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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
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…
When You Have Everything You Need in the Dental Practice … Except Patients
You have everything you need in your practice … except for patients. Now what? Dr. David Rice will discuss this and more in a riveting talk.
How Differences Can Come Together Under the Dentist’s Leadership
Dr. David Rice explains how dentists can ensure that everyone not only has their voice heard, but that it’s done to promote unity rather than division.
The importance of each of us having our voice heard
Having an opinion is a bigger personal milestone than it may seem. Voicing opinions makes you vulnerable, especially if you’re battling to build self-confidence.
How To Keep That “I Voted” Buzz Going in The Dental Practice
Remember how proud you were that you made your voice heard in the recent election? How about making your voice heard in the dental practice?
Your Patients Have Questions – Each of You Should Have the Same Answer
Your patients walk into your practice all of the time with questions. Ensuring everyone in the practice is on the same page when it comes to the answer is critical. Here’s why.
Why This Study Should Be a Wake-up Call to Dentistry
The lady in this picture is different than you, right? She’s different than every other person in the world as well. So why are we treating our patients like they’re all the same person? Dr. David Rice dives into some thoughts.
New Zealand residents pulling their own teeth after dental waiting list grows
Residents of one part of New Zealand have resorted to pulling their own teeth rather than waiting for weeks to see a dentist.
What’s Keeping You From Being Good Rather Than Great?
One degree can make the difference betweenwater boiling and just being really hot. I know a lot of really good dental assistants out there. I mean, they are excellent at what they do clinically and their people skills are superb. Yet, they know and I know that they have weaknesses in their careers. Heck, we…
4 Principles to Grow Your Dental Practice
By: Dr. David Rice “Mask Mouth”. What does that mean for your dental practice? Let’s be honest. Our patients hear things in the news and then wonder about them before they come into our practices. A perfect example of this is “mask mouth.” Go ahead. You can click here to read about it. I’ll be waiting for…
Wildfires and another link between the mouth and lungs
The devastating wildfires in the United States are all over the news and likely on the minds of your patients One of the best ways to introduce a conversation is to find a point of shared knowledge. That can include events in the news, such as the wildfires that have devastated so many in the…


