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Meet Dr. Lav
Dr. Lavanya Rajendran, known to her patients as Dr. Lav, is a board-certified periodontist with a DMD and MDSc who completed her specialty training through the periodontics residency program at UConn. Her path to periodontology was not a straight line. She grew up in Cheshire, Connecticut, thinking she would become a physician, but an anthropology course in college shifted her perspective entirely. It opened her eyes to the ways dentistry could make a meaningful impact on people's lives, and she has never looked back. What drew her to the field was its multidimensional nature: the balance of science, surgical technique, and genuine human connection that makes this work so uniquely fulfilling.
Dr. Lav's clinical focus is in soft tissue and esthetic implant surgery, with a particular passion for gum grafting and LANAP laser therapy. She is LANAP certified, has been recognized by the American Board of Periodontology since 2022, and has served as President of the Connecticut Society of Periodontists. She has also published research in the area of alveolar ridge preservation and augmentation for optimal implant placement. Her philosophy is rooted in precision, compassion, and respect, both for the biology of the mouth and for the person behind it.
A practice built around how patients deserve to feel
Periodontal care can feel overwhelming, and Dr. Lav built Waypoint because she wanted to do it differently. The office has a calm Japandi aesthetic — light colors, clean lines, lots of natural light from the windows. For patients who feel anxious about procedures, laughing gas and oral conscious sedation are both available. Dr. Lav is also certified and trained in IV conscious sedation, and hopes to bring moderate sedation to Waypoint soon.
The office reflects that intention in every detail. The reception area is quietly free of TVs and screens, designed to help patients decompress rather than add to the noise of the day. A beverage and snack station is available, and the overall atmosphere is more like a thoughtful retreat than a traditional medical office. For patients who feel anxious about dental procedures, sedation options including laughing gas and oral conscious sedation are available to help make every visit as comfortable as possible. After-hours support is also available for urgent post-operative concerns, so patients are never left without someone to reach.
Specialized care for gum health, implants, and everything in between
Waypoint Periodontics offers a full range of periodontal and implant services for patients in Shelton and throughout Fairfield County. Dr. Lav's areas of focus include soft tissue grafting for gum recession, canine exposures, dental implant placement using the Straumann implant system, LANAP laser therapy for periodontal disease, bone grafting and ridge augmentation, and a broad range of surgical procedures including extractions, crown lengthening, and frenectomies. She also accepts referrals from general dentists for patients who need specialized periodontal or surgical care.
What sets Waypoint apart is not just the range of services offered, but the way they are delivered. Dr. Lav's approach is minimally invasive and biology-driven, always focused on preserving healthy tissue and bone whenever clinically possible. Every treatment plan is developed with the patient's long-term health and goals in mind, and all fees are reviewed transparently so there are never any surprises. Whether you were referred by your dentist or found your way here on your own, you will receive the same level of attentive, high-quality care.
Ready to take the first step? We would love to meet you.
If you are looking for a periodontist in Shelton, Connecticut who genuinely cares about your experience as much as your clinical outcome, Waypoint Periodontics is here for you. Dr. Lav and her team are accepting new patients and welcome both self-referred individuals and patients referred by their general dentists. We invite you to come in, ask your questions, and see what biology-driven, patient-centered periodontal care looks and feels like. To schedule your consultation, give us a call at (203) 446-3890 or request an appointment online. We look forward to being a trusted part of your journey to lifelong oral health.
