Pla & Watts Endodontics

A PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE

Dr. Loubna Pla's pursuit of excellence has led to Pla Endodontics receiving some of the most consistently high endodontics reviews in the South Sound region, but her passion for exceeding expectations started far from here in her home country of Lebanon. Dr. Pla's father was a Middle Eastern Middleweight Champion in the boxing ring. He and his wife loved, supported, and en

couraged their seven children to aim for the stars. Four out of seven Pla children became physicians. Dr. Pla followed in her father's athletic footsteps, eventually earning a spot on Lebanon's National Woman's Volleyball Team while also winning several awards for her long-distance running. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

As she got older, athletic and academic excellence went hand-in-hand. Dr. Pla received a world-class education in dental surgery from the School of Dental Medicine, Lebanon University, graduating with distinction. After dental school, she added a specialty in endodontics (St. Joseph's, Dr. Pla served as consultant attaché to undergraduate dental students in the areas of endodontic clinical and practical teaching. This was her first foray into what would become a passion area—lecturing and teaching on endodontics. An unexpected twist swept Dr. Loubna Pla off her feet and back to school. She fell in love. Eventually, Dr. Pla would move to the United States with her husband, Philippe. To practice in the U.S., Dr. Pla had to repeat the training she received for her endodontics specialty. Instead of feeling defeated because of this repetitious work, Dr. Pla embraced the opportunity to continue her studies by enrolling at the top endodontics program in the country, receiving a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study and Master of Science in Endodontics from Boston University's Goldman School of Dental Medicine. ENDODONTICS RESEARCH

Her extended education offered Dr. Pla the chance to put the finishing touches on her English fluency and a practical venue for testing it out. While attending the 2008 annual session of the American Association of Endodontists, Dr. Pla participated as a Resident Oral Research presenter, sharing her findings on cytokine TNFα's tendency to slow healing in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Inversely, inhibiting cytokine TNFα led to faster healing of the skin in the same population. Not only was her English top notch, her presentation received a top ten score to the delight of her mentor and chief supporter, Dr. Dana Graves. DR. LOUBNA PLA'S PRACTICE

After completing her U.S. schooling, Dr. Pla has demonstrated a passion for combining the use of cutting edge technology with gentle, patient-focused care. Meanwhile, her thirst for knowledge keeps her up to date on the latest endodontics research. Dr. Pla's love for education remains strong. She plans to teach in a graduate program some day, but for now she's happy to focus her expertise on her own practice, while occasionally educating her peers in the dental and medical fields on treating dental trauma. She truly enjoys caring for her patients, deriving special satisfaction from eliminating their fears and pain. PERSONAL LIFE

As for her other passions, she still enjoys being active, loves her husband, Philippe, and thoroughly relishes raising her three boys: Ian, Alec, and Lance.