RAMAPO ORAL & MAXILLO-FACIAL SURGERY - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Chief of Dentistry & Oral - Maxillofacial Surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital

Dr. Caponigro served as Co-Director of Implant Surgery at Columbia University in the Department of Dental & Oral Surgery. Additionally, he was an assistant clinical professor at Columbia for 13 years. He considers himself extremely fortunate that he was able to be on the ground floor during the early introduction and development of dental implants in the United States. The field of dental implants was introduced to the world following scientific protocols developed in Sweden. Dr. Caponigro was in his surgical training residency during the "introduction" of dental implants to North America. This allowed for significant exposure at the onset of dental implants. After serving as Chief Resident at Nassau County University Medical Center, East Meadow, NY, he joined his father, Dr. Carmine Caponigro, who in 1969 had established Ramapo Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. In this very progressive implant based practice in Suffern, NY, Dr. David Caponigro was able to assimilate his father's teachings and continue with his progressive thinking, enabling him to be on the cusp of current techniques. His extensive experience (over 25 years) and the luxury of long term patient follow-up care, provides Dr. Caponigro and his associates with the significant advantage of being aware of which implant techniques will optimize the esthetic results for each unique individual. Throughout his career, Dr. Caponigro has developed and continues to evolve his minimally invasive surgical techniques. Incisions and exposure are minimized for all procedures, from wisdom teeth, to implants, to jaw reconstruction. Most implants are placed through small openings (punches) not requiring sutures. This greatly reduces, and often eliminates post operative discomfort and swelling. Dr. David Caponigro presently serves as Chief of Dentistry & Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital and maintains staff privileges at Nyack Hospital. He has served as both Craniofacial Surgeon and Team Consultant at Helen Hayes Hospital; Director of Chief Subsection Dentistry, and Department of Surgery at Jawonio Development Center; Assistant Clinical Professor at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital; and Assistant Attending Nassau University Medical Center. He also has had the honor of serving as a volunteer surgeon, helping children in South America by repairing neglected cleft lips and palates. Dr. Caponigro has resided in Rockland County since early childhood and attended local public schools. He attended Fordham University and graduated with top honors. From Fordham, he directly entered Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery and finished at the top of his class. He was selected to Nassau County University Medical Center's competitive Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery residency, where in his last year he was chief resident. Here he gained significant experience with orthognathic (jaw straightening), facial reconstructive surgery, and implant dentistry. During these past 25 years, Dr. Caponigro has been involved in the continuing evolution of the field of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. He became Board Certified, at first qualification, by the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. He remains as a fellow of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and the America College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Drew Nunziata, DMD, MD was born and raised in Suffern, New York and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from Stony Brook University in 2006. He earned his Doctorate of Dental Medicine with honors from Boston University School of Dental Medicine in 2010 where he was inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honor Society. He then completed his Medical Degree at Stony Brook University, where he completed a one year general surgery internship at Stony Brook University Hospital. He continued his Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery training at Long Island Jewish Medical Center where he served as chief resident. Dr. Nunziata's practice encompasses all aspects of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery including: dentoalveolar surgery, implant placement, reconstructive surgery, bone grafting, maxillofacial trauma, orthognathic surgery and temporomandibular joint surgery. His training included the use of computer guided virtual surgical planning, and the use of custom surgical guides for the correction of dento-facial deformities, jaw defects, facial trauma, and placement of dental implants. Furthermore, he is thoroughly trained in current techniques in anesthesia and intravenous sedation. Dr. Nunziata has hospital privileges at Good Samaritan Hospital and Nyack Hospital, and keeps membership in the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and the American Dental Association. He holds active certifications in Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, and Advanced Trauma Life Support. He maintains active licenses in New York and New Jersey and is recognized by the National Board of Dental Examiners, National Board of Medical Examiners, and North East Regional Board of Dentistry. He is certified as a diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Personal interests include recreational aviation, hiking and travel. He recently spent 10 days in Haiti providing needed care to the people of La Gon ve. He lives in Mahwah, NJ with his wife Rosanna an Anesthesiologist and two daughters.

Justin A. Hendi, DMD is a Board Certified Diplomate with the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. He was raised in Bergen County, New Jersey and a graduate of Pascack Hills High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University (Medford, Massachusetts) and was awarded his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (Boston, Massachusetts), graduating with honors. Dr. Hendi completed his internship and residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Tufts Medial Center/Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (Boston, Massachusetts). Dr. Hendi has been involved in numerous scientific research projects and made contributions to the scientific literature throughout his career. Dr. Hendi practices the full scope of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery including wisdom teeth removal, dental implant reconstruction, correction of orofacial defects, and facial trauma reconstruction. His areas of particular interest include bone-grafting procedures as well as computer guided dental implant reconstruction. Dr. Hendi is board certified by the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. He also maintains active membership with: The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, The American Dental Society of Anesthesia, and the American Dental Association. He is certified in both Advanced Cardiac Life Support as well as Pediatric Advanced Life Support.