Dentaltown January 2022 - 49

Think you'll keep expanding?
We knew it was time to open another
practice when our hygiene appointments were
booked out for four months and I had to work
weekends to schedule insertions within three
weeks. We won't expand for expansion's sake,
but if the demand is there, sure.
What are three things
you can't imagine practicing
dentistry without?
I literally can't practice without my
Designs for Vision 3.5EF " Buddy Holly "
frame loupes. I've had some version of
those since dental school and can't imagine
wearing anything but. I'll circle back and say
my DSLR with a macro lens and ring flash.
I'll always be pacing the hallway carrying
it in one hand.
What was the single most
beneficial change you've
made in your career?
What did it do for you?
I'd say taking more photos of my work,
from 10 upper veneers to full-mouth rehab
cases to simple posterior composites. Patients
want to understand how we make decisions
and want to know the quality of dental work
they're receiving. It builds trust.
We've gone long enough without
a basketball reference. When
it comes to the mentors,
instructors and other doctors
you've worked with, who would
be on your all-time dental
dream team?
Dr. John Calamia, director of the NYU
College of Dentistry's aesthetic dentistry
program, was my first instructor and mentor.
I owe him a lot. Dr. Boghosian out in
Los Angeles does some of the most sound
general dentistry I've seen. She does my
dentistry-enough said. My associate,
Dr. Nikita Thomas, and I speak almost
daily about case details. She asks some of
the best questions and truly thinks outside
the box. Lastly, my partner, Dr. Sarowitz,
is a skilled surgeon with a business mind.
What aspect of dentistry is
lagging behind the times?
I'm not sure any aspect of dentistry is
lagging behind the times! From a purely
clinical perspective, biomaterials have never
been better. Digital everything is standard
these days. We have intraoral scanners
accurate enough to make nondigital impressions
obsolete, and they're becoming more
affordable. And dentistry on social media is
bridging a gap between doctors and patients.
What's your management style
like? How do you run your office?
We've put
together a team who
understands what has made our practice
special-workflow, how we interact with
patients, etc.-and I've been lucky to bring
hard-working employees and associates
on board. I don't have to run the tightest
of ships, which I think eases some of the
pressure inherent to this profession.
You've done some truly
remarkable smile design cases.
In your experience, what can a
dentist do that helps create the
best possible outcome?
Work backward from the aesthetic
outcome you're envisioning. This is standard
among cosmetic dentists, but take an
abundance of photos and wax or mock up
your vision for the patient. Allow a version
of the final product to guide your treatment
plan. Let the desired position, size and shape
of the teeth, contrasted with the current
position, dictate whether, for example,
crown lengthening or orthodontics are
needed before prep. This approach will make
every aspect of your case more predictable,
which means you'll be better able to meet
your patient's expectations.
OK, so we have to know:
Do you even like basketball?
I love basketball. I have fond memories
of going to Penn State games at Rec Hall
in the '90s. I think the capacity at the time
was 4,000 but the noise was still deafening.
So, the first time covering a Nets game,
those unmistakable basketball sounds-the
screech of shoes on the court, banter between
players, the thrum of the crowd-jogged
those memories. And of course, my dad has
been to a few games at Barclays Center. It's
great to relive those times 25 years later.
Give us a snapshot of your
life outside of dentistry.
I just got married to my biggest crush,
Marly. We had a small wedding with our
closest friends and family. We have a grayand-black
Sphynx cat named Judas and
an 11-year-old chihuahua named Stella. If
we're not trying the newest, coolest thing
in Brooklyn with my sister, Alexis, you'll
find us upstate at a bed-and-breakfast, in
Pennsylvania or Wisconsin visiting our
families, or at home rewatching terrible
'80s horror movies. n
dentaltown.com \\ JANUARY 2022 49
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Dentaltown January 2022

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