Dr. Mark Kunihira graduated with a DDS degree from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in 2004. After practicing for a year as a general dentist in Lake Arrowhead, he continued his studies in dentistry and completed his residency in Periodontics at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in June of 2008.

He joined his fathers practice in Upland and San Bernardino, CA during the summer of 2008. He is trained in all aspects of periodontal therapy, including bone regeneration, implants, and periodontal plastic surgery.

Dr. Daniel Newbold graduated from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in 1982 with honors in Periodontics and Endodontics. For the next eight years, Dr. Newbold worked for the US Indian Health Service. He received the Outstanding Public Health Service Award and achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander. In 1990, Dr. Newbold returned to Loma Linda University, where he completed his residency in Periodontics with honors.

Dr. Newbold joined the Inland Perio Practices in 1992 and became a partner in 1995. While teaching part-time at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, Dr. Newbold taught two of his sons-in-law and one of his daughters! Dr. Newbold and his wife, Melodee, have three daughters (one dentist and two physicians) and are currently enjoying their first grandchild. They all pursue a very active lifestyle in sports of all kinds like surfing, snow skiing, mountain biking, and beach volleyball. Golf was recently added to the list thanks to their newly acquired sons-in-law, although Dr. Newbold prefers riding his motorcycle in the hills. Dr. Newbold also assists his wife in a significant ongoing cancer research project.

Dr. Newbold joined the Inland Perio Practice in 1992 and became a partner in 1995. While teaching part-time at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, Dr. Newbold taught two of his sons-in-law and one of his daughters! Dr. Newbold and his wife, Melodee, have three daughters (one dentist and two physicians) and are enjoying their four grandchildren. They all pursue a very active lifestyle in sports of all kinds with hiking, surfing, snow skiing, mountain biking, beach volleyball and golf. Dr. Newbold also assists his wife in a significant ongoing cancer research project.

Dr. Caitlyn Affrunti is a Board-Certified Periodontist who was born and raised in Redmond, WA. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Fairfield University and continued her education at Creighton University School of Dentistry in Omaha, Nebraska, earning a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. Doctor Affrunti followed her passion for periodontics at Loma Linda University, where she received her masters degree and published her masters thesis in the International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry.

Dr. Affruntis philosophy is to treat and serve her patients with compassion and care as well as setting the standard of excellence in the field of dentistry. She is well-trained in all aspects of periodontics and implantology.

Dr. Daniel Kunihira has practiced periodontics in the Inland Empire since 1982. After finishing his residency training in periodontics at the Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University (1982), he taught as a full-time faculty member at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. He currently lectures on a part-time basis and was recently recognized for 35 years of dental education.

Dr. Kunihira was born in St. Helena, California, and raised in the Bay area, south of San Francisco. After completion of an undergraduate college education at La Sierra University in 1970, he entered Loma Linda University, School of Dentistry, and graduated with a DDS degree in 1974. At his graduation, he was awarded the Loma Linda University Periodontology Award, the American Academy of Periodontology Award, and inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national honor society in dentistry.

Dr. Kunihira has the unique privilege of having both of his children pursuing careers in the dental field. Angie, his daughter, is a dental hygienist. Mark Kunihira joined the group as a periodontist in 2008. Dr. Kunihira and his wife, Linda, enjoy pursuing an active lifestyle with snow skiing and snowshoeing in the winter as well as off-roading on quads and side-by-sides, mountain biking, hiking, and canoeing during the summer months. He also has a great passion for photography.

Currently, Dr. Kunihira is working less in the practice, having turned the reins of responsibility to Dr. Mark Kunihira and teaching more in the residency training program at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry.

Your smile represents who you are. Thats why at Inland Periodontics, we provide a wide range of comprehensive services to treat gum disease and help you maintain the health, integrity, and beauty of your smile.

We are proud to offer patients the option of Periodontal Treatment utilizing the only FDA approved laser for treating Periodontal Disease. This means: less pain, less bleeding, less swelling, less tissue removed, less downtime and recovery time! Periodontal surgery WITHOUT blades and sutures!

