Dr. Ligums enjoys transforming patients from being dental phobics to good, happy dental patients. In addition, she gets tremendous satisfaction from cosmetic transformations where patients enjoy their new smiles. She also enjoys performing surgery, and likes making the entire process less traumatic for new patients.
A native of Boston, she received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Goucher College in Towson, Maryland in 1973. She earned her Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1984, and then completed a general practice residency at the VA Hospital in Manchester, New Hampshire in 1985.
After her residency, Dr. Ligums joined Rhode Island Hospital as a full-time instructor and dental surgeon in general dentistry. She became the director of the Dental Service and of the Special Needs Dental Care Clinic, as well as co-director of the general practice residency program.
Dr. Ligums then joined Johns Hopkins Hospital where she was full-time instructor and dental surgeon in general dentistry, as well as a member of the Craniofacial and Cleft Palate, Hemophiliac and Neck Tumor Board teams.
In 2001, she moved to New Jersey and joined Dr. Meleo in his family-oriented dental practice. Dr. Ligums also values her background as a forensic dentist and cleft palate team member, finding it both interesting and valuable. She believes her hospital experience, particularly as the director of the Special Needs Clinic, has been invaluable in developing a sensitivity to patients who require additional attention and understanding.
Professional Associations:
Dr. Ligums believes in giving back to the community and to the world. Helping others through her acquired skills is her way of thanking God for all that they have achieved. She continues to make annual trips to the Hearts for Honduras school in La Entrada, Honduras as a Dentist volunteer.
She has an adult son, and a Glen of Imaal terrier. In her free time, Dr. Ligums enjoys skiing, biking and walking. She also likes to play the piano, do crossword puzzles, and she is learning Spanish.
Our goal is to provide personalized, advanced dental care, preserving, enhancing, and restoring your family's smiles with expertise and compassion.