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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
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Variolink Esthetic System Review
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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…
How Dental Practices Can Attract & Retain Great Talent During the Great Resignation
By: Katie Klaes “I’m sorry, we are short staffed. Could you come back another day?” I was at my local Acura car dealership for routine maintenance needs. In the eight years I’ve had my car, they’ve always taken care of me same-day. A little inconvenient, but I did not mind making an appointment for a…
Dental Specialists on Your Team
By: Rubana S Masood DDS, MS, BA When it comes to comprehensive dental treatment planning, teamwork makes the dream work. With our patients’ ever increasing needs and the new advancements daily, dental specialists can serve an important role as a part of your practice. Dental specialists can help your patients receive the highest level of…
Dental Health Statistics in 2022: The Best and Worst States
By: Kevin Henry National dental provider Express Dentist has revealed its rankings of the states with the best and worst dental health. The comprehensive study ranked all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, giving each a score up to 100. It looked at 25 criteria, including dentists per capita, water fluoridation, and mouth appearance. States with the…
Top 5 Dental Student Loan Mistakes
Dental school is a hard, lengthy process, but worth it. You want to make sure that you set yourself up for success right out of the gate. 5 Dental Student Loan Mistakes to Avoid Here are the top 5 mistakes that Dental Students make regardding their loans: Borrowing more than you need The under-repayment plan…
Buying a dental practice for those having the stamina and intensity level to do so
By: Bruce Bryen, CPA/CVA Now that the dental school graduate has gone from new hire/associate to a somewhat more experienced dentist, he or she may feel ready to buy a dental practice, either an existing office or to “start up” a new one. Some may think about starting their own practice rather than acquiring an…
Free Dental CE Courses: Transatlantic Edition
By: Maysa Hattab Revisiting the perennial, occasionally contentious subject of free (or almost free) continuing dental education from a wintry northwest England by way of Ignite HQ, this time for those practicing in the UK, or anyone considering a move here. What’s the difference? Dental CPD Requirements Across the UK Unlike local board requirements stateside,…
5 Tips on Becoming a Dental Hygienist
By: Sara Brooks RDH, BS Congratulations! You decided you want to become a Dental Hygienist! So now what? Find the Best School for You Take Prerequisite Classes First Invest in Comfortable Scrubs and Shoes Ask Friends and Family to be Your Patients Find an Office to Work at 1. Find the Best School for You The…
5 Reasons to Become a Dental Hygienist
By: Sara Brooks RDH, BS Here are 5 reasons to become a Dental Hygienist: Pay: You get paid well per hour. Hours: The hours are usually 8 to 5. No nights or Holidays: Most dental offices close on major Holidays. Only need Associates degree: Meaning only 2 years of school. So easy: Sit on your butt…
Playing defense with teeth
By: Sable A Muntean, DMD, MHSA On a recent Friday afternoon, this 18-year-old female presented as a new patient to my office. She had fallen off her scooter the day prior, fracturing both #8 and 9, as seen in Figure 1 below. My chief concern was the blushing of the pulp, as seen in Figure 2 below,…
New Doc on the Block
By: Rubana Masood, DDS, MS, BA Congratulations! After all of the searching and interviewing, you’ve finally found the right associate job for you! Now that the contract ink is dry, it’s time to get ready for your transition. It isn’t like an academic exam where you can study and know what to expect on the test….


