Meet Us

David B. Konikoff, D.D.S.

Born and raised in Norfolk, David is a product of Granby High School, the University of South Carolina, Old Dominion University, and the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry where he received his D.D.S. Dr. Konikoff opened his first office in Virginia Beach in 1980 and now has offices multiple offices in that city, as well as in Chesapeake and one planned for Suffolk.

In addition to his skills as a dentist and cosmetic surgeon. Dr. Konikoff’s success can be attributed to his love for people, his engaging and humorous style around the office, and the respect with which treats his staff and patients alike. Never one to take himself too seriously, Dr. Konikoff has been known to don costumes or wear cartoon character-embroidered shirts to make people, especially children, feel comfortable in the dental chair. David enjoys life with his family, golf and water sports in his leisure time.

Tamer M. Abdelwahab, D.D.S.   

For Tamer, it is all about making a difference in people’s lives through changing their smile. Needless to say, that’s exactly how we feel at Konikoff Dentistry. A dentist since 1999, Dr. Abdelwahab is a graduate of the University of Alexandria, Egypt. Upon coming to the United States, he spent a year in general practice residency in Connecticut. We’re fortunate to have Tamer part of the team at Konikoff Dentistry where he enjoys interacting with other top professionals from different backgrounds.

Tamer loves living in the Hampton Roads area and he enjoys spending his off time at the beach and pursuing other outdoor activities.

Uzma Ansari, D.M.D.   

Having lived a whirlwind life so far, Uzma, a native of Pakistan, obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from UAB-Huntsville, then earned her D.M.D. from UAB-Birmingham. After working in dentistry for four years in Houston, Uzma joined the U.S. Air Force as an officer. During this time, she was deployed to El Salvador on a humanitarian mission.

Needless to say, her sense of compassion fits in beautifully here at Konikoff Dentistry. Uzma truly enjoys making a difference for her patients, especially those who may not be aware of proper dental hygiene practices. Uzma relaxes by enjoying crafts, jewelry and sewing. She is married with a young son and daughter.

Hisham M. Barakat, D.D.S.

Originally from Egypt, Hisham earned his D.D.S. from Alexandria University. He worked in Egypt after graduation, then later worked in Louisiana, and now we are fortunate to have him at Konikoff Dentistry. He has more than 7 happy years as a dentist under his belt. Both of Dr. Barakat’s parents were dentists he knew from an early age that this was his calling.

Hisham feels that Konikoff Dentistry offers patients a great experience and a truly unique trip to the dentist. He enjoys changing someone’s smile and, through it, their whole image of themselves. Quite ambitious and very social, Hisham loves traveling, scuba diving and he jogs on a daily basis. He is a member of the American Dental Association and other industry groups.

Sanae Berrada, D.D.S.

It's is a long way from home for Sanae, having grown up in Marrakech, Morocco. But we’re excited that she's joined the Konikoff Dentistry family. She graduated in 1997 from the University Hassan II in Casablanca and spent two years working in private practice before coming to the United States. Dr. Berrada was in general practice residency for two years at the Berkshire Medical Center, affiliated with the University of Massachusetts. In addition, Sanae holds a certificate in orthodontics from New York University.

She truly believes that dentistry is an art that can greatly improve a patient’s smile and make people feel good about themselves. She enjoys working at Konikoff Dentistry because it’s one big family that is committed to excellence. Away from the office Sanae enjoys traveling and cooking and spending quality time with her husband and their daughter.

Jenny V. Bozman, D.D.S.

Jenny earned her D.D.S. degree from the Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry after earning her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Mary Washington. Before beginning her dental career, Dr. Bozman completed five-years of service in the United States Air Force. When her career beckoned, the decision to come home to Great Bridge and join Konikoff Dentistry was an easy one.

Jenny cited the practice’s team orientation and great respect within the community as key factors, as well as the Konikoff commitment to deliver the ultimate oral health care to our patients. She and her husband have traveled extensively through Europe and the U.S., but their hearts are in hometown Great Bridge where they are raising twin daughters. When they do manage a break, they enjoy skiing and scuba diving.

Jason Campbell, D.D.S.

A product of Virginia Beach, Jason attended Cape Henry Collegiate before earning his undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia. He obtained his D.D.S. at the Medical College of Virginia. What made Jason choose Konikoff Dentistry? He says it was our insistence on putting the patient first, always.

Our patient-centered approach to service lines up perfectly with Jason’s desire to help people, both improving their oral health and their daily outlook. He maintains his own health by staying active in sports including his favorite: surfing. A self-described fun-loving person, Jason is a member of the American Dental Association.

Joseph C. Dobson, III, D.D.S.

Joe is a graduate of Virginia Military Institute with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He followed that up with a D.D.S. degree from the Medical College of Virginia, where he graduated Cum Laude. In spite of what appears to be a very focused and disciplined background, Dr. Dobson is known for his easy-going manner and love for his patients.

