Interview with Dr. Lillian Lyons
Dr. Lillian Lyons, GHDS Member Specialist and Board -Certified Periodontist practicing in Downtown Houston and in Montgomery, TX.
Where are you from and where did you attend dental school, and residency if any?
“I am from Mexico City and before moving to the USA I was a DDS, a specialist, and a practice owner. I graduated from class 90-93 and obtained my DDS. degree from the National university autonomous of Mexico, facultad de estudios superiores Iztacala (UNAM-FES-IZtacala). When I was in my last year of dental school, I started working part-time as a dental assistant for an orthodontist. She allowed me to treat a few patients at her office during the weekends. Once I graduated, I started my first private practice as a general dentist. In 1995 I was accepted at the graduate program of Endoperiodontology. Endoperio is a graduate program only available in Mexico City from (UNAM-FES-Iztacala) that includes both specialties in a graduate program and graduated in 1997. I turned my private practice into an Endodontics and periodontics practice and travelled to a few general practice offices to provide my specialty services.
A sudden change of life made me move to Houston in 1999. I started working as a dental assistant a couple of years. I decided to apply to the graduate program of periodontology for the University of Texas HSC-Dental School in Houston and I was so blessed to be selected as one of the few residents of class 2002-2005. Soon after graduating, I became a faculty for the graduate program of periodontics at UT-Houston, I thought the graduates, the undergraduate students, and the dental hygienists at the university, and also started practicing periodontist as traveling periodontist. During my first 10 years after graduation, I served approx. ten general dentists doing periodontics and dental implants at their offices as a contractor.
I opened my own dental specialty clinic in the Woodlands, TX. in 2015 at the same time and became the first Hispanic women periodontist in that area. I grew the practice and became very busy and found a new owner that took over in 2023. I, now enjoy traveling, the management of my family real estate business and continue to practice periodontics and dental implantology part-time with my traveling-periodontics practice, serving the Houston, Conroe, and Montgomery County areas.”
What is your favorite part about your PRACTICE? “One of the unique and fun part of the way I practice is having a versatile style. From teaching to practice owner, as well as traveling periodontist for other general dentists I have experienced many areas of the practice of dentistry. I have met and learned from many other clinicians’ parts of dentistry and different business models but most importantly, I have had the opportunity to interact and treat many kinds of patients with diverse backgrounds and beliefs.”
What would you say is the mission statement of how you practice dentistry? “Treat each patient with respect, dignity. To see the overall integrative option of each case. I consider myself a conservative periodontist and try to find the simple solution first.”
How do you balance work and personal life? “There are times where we have to work hard to later enjoy the “working smarter no harder” way. There are times where we need to put all our efforts into getting the business side of the practice going. Dentistry is not a one-time effort. IT TAKES time, dedication, passion, and love for dentistry. I found balance by reducing my days working at the practice. I made the decision to be a part time periodontist to dedicate time to my family.”
What advice would you have to current dental students?
1) Learn every aspect of dental practice especially FINANCES, MARKETING, and management.
2) Find a mentor dentist to share dental and business experiences and the passion for dentistry. Mentor others imparting knowledge youve gained.
3) Do not compare yourself with others. Everyone’s life and situations are different and each of us have our own pace. 4) Be honest with yourself.
4) Be honest with yourself and with your patients
5) Be open to change. Technology is changing dentistry and the way to do business.
6) Constant learning, continue educating yourself for life.
7) Be thankful and give back to your community, to your profession, to your university and to people that have supported you. donate time, money, pass your knowledge.
8) Take care of yourself. Give yourself time alone, time to enjoy life and enjoy your profession, it will be rewarding!