Laser Periodontal Therapy and the Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP) has been shown to remove diseased tissue without removing healthy tissue, maintaining as much tissue around the teeth in order to:

The use of Laser Periodontal Therapy and LANAP (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure) is becoming more accepted as an adjunct to treating periodontal disease. We have acquired the only FDA-approved laser device to be used for the patented LANAP procedure. This ND : YAG laser is the only laser that has had research showing bone and support structure regeneration.

LANAP is a treatment for gum disease. This groundbreaking laser therapy targets the source of inflammation without pain or removing tissue. One device holds seven different pulsations, each with its distinct tissue interactions. It does not decrease pocket depth, allows the body to combat infection without a scalpel or suture, and promotes regeneration of supporting gum tissue.

LANAP not only removes gum disease, but it also helps with patients anxieties surrounding dental surgeries. Patients experience less pain, sensitivity, swelling, and bleeding. With little downtime after treatment, healing after LANAP is more comfortable than any other periodontal operation.

For patients who need a missing tooth replacement, implant dentistry focuses on restoring teeth to look, feel, and perform like new. Implant dentistry involves the surgical placement of one or more artificial tooth roots known as dental implants. These natural-looking replacements are made of a titanium post that attaches to your jawbone, which allows you to bite and chew. Dental implants serve as a substitute or replacement of a tooth root. A crown, bridge, or denture will be placed on top of the anchor to restore the tooths appearance and function.

A procedure to replace lost soft tissue as a result of recession. Healthy gum tissue is removed from the palate or taken from another donor source and attached to the area where the gum has receded. This added tissue reseals and protects the tooth and underlying bone from further recession, bone loss, and decay.

Crown lengthening adjusts the gum and bone levels to expose more of the tooth. This is done many times to expose a cavity that is at or below the gum-line to allow access for a filling or a crown. Periodontal plastic surgical crown lengthening will make shorter teeth appear more lengthy by removing excess gum tissue.

Bone Grafting Bone grafting is a surgical, dental procedure through which the bone loss from periodontal disease around the teeth is restored. Grafting is also used to build up the bone to allow for the placement of dental implants. We have been having great success in rebuilding jaw bone which previously had been judged too deteriorated to accommodate implants with Bone Morphogenic Protein.

Bone Morphogenic Protein For some patients, the implant can be placed at the same time the ridge is modified. A new technology we have been implementing is the use of BMP (Bone Morphogenic Protein), which changes mesenchymal cells to bone-forming cells. It allows us to regenerate bone like never before, and theres no need to harvest bone from a second site, thus reducing discomfort.

A tooth extraction is the complete removal of a tooth from the mouth. Some extractions require removing supporting bone and/or cutting the tooth into sections before removal. If implants are desired, then bone minerals are grafted into the socket to preserve as much of the native bone as possible. After several months, an implant can be placed into that site.

While more and more patients are aware of the health benefits of preventing periodontal disease, it doesnt make the anxiety and fears surrounding procedures any less disconcerting. Our practice offers refined techniques and improvements in our sedation methods, which will make your treatment more pleasant and comfortable.

Our conscious sedation method will put you in a safe, drug-induced state in which you are conscious and pleasantly relaxed yet free of fear, anxiety, and apprehension. The use of conscious sedation by an appropriately trained periodontist is safe and effective and will help you feel comfortable and confident during your periodontal treatment. While it is different than general anesthesia, it does not carry the inherent risks associated with general anesthesia.Sedation will be administered directly into the bloodstream. You will be able to respond during the procedure. Your ability to respond normally returns when the effects of the sedative wear off. Doctors that administer this sedation are highly trained and licensed by the state of California to administer IV conscious sedation safely.

With oral ingestion, the patient can respond during the procedure. Normal responses return as the effects of the sedative wear off. Patients may choose to maintain full awareness during the procedure with just local anesthetic, without the use of any form of sedation.

Commonly called laughing gas, nitrous oxide provides relaxation, but the patient is still generally aware and able to respond. This gas can be used during routine cleanings but is usually not recommended for periodontal surgical procedures, including implants.