James Wanamaker

James Wanamaker

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.

dental photography

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,…

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Variolink Esthetic System Review

Variolink Esthetic System Review

By: Dr. James Wanamaker When I became a dental practice owner, one of my goals was to…

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Direct Restorative Workflow Kit from Ivoclar

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…

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Challenges & Benefits of Working in Healthcare

By Savanah Craig | October 7, 2024

By: Dr. Savanah Craig Working in healthcare is challenging for many reasons. I would bet that most people in healthcare are high-achieving and have a strong desire to help others. This makes people susceptible to burnout. Dentists, however, have the added level of patient fear, distrust, and isolation to contend with. Spend enough time with…

How to Master a Complete Dental Examination

By Dr. Leonard Hess, DDS | October 4, 2024

By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDS, Clinical Director, The Dawson AcademyThis article originally appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.com, Dr. Hess allowed igniteDDS to share with our readers. The key to offering complete dentistry starts with a thorough complete dental examination, but the order and how each Dentist explains this to patients can vary. 4 Steps to a…

Building a Strong Culture with Your Dental Team: The Foundation of a Thriving Practice 

By Dawn Patrick | October 2, 2024

By: Dawn Patrick, Dental Coach + Director of Operations IgniteDDS  In the ever-evolving world of dentistry, clinical skills and patient care are paramount. However, the success of a dental practice isn’t driven by technical expertise alone. Behind every flourishing practice is a unified, motivated, and engaged dental team that works seamlessly together. The key to…

Improving Efficiency in Dental Treatment Room Turnover

By Ronda Holman | September 30, 2024

By: Ronda Holman One of the common frustrations in a dental practice is when treatment room turnover takes longer than necessary. This delay can create bottlenecks, lead to patient dissatisfaction, and disrupt the schedule. Teaching a dental assistant to clean and set up a treatment room efficiently is essential for maintaining a smooth workflow. 5…

Shifting ‘The Locus of Control’ Towards a True Partnership

By Dr. Brad Weiss | September 27, 2024

By: Brad WeissThis topic originally appeared on Pankey.org. Dr. Weiss granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. As a maximizer, I’m always tweaking processes to try to make things a little better. A few years back on the advice of a wise mentor, I made a small change to the last question I…

Building & Maintaining a Strong, Committed Dental Team: A Comprehensive Guide for Long-Term Success 

By Dawn Patrick | September 25, 2024

By: Dawn Patrick, Dental Coach + Director of Operations IgniteDDS  The success of any dental practice is rooted in the strength of its team. As a dentist and business owner, the challenge of managing a team while balancing clinical duties can feel overwhelming. However, creating a culture of engagement, accountability, and commitment is crucial for…

Solea Dental Laser Transformation

By Dr. Anthony Bolamperti, DDS | September 23, 2024

By: Dr. Anthony Bolamperti, DDSThis topic originally appeared on ConvergentDental.com. Dr. Bolamperit granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. Every doctor who invests in a Solea dental laser has a transformation. Every transformation may be a little different, but they all have common threads that tie us together. My transformation began earlier than…

Individualized Patient Details for Lifelong Relationships

By Dr. DeAnne Blazek, DDS | September 20, 2024

By: DeAnne Blazek DDSThis topic originally appeared on Pankey.org. Dr. Blazek granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. We see many patients daily and, it’s hard to remember all of them. You may remember their dental concerns or recall your work once you examined but not the people themselves. Keeping an individualized notebook…

Embracing Balance in Dentistry: Dr. Naved Fatmi on Avoiding Burnout

By Dr. Naved Fatmi | September 18, 2024

Host: Dr. Tanya Sue MaestasGuest: Dr. Naved FatmiEdited By: Candy Velez CRDH In the fast-paced world of dentistry, balancing practice demands with personal well-being can often feel like walking a tightrope. Burnout, a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress, looms as a serious risk. Fortunately, Dr. Naved Fatmi’s…

Exceeding Dental Patient Expectations

By Dr. Timothy Anderson, DDS | September 16, 2024

A Practice of Exceeding Dental Patient Expectation By: Timothy Anderson, DDSThis topic originally appeared on ConvergentDental.com. Dr. Anderson granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. Patient-Centered, Technology-Driven Culture A few years ago, I did the crazy thing of starting a dental practice from scratch. Naturally, there were some hurdles and struggles, specifically doing…