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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Pediatric Dentistry Start-Up: Cuivre Creek

By Casey Goetz | March 23, 2022

By: Casey Goetz I knew for years that my ultimate professional goal was to start my own pediatric dental office. I wanted to have that autonomy and be in control of my career so that I could deliver my dentistry in a way that I thought was superior. I briefly associated with another office for…

What to Do and What to Avoid with a Dental Startup

By Anna Borden | March 17, 2022

By: Anna Borden, DDS My startup journey was one that was somewhat expected, somewhat forced. I had been looking for a practice to buy for about two years, but a lot of practices were overpriced with failing equipment or needed full renovations – or of course, the doctors that wanted to stay on for a…

6 Skills that Make a Great Dental Assistant

By Jamie Finch | March 17, 2022

By: Jamie Finch Dentists may get most of the credit for helping people achieve a perfect smile, but the contribution of their assistants shouldn’t be underestimated. Dental assistants perform numerous important roles that help a dental practice run smoothly, including assisting dentists in surgery. A dental assistant’s career can be exciting, and having the right…

How Phased Therapy Elevates Your Single Tooth Dentistry Every Time

By Kevin Muench | March 15, 2022

By: Kevin Muench DMD, MAGD Time can work against you, or it can work for you if phased therapy is the proposed treatment. Though it seems simpler than a full mouth reconstruction, single tooth dentistry can take years to achieve the desired outcome. For this reason, we must bolster our communication and relationship skills. So, what can…

How to Lead an Old Team as a New Dentist

By Jennifer Murphy | March 8, 2022

By: Jennifer Murphy, DDS, FAGD So you’ve graduated dental school, gotten your DDS or DMD degree, and obtained your license. Now, you are a doctor. You’ve started your first job, yet the staff doesn’t seem to see you as a leader in the office. You may even feel like they know more than you, even though…

How to Have Great Customer Service

By Katie Klaes | March 7, 2022

By: Katie Klaes Disney is commonly referred to as “The Happiest Place on Earth.” People visit Disney for any number of reasons: birthdays, proposals, honeymoons, graduations, or simply to make family memories that will last a lifetime. Do you think these customers have high expectations? You bet they do. How to Provide Excellent Customer Service…

Prevent Infection Control Breaches with an Infection Control Coordinator

By Michelle Strange | March 2, 2022

By: Michelle Strange, MSDH, RDH Despite the emphasis on infection prevention being “prevention,” it is unfortunately inevitable that infection control breaches occur from time to time. The handling of these incidents can have a significant impact on patients, staff, and the dental office itself. You may be tempted just to sweep it under the rug or…

What is your why?

By Mohammed Hammoud | March 2, 2022

By: Mohammed Hammoud Many of us are confronted with hopeless situations in which we no longer feel guided. Whether it be rejection from dental school to not feeling passionate about our future choices, we ask ourselves, why? It creates a sense of frustration because we fell short of our dreams. In most cases, people give…

Having an Infection Control Coordinator can save you money!

By Michelle Strange | February 25, 2022

We already know that infection control is paramount for creating safe dental visits by ensuring the safety of patients and staff. Both OSHA and the CDC also support the role of the ICC, with recommendations that every office should have one on-site. But aside from dental office safety, having an Infection Control Coordinator (ICC) to…

Infection Control Coordinator Training

By Michelle Strange | February 22, 2022

By: Michelle Strange, MSDH, RDH There has been a great deal of development in the subject of infection control (IC) over the last century as we have grown to understand the concept. We know how it affects the quality of treatment and overall dental office safety. Over time, research on infection control prevention and management…