Almost half of all adults over the age of 30 in the United States suffer from gum disease. Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is an inflammatory disease that affects the soft and hard tissue that support the teeth.
Several study have shown a connective between periodontal disease and a variety of other disease including heart disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.
The goal of Tri-Valley Periodontics is to help you control your periodontal disease.
Dr. James H. Choi and Dr. Gregory J. Conte have one goal which is to provide our patients with the best periodontal and implant care available.
JAMES CHOI, DDS, MS
Upon receiving his degree in Molecular and Cell Biology from UC Berkeley, James Choi received his dental degree from UCSF in 2002. He completed his Certificate of Periodontics and Masters Degree in Oral Biology from UCSF in 2005.
Dr. Choi enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, photography, cycling, and playing the guitar. He is a member of The American Dental Association, The American Academy of Periodontics, The Academy of Osseointegration, The California Dental Association, and the California Society of Periodontics.
GREGORY J. CONTE, DMD, MS
Gregory J. Conte received his dental degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine in 1990. Following a general practice residency, he completed his Certificate in Periodontics and Masters Degree in Oral Biology from the University of California at San Francisco in 1994.
Dr. Conte served for several years as an Associate Professor in the post-doctoral program in periodontics at UCSF. He is a member of many professional organizations including The American Dental Association, The American Academy of Periodontics, The Academy of Osseointegration and the California Society of Periodontists, where he served on the Board of Directors. He is a Fellow of the International Team for Oral Implantology.
CAROL JEFFUS, Front Office
Carol has been working in the dental field for over 25 years. She has worked as both an RDA (registered dental assistant) and a front office administrator. She is very proud of her family, her husband Charles of 32 years, and two children, Tami and Bradley. She enjoys shopping with her mom Verna, gathering with friends and family, and taking long walks.
NAI SAECHAO, Assistant
Nai has worked as a registered dental assistant since 2004 assisting a broad spectrum of patients and dentists of various specialties. She joined Dr. Choi and Dr. Conte in San Ramon in 2009 and is committed to providing patients with personalized comfort, and care. Her hobbies include cooking, running, binge watching show on Netflix, and spending quality time with her family.
MARIA PEIXOTO, Office Manager
Maria has been in the dental field for over twenty years. She is a gradute of UC Davis with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She joined Dr. Choi and Dr. Conte in 2014 as our office manager and financial coordinator. She is fluent in Spanish. In her free time she enjoys scrapbooking and baking. Fun fact: She is a big fan of Disney’s Fantasmic Sorcerer Mickey.
YOUNG KIM, Hygienist
Young has been a registered dental hygienist for over 22 years. She received the Patient Pleasing Personality Award during her hygiene training. She is also a credentialed teacher (K-8). Young enjoys building relationships with patients and has many loyal patients. She cherishes spending time with her family and friends and taking very long walks.
MARCIA VIEROW, Assistant
Marci has been working as a registered dental assistant since 2013. She enjoys hiking the many trails in Northern California with her husband, growing various vegetables for every season, and taking care of her three oddball cats. She is a valuable member of our team and is committed to the wellbeing of our patients.
VERONICA CASTRO, Front Desk
Veronica is our longest tenured employee. She joined our office in 2007 shortly after entering the dental field. She has worked as a dental assistant, office manager, and appointment coordinator for our office. Veronica is fluent in Spanish. She enjoys spending time with her husband and son and listening to music.
Although proper oral hygiene is always recommended for maintaining optimum dental health, it is especially important when a patient has...Read more
I recently had a gum graft procedure in the Dallas TX area before traveling to northern California on business. I had a small problem with the stitches and since I was far from home, I had no choice but to find someone who could help me in San Ramon CA. I found Dr. Choi on Google so I decided to give his office a call. His staff was really polite and responded quickly to my needs. Their office was very clean as well. Dr Choi was very professional and courteous. He did a quick exam and got me back on my feet again on very short notice. On top of that, he did this without charging me anything at all. I would highly recommend Dr. Choi to anyone looking for a dentist / periodontist in the San Ramon CA area. You will not be disappointed!
I was recommended to see Dr. Choi for a procedure which had several steps and required me to visit many times over the course of 8 months. I had ample time to assess both Dr. Choi’s skill and his staff. Everyone was professional, kind and accommodating of my difficult scheduling needs. I would recommend Dr. Choi to anyone, without reservation, and I completely understand why so many dentist use him as their go-to recommendation.
Periodontal disease, commonly known as “gum disease,” occurs when bacteria infect the parts of the gums around the teeth, forming pockets and destroying tissue and bone if left untreated. Worse yet, the infection can lead to tooth loss, and it has even been linked to more serious problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s Disease, and low birth-weight babies.
Tooth loss or bone trauma can cause an indentation in the gums and jawbone where a tooth used to be. This happens because the jawbone recedes when it no longer is holding a tooth in place. Not only is this indention unnatural looking, it also causes the replacement tooth to look too long compared to the adjacent teeth — or it impedes the placement of an implant in the adequate position. Reconstructive therapy can fill these defects and recapture the natural contour of the gums and jaw. We can then create a new tooth that is natural looking, easy to clean and beautiful.
In addition to procedures to treat periodontal disease, Tri-Valley Periodontics also performs cosmetic procedures to enhance your smile. Often, patients who pursue cosmetic procedures notice improved function as well.