When I discovered I had deep periodontal pockets, I went into full research mode. Most…read moreperiodontists I found had either horror stories in their reviews or a mixed bag I wasn't willing to gamble on. Not with what I now know is at stake.
Here's why this mattered so much to me: I recently learned I have elevated Lp(a), a genetic marker for cardiovascular risk. One in 5 people have it and most don't know because doctors don't routinely test for it. And the bacteria that thrive in deep periodontal pockets, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, are directly linked to the same things that could kill me. Research has found P. gingivalis in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and in arterial plaque in 100% of cardiovascular disease patients studied. F. nucleatum has been identified in colorectal cancer tumors. These bacteria cause systemic inflammation, which is the last thing someone with genetic cardiovascular risk needs circulating through their body. And research shows that traditional scaling and root planing alone can leave 15% or more of bacteria behind in deep pockets and dentinal tubules. For someone like me, that wasn't acceptable.
A note to anyone reading this: Lp(a) significantly increases your lifetime risk of heart attack, stroke, and aortic valve disease. You can't lower it with diet or exercise. It's not included in a standard lipid panel. If you don't know your number, ask for the test. It could save your life and change how you approach your entire health, including your dental care. Because if you have this marker, bacteria hiding deep in periodontal pockets aren't just a dental problem. They're actively increasing your already elevated cardiovascular risk.
So I did what I do: I researched. Extensively. I wasn't just looking at reviews. I dug into Dr. Hatam's entire background. Where she studied, where she trained, her credentials, her approach to periodontal care. I was willing to drive far outside my area if I had to. But Dr. Hatam checked every box.
And then she exceeded my expectations before I even walked through the door. I left an after hours message expressing urgency, and she personally called me back while the office was closed. That one gesture told me everything about her ethics and her genuine concern for patients. Most doctors wouldn't bother. She did.
I explained my concerns, and Dr. Hatam didn't dismiss me or rush me. She listened, truly heard me, and agreed to perform a laser assisted deep cleaning to maximize bacterial elimination.
The day of my procedure, I was filled with anxiety. Dr. Hatam dismantled that anxiety with a combination of professionalism, genuine care, and (I have to mention this) a sense of humor. She read me perfectly, knowing I was the type of patient she could joke around with, even poke a little fun at, to put me at ease. And it worked. She has this warmth that she just exudes. One of those rare people you meet in life and intuitively know is good to the core.
Her bedside manner is matched only by her expertise. You feel genuinely cared for, not processed. She naturally puts you at ease in a way that can't be taught.
Here's the thing: Dr. Hatam doesn't need my review. Her portfolio of five star reviews (she has a couple hundred on Google) speaks for itself. But I'm writing this anyway because when you find a doctor like this in life, you hold onto them forever. And you tell other people.
As for insurance? Most plans cover at least a portion if not all of periodontal treatment, and Dr. Hatam's office will submit the bill to your insurance. But honestly, even if mine covered nothing, I wouldn't care. Getting rid of cancer linked, dementia linked, inflammation causing bacteria is priceless. If I could go back in time and tell my non flossing self (yes, I'm embarrassed to admit I was never a flosser) what we now know about the oral microbiome, that it's just as important as your gut microbiome for overall health and cancer prevention, I would.
But I can't turn back time. What I can do is take action now, and Dr. Hatam made that possible.
Find her. Keep her. You won't regret it.