Meet Our Doctors

J. Jay Uemura

DDS

Dr. Uemura, or “Dr. Jay,” is a highly regarded Board Certified Periodontist and Dental Implant Surgeon with over 17 years of experience in these dynamic areas of dentistry. His practice emphasizes dental implants, laser-assisted surgery, and periodontal plastic surgery.

Education

• B.S. Biochemistry, 1992
  California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
• Doctor of Dental Surgery, 2000
  New York University
• Certificate of Periodontology, 2003
  University of California, San Francisco
• Diplomate, 2007
  American Board of Periodontology
• Certificate of LANAP (Laser Surgery), 2014
•  Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry

Dr. Jay worked as an analytical chemist for five years before realizing that dentistry was his true calling.  He found that periodontics allowed him to combine his love of science with his surgical talent and natural enjoyment of people.  Dr. Jay earned his DDS degree at New York University and completed his specialized periodontal training at University of California, San Francisco.  Dedicated to providing state-of-the-art periodontal services in a caring and comfortable manner, Dr. Jay has extensive training in dental alveolar surgery, dental implants, and I.V. conscious sedation.  He is licensed by the Institute of Advanced Laser Dentistry to perform Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure also known as “LANAP” and has been awarded Board Certification by the American Academy of Periodontology

Dr. Jay met his wife Kathy while they were both attending Cal Poly.  They enjoyed traveling in the US and Europe, but fell in love with Sonoma County while visiting the area on camping trips up the coast.  Settling here in 2003, Dr. Jay and Kathy have three children who are now in college and graduate school, along with two mini Australian shepherds.  As a family, they enjoy traveling and the outdoors, especially hiking, biking, surfing, and SUP.  Dr. Jay’s interests also include many sports, especially baseball and soccer, along with films and music.

CURRENT ACTIVE MEMBERSHIPS:

• American Board of Periodontology
• American Academy of Periodontology
• California Society of Periodontists
• American Dental Association
• California Dental Association
• Redwood Empire Dental Society
• Academy of Osseointegration
• American Dental Society of Anesthesiology

Philip Vassilopoulos

DDS, DMD

Dr. Philip Vassilopoulos, also known as “Dr. Philip” or “Dr. V.” has both extensive clinical and academic experience as a Board Certified Periodontist and Dental Implant Surgeon. Dr. Philip hails from Athens, Greece, where he completed his DDS.  He then received his Certificate in Periodontology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2003. His passion for teaching Periodontology led him into an academic career from 2003 to 2014 at UAB. During this time, he completed his DMD and was promoted through the ranks and enjoyed serving as Director of the Graduate Program. He is board certified by the American Board of Periodontology, has lectured nationally and internationally as well as published peer-reviewed research.

Following his childhood dream to live in California, Dr. Philip, and his family relocated to Northern California in 2014 where he has worked in private practice in a multispecialty dental group. He has experience in the full scope of periodontology and implant dentistry. His main interest is to provide the best care and treatment options to patients based on solid evidence and innovative concepts.

Dr. Philip currently resides in the East Bay with his wife and daughter. In his free time he enjoys cheering on the SF Giants, and he is a longtime fan of baseball great Barry Bonds. Dr. Philip also roots for Cristiano Ronaldo and likes to play soccer himself whenever he can.  His other hobbies include traveling, spending time with his lovely family and listening to music; fun fact, Dr. Philip aspires to play the electric guitar someday, rock on Dr. V!

Dr. Vassilopoulos has been invited to give several presentations on national and international meetings and he has been the author of articles in periodontics and implant dentistry. He has been well respected as a teacher and mentor and he was the recipient of the American Academy of Periodontology Educator Award in 2007.

Dr. Vassilopoulos has extended experience in the full scope of periodontics and implant dentistry. His interests are concentrated in providing the best treatment options to his patients based on solid evidence and innovative concepts. He is well known to the students and colleagues as a Master Clinician.

CURRENT ACTIVE MEMBERSHIPS:

• American Board of Periodontology
• American Academy of Periodontology
• International Team of Implantology
• Academy of Osseointegration
• International College of Dentists
• American College of Dentists
• American Dental Association
• California Dental Association
• Alameda Dental Society
• Contra Costa Dental Society
• American Dental Education Association

Raime Shah

DDS, MS

We are excited to welcome our newest associate periodontist to Innovative Periodontics and Dental Implants, Dr. Raime Shah. Dr. Shah was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area.

For her undergraduate studies, Dr. Shah earned her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of California, San Diego in human biology with a minor in cognitive science. She then earned her Doctorate of Dental Surgery at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She was excited to move back to the Bay Area where she attended the UCSF School of Dentistry. While earning her Certificate in Periodontics over three years, she gained extensive experience in periodontal treatment along with a Master of Science degree in oral and craniofacial sciences.

Dr. Shah is co-directing the NorCal Collaborative group of the Seattle Study Club, where she teams up with local dentists and leaders in our industry to share knowledge and discuss complex, interdisciplinary treatment plans. As your periodontist, Dr. Shah will focus on early diagnosis, patient education, and periodontal treatment, including oral and nitrous oxide sedation. Dr. Shah is skilled in gum grafting, crown lengthening, extractions, bone preservation, and sinus augmentation, including the use of PRF and dental implant therapy.

Outside of the office you will likely find Dr. Shah in the great outdoors! She is an avid hiker, backpacker, and international travel enthusiast. When staying close to home, she likes to paint, practice yoga, and enjoy her Labrador retriever, Mango.