About Dr.Pirk
About
Dr.Pirk
Dr. Frederick W. Pirk graduated from the University of Missouri School of Dentistry in Kansas City as a Doctor of Dental Surgery. He served in the United States Army for 8 years and was stationed at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii and William Beaumont Army Medical Center El Paso, Texas.
Dr. Pirk separated in 1977 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and he was awarded the Meritorious Service Award for outstanding service to the Army Dental Corp. Dr. Pirk also completed his periodontal residency at Missouri and graduated with a Master of Science degree in Periodontics.
Dr. Pirk was a founding father of the Dental Hygiene program at El Paso Community College. He was an associate professor in periodontics where he instructed for 8 years and was responsible for the hygiene school obtaining full accreditation by the American Dental Association. Dr. Pirk has been a consultant in periodontics to a number of teaching institutions and a consultant in periodontics and dental implants to the Veterans Administration. Dr. Pirk has presented over 60 continuing educational lectures and seminars, both nationally and internationally. He is honored with Fellowship in both the American College of Dentistry and the International College of Dentistry. His most prized achievement remains as having been selected “Texas Dentist of the Year for 1991”; arguably the highest award given to a dentist in the state of Texas.
Dr. Pirk has been active in clinical research for many years; his office was chosen as a clinical research site for Medical Science Technologies and he has been affiliated with the University of Texas at San Antonio Dental School. He has published in a number of peer reviewed scientific journals with emphasis on dental implant design, immunology, and genetics as a predisposing factor in the development of periodontal diseases. He has also participated in a number of unpublished studies adding to the understanding and treatment of periodontal diseases. Dr. Pirk was honored as one of 8 periodontist selected nationwide to complete a video segment on “Dental Implants—the New Oral Plastic Surgery” which aired on cable television. Subsequently, he was designated as a Medical Television Select Periodontist.
He and his wife Yolanda, have 7 children and when able to relax, Dr. Pirk enjoys fine art painting, vertical climbing, and he is a devoted practitioner of the martial arts.
Awards
& More
Awards and Honors:
Decorated Veteran (Meritorious Service Award). Vietnam Era.
Fellowship in the American College of Dentistry (only 3-5% of all dentists attain fellowship). Fellowship is awarded by a committee of anonymous peers based on credentials.
Fellowship in the International College of Dentistry (again, very limited membership by invitation).
Published original scientific articles in 7 different peer reviewed dental journals.
Texas Dentist of the Year 1991: arguably the highest honor given to any Texas dentist. A juried award based on clinical expertise, research conducted, teaching experience, community involvement and service.
Founding father of the Dental Hygiene School at EPCC and associate professor in periodontics for 8 years. Responsible for school’s full accreditation by the American Dental Association.
Dr. Pirk’s office was selected as a satellite research center for Medical Science Technology Systems.
MDTV national select periodontist: “Dental Implants the new Oral Plastic Surgery”. A streaming webinar.
Co-founder of the genetic disorder that predisposes approximately one third of the U.S. population to periodontal disease.
Dr.Pirk's
Mission and
Goals
Mission Statement:
The purpose of this practice is to assist our patients in maintaining the health of their teeth and supporting gingival tissues. It is the Art and Science of Periodontics that is the primary dental discipline dedicated to the survival of teeth and when necessary replacement with dental implants.
Why Teeth?
The importance of teeth cannot be over emphasized. An investigation published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2016 concluded that adults with advanced periodontal disease and tooth loss died on an average 8-10 years earlier than those with little or no oral health issues. Also, the main bacteria associated with periodontal diseases are responsible for dysbiosis in the mouth and the GI tract that in turn can lead to serious systemic complications including cardiovascular, rheumatoid, pregnancy, and even Alzheimer’s issues.
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When we consider the subject of teeth, for most of us, our attention primarily focuses on how we appear and are they comfortable. Is our smile white enough, are our teeth crooked, chipped, missing, or otherwise compromised? This is reinforced by a constant barrage of media advertisements for dental products that primarily target our concerns for how we look and relate to others.
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Most importantly, our dentition is designed to chew food and break it down sufficiently so that it can be metabolized. This may be taken for granted in our younger years, but as time passes our teeth may sustain injury and certainly wear-and-tear. Periodontal disease, smoking, stress, advanced cavities, fractures, accidents, and even genetics all play a role in maintaining our dentition.
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Chewing our food properly is the key to a healthy body. Medical doctors have always suggested food to be the best medicine! But our diet has to be sufficiently pulverized and combined with saliva to be of benefit. Saliva contains the enzymes necessary for all sugars and starches to be metabolized. Without a properly functioning dental component, our food passes through us with little or no benefit.
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Besides eating and digestion, good oral health enables individuals to breath and speak properly. Also, psychosocial factors such as general well being, self-confidence, and socialization become evident. The ability to work and socialize without oral pain or discomfort is integral to our daily survival. Persons with good oral health habits generally experience less anxiety and stress.
We know that teeth are important in preserving the dental arches which in turn helps to minimize age related changes to our jaws and facial structures. But, the influence of our oral health goes way beyond the mouth in that teeth integrate the whole body. The old expression goes, “Oh Joe, he has no teeth”; this is not a reference to Joe’s actual dental condition, but a statement that ‘something is missing’; he is different. Joe’s general approach to life and activities have changed since he lost all of his teeth. He will most likely loose interest in exercising and hobbies, and Joe will tend to become more sedentary.
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The more crippled our mouth becomes because of missing teeth and periodontal disease, the more we gravitate to a softer, easier to chew diet. Carbohydrates predominate as proteins become more difficult and uncomfortable to chew. Slowly, diabetes and metabolic syndrome take over, and our physical health deteriorates.
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There are no professional athletes that have lost all their teeth. This fact alone addresses the issues of body strength and coordination, and the importance of preserving as many natural teeth as possible. It falls to the periodontist to help individuals retain that aspect of total body health that only dentistry can provide.
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So, if maintaining a healthy mouth can help you live longer, have less stress, metabolize food more efficiently, have less worry about systemic disease, and reduce age related facial issues; then this periodontal practice will be of significant value to help you achieve that goal.