Joyce A. Perih, DDS, MS
Published: March 11, 2010
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A kinder, gentler dentist
Joyce A. Perih, DDS, MS, has some very good advice for women entering the business world, “Follow your dreams and take risks that are good for your personality type and success will follow.”
She is a graduate of the University of Scranton, cum laude in the biology honors program; received her DDS degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and the prestigious Callahan Memorial Award. She received her certificate in orthodontics from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine Department of Orthodontics and is an associate clinical professor of orthodontics.
“I always wanted to be a kinder, more talkative dentist who allowed patients to participate in making treatment decisions,” she said, and by teaching future dentists and specialists, she not only influences these students but their future patients as well. Indeed, Dr. Perih invites students interested in dentistry to rotate through her office
As an orthodontist, her research focuses on how the jaws and facial muscles grow and influence each other. “I am very interested in each patient as their own unique person, with all kinds of factors influencing their orthodontic problems and their solutions. My main objective is for my patients to leave my office feeling confident, with a great looking smile,” she said.
She recently acquired a new Kodak 9000 C-3D (digital tomography) x-ray machine and it has re-ignited her enthusiasm for problem solving and working with other dental specialists.
“Being an employer has brought a lot of challenges with it in this economy, but we are doing our best to help out patients and employees through this difficult time. We have a real team spirit at the office and every member of that team brings special talents,” she said.
Having a family of five children is very rewarding, but the scheduling of “Mommy” hours, work, play and snow days is tricky. Also, having lost a child to a heart tumor has been very difficult, but her family has turned to other outlets like Make-A-Wish, Catholic Social Services and The United Way to find deeper meaning in the tragedy. Her husband, Dr. James Stefanelli, has been her rock and her mother has always been her biggest supporter.
