Lowen Perio

I want everyone to know about Dr. Lowen. She is so friendly and approachable. Gum surgery is very scary, but she was very thorough and patient with all my questions and explained everything so well at the end that I knew how to take care of my new graft. She took my once exposed and sensitive tooth go back to normal. I can not recommend her highly enough. If I need a graft again, I know to go!

Many of the reviews here are for the previous practice owner, Dr Cynthia Layport who was an exceptional periodontist. Before she retired, Dr Layport had told me that if I were to get 4 gum grafts done, it wouldn't be too much different as far as pain/ recovery from getting one graft done. I had her do one graft a few years ago and it still looks great, it looks as though it will last for years. An infection had resulted, but when I called Dr Layport's phone number on a Sunday, she listened to what I was describing and said it sounded like it could probably wait until the next day and she fit me in then. I felt reassured. Unfortunately, Dr Layport retired before she was able to do the four other gum grafts so I made an appointment with the new practice owner, Dr Lowen. Dr Lowen honored Dr Layport's pricing which was appreciated. I consider myself to be a bit of an expert on gum grafts after having had six now. The one done by Dr Layport was somewhat hellish, but only for a day or two. The four done by Dr Lowen were absolute HELL. Dr Layport had a "technique" she told me for giving injections, you didn't really feel them that much, well, Dr Lowen could use some pointers in this area. I felt nearly every shot given by Dr Lowen. When I asked Dr Lowen after seeing (and feeling) needle after needle coming at my mouth how many injections I had been given, she sort of shrugged and said, "I don't know, however many are needed" casually. Imagine, if you will, several needles coming towards and into your mouth, you see each one and you feel each one. I started to actually shake from the trauma, it was that bad. Dr Lowen told me "please hold your jaw still." Not, "how are you doing," or "are you doing ok," but "please hold your jaw still." If I could hold my jaw still, would it be shaking? All I wanted during that time was some sort of warmth or comfort, some recognition that what I was going through was traumatic. But I never got that. After the nightmare procedure, I sobbed during the entire way home. I still have nightmares about those needles coming at me and Dr Lowen telling me to hold my jaw still. To not help matters, within a few hours/day, I had so much swelling and pain, the meds couldn't keep up. I had the procedure done on a Friday and there wasn't even a number provided for me to call, Dr Lowen was apparently on vacation. I could however text a number where I was told that what I was experiencing was "normal." My bf took photos of my extremely swollen face and sent them to his retired dentist friend who said "she needs to call the dr ASAP." I then called the number we are allowed to "text" and left a message and was again told that the reaction was normal, keep in mind, whoever was at the other end of the text never saw a photo of my face. My face was so swollen that the left side of my check actually pushed my nose towards the right side, I couldn't even speak coherently and was in so much pain. They did fit me in on Monday, I went in and the receptionist was trying not to stare at me in an obvious manner since my face did NOT look like that of a normal reaction. Dr Lowen was still on vacation, I saw the other periodontist who immediately looked shocked. She checked my mouth and said that although I didn't show signs of an infection "I would take antibiotics if I were you, it will help with the swelling and pain." I had my bf pick up the prescription since I didn't want to scare any small children (or adults) by entering the store with my swollen face. Within a day, the swelling and pain improved. Imagine if the dr had been available on Saturday and had given me the prescription then, I wouldn't have had to struggle all weekend long. The gums look ok now, but not near as good as the one done by Dr Layport. Aside from honoring Dr Layports pricing, I have one other positive thing to state about this place. My insurance was terrible to deal with and the gal I worked with there was very patient and helpful.