Celebrating 50 Years of Periodontic Excellence

In 2026, the UCLA School of Dentistry Section of Periodontics proudly celebrates 50 years of excellence in education, research, patient care, and service to the profession. Since the founding of the Periodontics Residency Program in 1976, the Section has built a remarkable legacy: one shaped by visionary faculty, dedicated residents, accomplished alumni, and a shared commitment to advancing the science and practice of periodontology.

The story of UCLA Periodontics is closely connected to two giants of the profession, Dr. Fermin A. Carranza and Dr. Henry H. Takei. Dr. Carranza joined UCLA in 1974 as a founding member of the Section of Periodontics and helped establish the residency program, serving as professor and section chair until his retirement in 1994. Dr. Takei, who joined the UCLA School of Dentistry faculty in 1967, co-founded the Residency Program in 1976 and devoted nearly six decades to educating and mentoring generations of dental professionals. Together, their vision helped establish a program whose influence extends far beyond the UCLA campus.

Over five decades, the UCLA Periodontics Residency Program has graduated 96 trained periodontists, many of whom have gone on to become leaders in private practice, academia, organized dentistry, and professional organizations. The program's legacy is also reflected in its continued commitment to training future specialists, with a rigorous curriculum that combines clinical excellence, surgical and implant expertise, research, and evidence-based patient care.

UCLA Periodontics has also made an extraordinary contribution to periodontal education worldwide. The Section is home to Newman and Carranza's Clinical Periodontology, one of the most widely published and influential textbooks in the field. Across generations of editions, UCLA faculty's work has educated dental students, residents, clinicians, and specialists worldwide, reinforcing UCLA's position as a leading center for periodontal scholarship and education. 

The Section's tradition of innovation continues today through research exploring periodontal disease, regeneration, implant therapy, and the relationship between oral health and systemic health. UCLA faculty and researchers are also investigating new approaches to diagnosis, including the use of saliva to better understand periodontal disease. This spirit of discovery – combined with outstanding clinical education and patient care – ensures that the Section remains focused not only on honoring its past, but also on shaping the future of periodontics. 

A significant recent milestone in this legacy is the establishment of the Dr. Henry H. Takei Endowed Periodontal Symposium, which brings together leading clinicians, researchers, alumni, residents, and friends of the program to share knowledge and celebrate the field. The inaugural symposium in 2023 drew more than 150 colleagues, mentees, and associates, while the second symposium in 2025 welcomed nearly 200 attendees and helped raise substantial support for its continued future.

As we celebrate 50 years of UCLA Periodontics, we honor the faculty, residents, staff, alumni, patients, and supporters who have made this remarkable journey possible. We also look ahead with excitement and purpose. Your support can help ensure that the next generation of UCLA periodontists continues this tradition of excellence. We invite alumni, friends, and members of our community to make a gift to the Periodontics Fund for Excellence, supporting perio-focused teaching, learning, innovation, and programs that will carry the UCLA legacy forward for the next 50 years and beyond. 

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