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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High Employee Turnover? What’s Going Wrong? 

By Dr. Hannah Crowell | October 10, 2023

By: Hannah Crowell A dental office may experience high employee turnover for various reasons, which can negatively impact the overall functioning of the practice. Top Causes of High Employee Turnover Here are some potential reasons why your dental office may have high staff turnover: 1. Low Compensation Dentists and hygienists invest significant time and money…

10 Steps to Starting a Dental Practice

By Dawn Patrick | October 9, 2023

By: Dawn Patrick Are you a dental student with dreams of one day starting a dental practice? The journey from dental school to practice ownership is an exciting and rewarding one, but it also requires careful planning and diligent execution. 10 Steps to Start Building Your Own Dental Practice Here are the top 10 steps…

Facing Times of Transition in Your Dental Career

By Savanah Craig | October 2, 2023

By: Savannah Craig Throughout our lives, we all face times of change and transition. While reflecting on the completion of my dental residency program and the end of my formal education, I’ve been thinking about how many periods of change I’ve encountered on my journey. The big milestones of life were met with celebration but…

You Want to Apply to Dental School, Now What?

By Dr. Bri Torgerson | September 25, 2023

By: Dr. Bri Torgerson Hi! I’m Dr. Bri Torgerson and this month, I wanted to touch base with those applying to dental school. My background in applying to dental schools is that I applied three times to dental school. Now, I ended up getting in on my second application cycle 10 days before orientation, but…

Choosing to Acquire a Dental Practice & Not Start One

By Bruce Bryen | September 19, 2023

Here are the top things to keep in mind after choosing to Acquire a Dental Practice & Not Start One By: Bruce Bryen So you finally decided to acquire an existing dental practice. There were likely many reasons why you made this decision. The answer to whether to buy an existing dental practice or start…

Buyer Beware: 7 Warnings You’re Looking at the Wrong Practice to Buy

By David Rice | September 12, 2023

Here’s Why You Should Not Ignore the Red Flags By: Dr. David Rice So you want to buy a dental practice and you’re worried you’re looking at the wrong practice. 7 Red Flags You’re Looking at the Wrong Practice to Buy 1. How Many Active Patients Are There? Talk to ten people and you’ll get…

Starting a Dental Practice vs Buying an Existing Practice

By Bruce Bryen | September 11, 2023

By: Bruce Bryen Considering starting a dental practice vs buying an existing practice? Whoever said that it was going to be easy had no idea what had to be done to start up a dental practice from the ground up. This is in comparison to acquiring an existing dental practice through a dental practice broker…

Dental Fuel Episode 15: Ronda Holman: Team Mistake

By Ronda Holman | September 8, 2023

This week, on Dental Fuel Episode 15, we’re diving deep into the art of building better communicators within dental teams. Communication is our SUPERPOWER, and it all starts with understanding the human aspect of what we do. Ronda specializes in helping to create the ideal DDS-DA relationship. Empowering dental assistants to continue their education so…

Dental Partnerships: The Good and The Bad!

By Bruce Bryen | September 6, 2023

By: Bruce Bryen Now the potential for more income, exposure to the community, and the recognition deserved by the graduate may be about to occur. The learning curve has been completed after the hiring as an associate, the purchase of a dental practice, and the reputation being built where the name of the dentist is…

Is Strength Training the Key to Your Dental Career Longevity?

By Savanah Craig | September 5, 2023

By: Savannah Craig One of the many things associated with a career in dentistry is back and neck pain. Finding ways to protect yourself is crucial to being able to have a long career. Since dental school, I’ve been trying to find solutions for managing and preventing back pain. I’ve tried stretching, massage therapy, and…