Joe made Konikoff Dentistry his first job upon graduation in 1999. He appreciates how we act like a smaller practice with personal attention in spite of our large practice. Dr. Dobson enjoys the artistry of his profession, as well as helping people feel better and having a pleasant dental experience. In his spare time, Joe enjoys boating and fishing, even fabricating his own tackle.

Roberta L. Dobson, D.D.S.

Roberta earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology from George Mason University before moving on to the Medical College of Virginia for her D.D.S. We were fortunate enough to give Dr. Dobson her first job in dentistry back in 1999, and we are pleased that she has remained a member of our family.

And perhaps it’s no surprise that Roberta has stayed in one place so long – she was raised in the military and moved around quite a bit. Regarding dentistry, Dr. Dobson thinks that every visit to the dentist should be a pleasant one, and that she gets great satisfaction helping people feel confident about their smile and their oral health. A member of the American Dental Association, Virginia Dental Association and Tidewater Dental Association, Roberta also enjoys tennis, volleyball and boating.

Paige Downs, D.M.D.

Paige is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and received her Doctor of Medical Dentistry from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Dr. Downs moved to Virginia after a few years in private practice, joining the naval base as a general dentist before coming on board with Konikoff Dentistry. She views her work with us as being part of an extended family, everyone sharing a common mission of helping our patients.

For Paige, dentistry provides the perfect balance: pursuing science, her first love, while helping people and being able to spend time with her family and friends. She fills her off-time with her husband and young child, while she also enjoys cooking, entertaining and outdoor activities such as golf and fishing.

Marcus W. Field, D.D.S.

A native of Hopewell, VA, Marcus earned his Bachelor of Science of Biology at Virginia Commonwealth University, then received his D.D.S. from the Medical College of Virginia. He joined Konikoff Dentistry in 2005, his first job as a dentist. Dr. Field found the family atmosphere very appealing as well as the overall philosophy of making the patient’s oral health and their visit, a first rate one. And speaking of family, Marcus recently married Dr. Sheila Gillespie, another dentist of the Konikoff team.

An energetic young dentist, Marcus enjoys mountain biking, volleyball, tennis, surfing, snow boarding and weight lifting. And, since he is trained in both Judo and Karate, the Konikoff staff always make it a point to laugh at his jokes, no matter how corny. Marcus very much aD.D.S. to fun atmosphere of our office. Dr. Field is member of the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry.

Dr. Sheila Field, D.D.S.

Sheila’s extensive educational background includes a B.S. in Microbiology and Cell Science with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Florida, an M.S. in Immunology from Virginia Commonwealth University and a D.D.S. from the Medical College of Virginia. Dr. Field was drawn to Konikoff Dentistry because she believes our experience and knowledge allow us to provide our patients with the best, most comprehensive care.

Sheila gets great satisfaction from improving someone’s smile and thereby changing someone’s life for the better. Born and raised as part of a Navy family, she especially enjoys serving our military community. Sheila being recently married to Dr. Marcus Field, enjoys skiing, both on water and snow, biking and camping. She also is a member of the American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry and the Women’s Dental Network.

Mike Heffelfinger, D.D.S.

Mike is a proud graduate of James Madison University where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree. He earned his D.D.S. degree at the Medical College of Virginia. Dr. Heffelfinger made Konikoff Dentistry his first dental job out of school because he appreciated our patient-centered approach, as well as our commitment to stay on the forefront of technological and procedural advances.

Mike especially enjoys interacting with his patients and the satisfaction of having such a positive impact in their lives. His free time is full, participating in various sports, traveling, going to the beach, listening to music and spending time with friends. He was a soccer player at JMU. Dr. Heffelfinger is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry and the Virginia Dental Association.

Wesley Kandare, D.D.S.

It seems that dentistry was always in Wesley’s future. As a child, he enjoyed going to the dentist so much that he decided when he grew up that was exactly what he would become. If you ask Wesley what he enjoys most about being a dentist, he’ll tell you it’s relieving people from pain and the creative hands-on process of enhancing smiles. A Virginia Beach native, Wesley got his degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. He enjoys being part of Konikoff Dentistry because as he says, "It’s a place where everyone is dedicated to an extremely high standard of quality."

Wesley speaks Spanish and enjoys practicing it with his wife who is from Costa Rica. They live in Virginia Beach with their new son, Logan.

Ivetta Maclin, D.D.S.

Ivetta is a long way from her Houston hometown, but we’re thrilled that she joined Konikoff Dentistry back in 2002. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Dillard University in New Orleans, LA, and she earned her D.D.S. at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN. Dr. Maclin also completed a 1 year residency in hospital dentistry prior to spending four years as a dental officer in the U.S. Navy. With a quick and ready smile herself, a genuine concern, and gentle touch, Ivetta enjoys helping create beautiful smiles for her patients.

Her attraction to the Konikoff practice comes from our concern for our patients’ oral health and their overall happiness and outlook on life. Ivetta is married with two children and enjoys spending “quality” time with her family. Dr. Maclin is a member of the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry and the Women’s Dental Network.

