorship Award, and the Western Society of Periodontology Educator of the Year Award. He has served as an editor for the Journal of Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research, the Journal of Periodontology, and the Journal of Oral Implantology, and as a guest editor for the Journal of the California Dental Association.

Dr. Kar serves as the Advanced Periodontology Program Director and Surgical Director for the Predoctoral Implant Program at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at USC. He is a full-time faculty member who teaches postdoctoral and predoctoral students in Clinical Periodontology and Implant Dentistry. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Periodontology and an active member of the American Academy of Periodontology, the Academy of Osseointegration, the American Dental Association, the California Dental Association, and the Orange County Dental Society. He has been in specialty practice since 1999. He maintains a part-time practice limited to Periodontics and Dental Implant Surgery in Mission Viejo, CA, and at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC Faculty Practice.

Dr. Seiko Min

Lecture: Vertical Soft Tissue Augmentation Using the V.I.P. Pedicle Graft (V.I.P.–VISTA Technique)

Dr. Seiko Min is an internationally trained periodontist with advanced expertise in periodontics, implant therapy, and oral plastic surgery, having completed specialty training in both Japan and the United States. He currently serves as an Associate Professor and Director of the Periodontics Preceptor Program at the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston. Dr. Min completed the Advanced Periodontology and Implantology Residency Program at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles in 2014.

Recognized as a leader in his field, Dr. Min is the recipient of multiple prestigious awards from the American Academy of Periodontology, the Academy of Osseointegration, the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, and the Osteology Foundation. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications and is a highly sought-after international lecturer, widely respected for his innovative clinical techniques and educational contributions in oral plastic and reconstructive surgery.