Dr. Adrian Pawlowski has practiced dentistry for over 30 years. In 1978, Dr. Adrian Pawlowski graduated from the University of Alberta with a Doctor of Dental Surgery and began offering dental services throughout Edmonton, Alberta, as a General Dentist. After more than 16 years in Canada, Dr. Adrian Pawlowski moved to the United States. Continuing his studies in dentistry, Dr. Adrian Pawlowski attended the University of Washington in Seattle and enrolled in a Periodontics Specialty Program. Also that year, Dr. Adrian Pawlowski earned a Master of Science in Dentistry from University of Washington School of Dentistry. Dr. Adrian Pawlowski subsequently became a board-certified periodontist from the American Academy of Periodontology, a group that later honored Dr. Adrian Pawlowski as a Diplomate. Today, Dr. Adrian Pawlowski assists patients in the Seattle, Washington, area. At his medical practice, Dr. Adrian Pawlowski provides unique, non-surgical periodontal treatments that utilize perioscopy and bacteria-killing medication and have proven more effective than surgical methods. As a periodontist, Dr. Adrian Pawlowski understands the dangers of gum disease, and he tries to instill this knowledge in patients, along with strategies for preventing tooth loss. Immediate dental implants, dentures, scaling, and root planing represent other services offered by Dr. Adrian Pawlowski. Additionally, Dr. Adrian Pawlowski possesses training in conscious sedation techniques and advanced cardiovascular life support. In honor of his successes in the field, Seattle magazine named Dr. Adrian Pawlowski as one of its “Top Doctors” In 2001. The Better Business Bureau also recognizes Dr. Adrian Pawlowski by giving his dental practice an A+ rating. Devoted to his community, Dr. Adrian Pawlowski contributes to charities such as the St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance (SMFBA) and The Washington Oral Health Foundation.
As a periodontist with more than 30 years of experience, I often recommend grafting techniques for my patients. I use grafting and tissue augmentation in a variety of circumstances to help improve both aesthetics and oral health.
When patients lose teeth and do not immediately have them replaced, the result is often bone loss. In some cases, the bone loss is severe enough that dental implants are not possible. In those instances, I rely on a variety of grafting techniques to rebuild the bone to provide a strong base for the implant that supports stability and improves overall tooth health. Depending on the severity of the bone loss, I may implant a bone replacement material, or I may harvest a small piece of bone from elsewhere on the jaw in order to restore the tissue. As the graft heals, new tissue grows around it, providing a stable base for the implant.
When patients present with uneven and receding gums, the problem can be more than aesthetic. Gums create seals around the teeth, preventing bacteria from entering and causing root decay or bone loss. In many cases, tissue augmentation can reseal the area surrounding the tooth, protecting the root and creating an aesthetic gum line. To perform a tissue augmentation, I use either donor tissue or the patient’s own tissue and place it over exposed roots or deep pockets in the gums. As the graft heals, it reseals the gums, protects the teeth, and evens out the gum line.
To learn more about these techniques, I have posted a series of videos on my website. To view the videos, visit PerioInnovations.com/pages/facts_implants.htm and select the Dental Implant Info Video icon at the bottom of the page.
Since moving to Seattle in 1994, I have dedicated my efforts to actively participating in the dental community. In addition to my involvement in several local professional organizations, including the Washington State Dental Association, the Washington State Society of Periodontists, and the Seattle-King County Dental Society, I also hold membership in the volunteer organization Donated Dental Services (DDS). For 25 years, Donated Dental Services has served as one of the flagship initiatives of Dental Lifeline Network, which until recently was known as The National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped. As the charitable affiliate of the American Dental Association, Dental Lifeline Network coordinates community-based volunteer dental care for elderly, disabled, or medically compromised individuals.
Since its inception more than 35 years ago, Dental Lifeline Network has provided approximately $181 million in dental care, in large part through the efforts of Donated Dental Services. Currently, more than 15,000 dentists and 3,000 dental laboratories donate their time, facilities, and products to provide necessary dental care in all 50 states. In order to achieve the goal of providing comprehensive dental care for individuals who cannot afford treatment and do not qualify for Medicaid and Medicare, Donated Dental Services functions as the liaison between all dentists, laboratories, and patients.
Through the management of a local Donated Dental Services Referral Coordinator, who determines applicant eligibility, organizes referrals, and resolves any problems that may arise, volunteer dentists can donate their services in the familiar setting of their own offices. I care deeply about giving back to my community and Donated Dental Services ensures that I can contribute my abilities to improving oral health in the Seattle area. To learn more about Donated Dental Services, please visit NFDH.org
