Meet Dr. Julio Obando
Originally from San Jose, Costa Rica, Dr. Julio Obando received his Doctor in Dental Surgery from the University of Costa Rica, where he also earned a Licentiate in Dentistry. He was highly involved during his academic years—serving as President of the Association of Dental Students, a Student Assembly Representative, and as a Teacher Assistant for Head and Neck Anatomy. He also studied Business Administration at Hispanoamerican University.
Dr. Obando spent four years practicing general dentistry before pursuing advanced training in his areas of passion: periodontics, surgery, implants, and research. He completed a Post-doctoral Externship at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), followed by a research fellowship on genetic markers of periodontal disease. He later finished a Periodontal Residency and a Master in Oral Sciences at UIC.
He is board-certified as a Diplomate in both Periodontology and Dental Implant Surgery, and is certified in IV sedation. A lifelong academic, Dr. Obando continues research in private practice and contributed to the publication Advances in Periodontal Surgery 2019. Personal Background
Dr. Obando finds balance through tennis, family time, and relaxing beach vacations with his wife.
Certifications & Associations
Dr. Obando is an active member of:
Diplomate – American Board of Periodontology (Periodontology & Dental Implant Surgery)
Certified in IV Sedation
Member – American Academy of Periodontology
Member – American Dental Association
Member – Texas Dental Association
Member – Dallas County Dental Society
Member – Costa Rican National Dental Association
Education
Poster Presentation: IL SNPs and Periodontitis – UIC
Master’s Thesis: Genetic Markers for Periodontitis – UIC
DDS Thesis: Anterior-Posterior Dimensional Analysis – University of Costa Rica
Teaching Assistant: Head and Neck Anatomy – UIC
Poster: Aggressive Periodontitis and Damaging SNPs
Case Report Poster: Systemic Sclerosis and Periodontal Disease
2nd Place – Poster: Clinical Utility of IL SNPs
Presenter – IADR 43rd and 44th Annual Meetings
Academic Excellence Scholarship – University of Costa Rica
President – Dental Student Association – University of Costa Rica
Dr. Obando's Academic Achievements
- Thesis Master’s defense: Evaluation of the Clinical Utility and Validity of IL SNPs as Genetic markers for Periodontitis (University of Illinois at Chicago)
- 2nd Place for Poster presentation: Assessment of the Clinical Validity and Clinical Utility ofIL SNPs as Predictors for Periodontitis
- Head and Neck Anatomy Teacher Assistant for Post-Graduate Programs (University of Illinois at Chicago)
- Poster presentation: Systemic Sclerosis (scleroderma) and a periodontally involved patient: a case report (University of Illinois at Chicago)
- Poster presentation: Assessment of the Clinical Validity and Clinical Utility of IL SNPs as Predictors for Periodontitis (University of Illinois at Chicago)
- IADR 44th Annual Meeting,, Poster Presentation: Efficacy and Efficiency of SNPs as a Genetic Test for Periodontitis
- IADR 43th Annual Meeting,, Poster Presentation: IL-6 SNP rs1800795 Is A Poor Genetic Test For Periodontitis
- Poster presentation: Assessment of Damaging SNPs in Aggressive Periodontitis Associated Genes
- DDS thesis defense: Anterior-Posterior Dimensional (University of Costa Rica)
- President of Dental Student Association (University of Costa Rica)
- Academic Excellence Scholarship (University of Costa Rica)