About the Doctor

Dr. Levin is originally from the Philadelphia area. He didn’t stray far for his education, attending Tufts University in Boston for his undergraduate degree. In 1983, he graduated magna cum laude with his bachelor’s degree in biology. Growing up, Dr. Levin always knew he wanted to be a dentist. When he was comparing dental schools and programs, however, he also considered going to medical school because he wanted to find a way to combine both professions. Fortunately, he found a dual degree program at the University of Pennsylvania, so he returned home to complete his education close to family. Dr. Levin was at the top of his class when he earned his dental degree in 1986, finishing a year early, and completed his medical degree in 1989.

Once he completed his education, Dr. Levin was required to complete a general surgery internship and an oral and maxillofacial residency. After his training was finished, he decided to stay at the University of Pennsylvania as Emeritus Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. With his academic perspective, he has gained extensive experience with more difficult procedures. Dr. Levin has joined the ByDesign team in order to move away from the research and lecture side of oral and maxillofacial surgery, allowing him to focus on the clinical side. He performs extractions, implants, biopsy, bone grafting, and orthognathic surgery. He treats patients of all ages and enjoys making people feel better both physically and emotionally with treatment.

Interview With Dr. Lawrence Levin

Hi, I’m Dr. Larry Levin, and I’m an oral and maxillofacial surgeon here at By Design Dental Implant Center. I’ve been practicing in the Philadelphia area for over 20 years, and I am very happy to be working here in the region where I was raised.

I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, and I always knew that I wanted to work in health care, specifically to help people in need. In fact, my elementary school yearbook says I wanted to become an orthodontist. However, after considering both the dental and medical fields, I found that oral surgery was a terrific opportunity to combine both professions. Patients often visit oral surgeons with conditions that render them uncomfortable with their appearance; they may even be embarrassed to smile. It was extremely gratifying to realize that pursuing this field would allow me to provide these patients with a solution that allows them to have a functional bite and a new smile, resulting in a life-changing experience.

After completing my undergraduate degree at Tufts University just outside of Boston, I completed a dual-degree program at the University of Pennsylvania. Earning both a medical and a dental degree created a great foundation of skills and comfort treating difficult cases. As part of my training, I also completed both a general surgery internship and an oral and maxillofacial surgery residency program, where I gained hands-on experience with the correction of jaw deformities, the placement of dental implants, the removal of wisdom teeth, and the full scope of oral surgery procedures. Prior to working here in private practice, I spent my time as a full-time academic oral surgeon training oral surgery residents at the University of Pennsylvania and at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as a specialist in corrective jaw surgery. I continue to serve as the division chief at CHoP.

Being an oral surgeon is an extremely rewarding career, and I truly love what I do. I enjoy meeting new patients, and I strive to make each one feel comfortable, answering any questions they may have so they feel at ease and prepared for their procedure. Seeing the drastic improvements that surgery provides them and the confidence they build from restoring their smile is one of the most rewarding aspects of this job.

Philadelphia is a great community to be a part of. I’m a die-hard Philly sports fan, and I enjoy the local music, restaurants, my family, and all that Philly has to offer. It is incredibly fulfilling to come to work every day and treat our patients and make a difference.

Thanks for taking the time to learn more about me and this practice. I look forward to meeting and caring for you at By Design Dental Implant Center.