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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. She grew up in Cheshire, Connecticut, thinking she would become a physician, but a cultural 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.
Outside the office, you can find Dr. Lav figure skating. She competed as a synchronized skater when she was younger, and returned to the sport as an adult. It's taught her a great deal about resilience and precision — lessons that carry into her clinical practice — and reflects her belief in following your passions and living a full life.
A thoughtful approach to periodontal care
Periodontal care can feel overwhelming, and Dr. Lav built Waypoint to be a different kind of experience. Drawing on inspiration from her travels around the world, she designed the office around a calm Japandi aesthetic — light colors, clean lines, lots of natural light — chosen to create a calming hospitable feel from the moment you walk in.
For patients who feel anxious about procedures, laughing gas and oral conscious sedation are both available. 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, dental implant placement using the Straumann implant system, LANAP laser therapy for periodontal disease, sinus and ridge augmentation, and a broad range of surgical procedures including extractions, crown lengthening, and canine exposures.
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. 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.
A waypoint isn't a destination — it's a point along the way, a place of direction on a longer journey. That's the idea behind the name. Dr. Lav sees each patient's care not as endpoint, but as a meaningful part of their path to lasting oral health. 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.
