Dr. James Wanamaker earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from SUNY Buffalo School of Dental Medicine in 2016 with a concentration in pediatric dentistry.
While at Buffalo, he served in multiple roles in organized dentistry, including the National Chair of the Council on Advocacy for the American Student Dental Association (ASDA).
Following dental school, he then completed a General Practice Residency at SUNY Upstate Hospital and the Syracuse VA Hospital. He has completed additional training at the Dawson Academy, Invisalign, and surgical implant placement at the Brighterway Institute. Dr. Wanamaker is a partner in his dream private practice, Smiles of Skaneateles, located outside of Syracuse, NY.
Dr. Wanamaker began working with IgniteDDS as a 3rd-year dental student. Since then, he has spoken at dental schools and conferences across the country on interview skills and finding your ideal private practice.
He is heavily involved in organized dentistry on a local, state, and national level. Dr. Wanamaker currently serves as the Chair of the New Dentist Committee for the New York State Dental Association. In 2020 Dr. Wanamaker was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Dentists.
Fellows have exemplified excellence through outstanding leadership and exceptional contributions to dentistry and society and only 3% of dentists are Fellows. Dr. Wanamaker resides in Upstate New York with his wife, Francesca, their young daughter, and Goldendoodle, Chewbacca.
Why Dental Photography Is Essential in Modern Dental Practice
By: James Wanamaker, DDS – IgniteDDS Clinical Coach In my private practice centered on esthetics and function,…
Variolink Esthetic System Review
By: Dr. James Wanamaker When I became a dental practice owner, one of my goals was to…
Systems & Simplicity: Two Words that Come to Mind When Working with the Direct Restorative Workflow Kit from Ivoclar
By: Dr. James Wanamaker I have been a fan of Ivoclar products since I was a student…
Understanding Dental Insurance Third-Party Administrators: How They Benefit and Hinder Your Practice
By: Angela Holland Dental insurance third-party administrators (TPAs) play a significant role in managing insurance claims and processing reimbursements between dental practices and insurance companies. TPAs are third-party entities hired by insurance companies, employers, or health plans to manage dental insurance plans and the claims process. Their goal is to streamline the administrative side of…
Class I Preparation and Restoration: High-Yield Guide for D1 Students
By: Michael Eid As a D1 student, learning the fundamentals of cavity preparations in sim lab is your first step toward clinical success. This guide will help you bridge the gap between lab exercises and real patient care by teaching you how to think clinically from day one. You’ll gain insights on handpiece control, bur…
Sometimes the Best Treatment is None At All
By: Dr. Savanah Craig One of the biggest contributors to burnout in dentists, in my opinion, comes from decision fatigue. Constantly we are faced with our patients’ problems that we did not create and are expected to find a solution to this problem. We must evaluate the problem, excavate possible causes for this issue, determine…
Authenticity in Dentistry: Embracing Personal Integrity for Professional Growth
By: Paul A. Henny, DDSThis Topic Originally Appeared on PankeyGram.Org. Dr. Henny granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. Clinical efficiency and business systems often take the spotlight. But during all that, it’s easy to overlook something fundamental: your individuality. I love this quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson “Nothing is at last sacred…
5 Secrets to Building Wealth in Dentistry
By: Dr. James Pitts As a practicing Dentist, your career will last around 30-35 years on average. During this time an average Dental Practice will have about $30,000,000 pass through collections. One would think that this would be enough for all Dentists to retire Financially Independent and debt free. However, ADA statistics tell us that…
What’s Keeping Your Dental Assistant from Becoming an EFDA?
By: Ronda Holman If you’ve ever found yourself wishing you had two pairs of hands during a procedure, chances are you’ve already imagined the value of an EFDA—an Expanded Functions Dental Assistant—on your team. So, what’s holding your current assistant back from stepping into that role? For many dental assistants, the barrier isn’t capability—it’s clarity,…
Airway Dentistry: Making a Difference for Patients’ Wellness
By: Steve Carstensen, DDS This Topic Originally Appeared on PankeyGram.Org. Dr. Carstensen granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. “Hypoxic burden” is the challenge that the body faces due to low levels of oxygen on an intermittent basis. Our physiology has an adaptive capacity to manage hypoxic burdens. When that adaptive capacity is exceeded,…
Case Using DMG’s Ecosite Elements: Class II Caries on #4
By: Dr. Mohammed Hammoud Today’s case: Radiographic caries on #4D, extending into the occlusal. A well-sealed, properly contoured Class II restoration was the goal. Here’s how I approached it: Step-by-Step Breakdown: 1. Anesthesia ½ carpule Citanest Plain + 1 carpule Septocaine for patient comfort and profound numbness. 2. Preparation Conservatively removed decay while preserving tooth…
You Hired an Associate, Congratulations! Now what?
By: Angela Holland As a dental practice owner, you may reach a point where the demand for your services outpaces your ability to handle it all on your own. Whether you’re struggling to manage an influx of new patients, dealing with burnout from working long hours, or simply looking to scale your practice, hiring an…
Patient Care in the Age of 2 Day Shipping and Social Media
By: Dr. Savanah Craig We live in a world of instant gratification. Social Media shows us before and after photos and leaves out the hours, days, months, years it took to achieve that outcome. Patients are inundated with advertisements for “Teeth in a day” and dental tourism that promises to fix all their problems in…