Zeyad Mady, D.D.S.

Dr. Mady grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. After graduating dental school in 1999 in Alexandria, Egypt, he worked for two years with the less fortunate in the underserved areas of his home country Egypt. He returned to the U.S., where he studied advanced dental education at the University of Illinois, graduating in 2006. Zeyad finds great satisfaction in working with patients eager to improve their dental health and in seeing the smiles that he creates.

When he’s not in the office, Zeyad enjoys traveling, hiking, fishing and soccer. He’s found a good home here in the warm, friendly environment of Konikoff Dentistry and enjoys working with the professionally trained staff. Dr. Mady is a member of the American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, Virginia Dental Association, and the Chicago Dental Society.

Dr. Jo-Marie Maniwang, D.D.S.

Jo-Marie earned her D.D.S. degree in 2004 from the Medical College of Virginia and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Radford University. She chose Konikoff Dentistry as her first job after graduation because she recognized a group of people who, in her words, love their job, act professionally and provide superior oral care with empathy and fun.

Dr. Maniwang loves that she has the ability to make people smile, and acknowledges that there could be no better job than that. One memory from childhood that sticks with Jo-Marie is being evacuated by helicopter from her home in the Philippines during the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. Today, her life is much calmer as she enjoys riding her beach cruiser on the boardwalk with her husband and son. Dr. Maniwang is a member of the American Dental Association.

Michele M. Mattioli, D.M.D.

Born and raised in Landisville, NJ, Michele has settled down in the more temperate and laid back lifestyle of Virginia Beach. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Glassboro State College (NJ), she obtained her Doctor of Medical Dentistry from the Medical University of South Carolina. She also served a year of residency at Veterans Administration Medical Center in West Haven, CT.

Dr. Mattioli wanted to be a dentist from an early age, and dentistry allows her two important advantages: to make a real difference in the health of her patients, and be able to spend quality time with her family. To that end, Michele enjoys the beach, backpacking, camping and hiking. She’s even a scuba diver.

Damdy C. Richards, D.D.S.

Damdy obtained her undergraduate degree from George Mason University and followed that with her D.D.S. degree from the Medical College of Virginia. Quite an achievement, considering she didn’t learn to speak English until she moved here from her native Laos at the age of 16. Dr. Richards joined Konikoff Dentistry in 1997 and loves working with – as she describes it – a great group of talented people in a friendly, rewarding environment.

Dr. Richards gets tremendous satisfaction from working to improve her patients’ smiles and, as a result, their confidence and happiness. In that same spirit, Damdy enjoys cooking and entertaining, and spending time with her husband and their two boys. Dr. Richards is a member of the Virginia Beach Dental Association and the Virginia Beach Professional Women’s Club.

Estelito 'E.B.' Santos, Jr., D.D.S.

E.B. knew in his heart that he could do something special as a dentist. To him dentistry means providing the best oral health care possible to all of his patients in the most honest and caring manner. Born in Huntington, West Virginia, E.B. graduated from Xavier University in Cincinatti, OH with a B.S. Degree in Natural Science and later he graduated from West Virginia University School of Dentistry in 2001 where he obtained a D.D.S. He’s been in private practice for the past seven years and we are glad that such an experienced dentist has joined Konikoff Dentistry. E.B. enjoys the positive and professional atmosphere here and appreciates the team approach of all the doctors, hygienists, office staff, and lab personnel.

He and his beautiful wife, Beth live in the Great Bridge/Chesapeake area and are truly excited about being here and starting a family.

George Sonbol, D.D.S.

Dentistry has fascinated George in many ways. First, it’s an opportunity to relieve a patient’s pain and restore oral health. Second, it’s the satisfaction of contributing to the natural beauty of someone’s smile. He believes dentistry isn’t only a means of cure but also involves a very special touch of art. His D.D.S. degree in 2001 from Alexandria University, Egypt, was followed by experience in private practice before coming to the United States for a two-year residency program in General Dentistry and Oral Medicine at Louisiana State University, Health Science Center. Dr. Sonbol is a member of the American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry and the American Academy of Oral Medicine.

George is a big soccer fan and loves to play tennis. He lives with his wife in Virginia Beach where they spend their spare time traveling and cooking.

Maria Victoria (Vicky) Throckmorton, D.D.S.

Her love of helping people is why Dr. Throckmorton decided to become a dentist. She enjoys interacting with her patients, making a difference in their oral health, and sharing her knowledge with her students.

Vicky grew up in Medellin, Colombia where she earned her dental degree in 1995 from CES University and later, in 2000, her MS in Prosthodontics and Periodontics. In 2002, she moved to Virginia and attended the Advanced Standing Program at VCU for two years. She obtained her D.D.S. in 2005 and stayed at VCU as part of the full time faculty until two years later when she settled in Virginia Beach and joined the Konikoff family. Dr. Throckmorton also continues to teach part time at VCU. Vicky enjoys scrapbooking and spending time with her husband and newborn son, David III.