Smile Team - Konikoff Dentistry

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 in that city, as well as in Chesapeake and 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 he 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 a 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.

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 three young, energetic children.

Sanae Berrada, D.D.S.

It 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 a 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 confident. 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 children.

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 civilian dental career, Dr. Bozman completed five years of service in the United States Air Force. The decision to come home to Great Bridge and join Konikoff Dentistry was an easy one.

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

Seema Chawla-Miranda, D.M.D.

Dr. Chawla joins us from Mississauga, Canada. An Honors B.S. grad from the University of Toronto, Seema came to the U.S. to attend Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and decided to stay. She served her residency at the Navajo Reservation in Flagstaff, Arizona after receiving her A.E.G.D. from the LMC Department of Dental Medicine. Seema knew she wanted to be a dentist ever since she watched with a mirror as her dentist removed her wisdom teeth.

When not at Konikoff Dentistry, Seema enjoys spending time with husband, Dr. Joshua Miranda (also a Konikoff dentist), learning to cook Indian food, and playing golf.

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 with 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 children, while she also enjoys cooking, entertaining and outdoor activities such as golf and fishing.

Wael Elosta, D.D.S.

Dr. Elosta was supposed to be an engineer, until a friend in dental school fascinated him with her wax tooth creations from her morphology class. Dr.Elosta realized that dentistry offered a creative component as well as an opportunity to work with people in a meaningful way. Dr. Elosta tries to build a special relationship with each patient, to earn their trust and appreciation. Dr. Elosta grew up in Alexandria Egypt and moved to the US for his residency in Louisiana State University. Later he moved to Virginia Beach to join Konikoff Dentistry and has been an important part of our practice ever since.

Marcus W. Field, D.D.S.

A native of Hopewell, VA, Marcus earned his Bachelor of Science of Biology at Virginia Commonwealth University and 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 patients� oral health and their visit first-rate. 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, snowboarding and weight lifting. And, since he is trained in both Judo and Karate, the Konikoff staff always makes it a point to laugh at his jokes, no matter how corny. Marcus very much adds to the fun atmosphere of our office. Dr. Field is a 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.

Meredith Hoek, D.D.S.

Meredith always knew she wanted to be a dentist, probably because her mom is a dentist. Growing up in Fort Myers, FL., Meredith remembers visiting her mother's practice and dressing up for Halloween as a dentist. It wasn't before long that she was attending the University of Florida for her undergraduate degree then moving onto the University of Maryland Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. Meredith finds Konikoff Dentistry to be "exceptionally fun, friendly and inviting". As a member of the Konikoff team, she enjoys helping her patients get healthier teeth being more confident with their smile. Meredith says going to work every day is a lot like a day spent visiting her friends.

Jackie Lanigan, D.M.D.

Dr. Lanigan has so many talents it's hard to know where to begin. Apart from being a D.M.D., Jackie is a published author of a novel and has created a successful children's magazine, all while getting her degrees!

Dr. Lanigan is a University of Virginia graduate and a NOVA Southeastern University Dental School grad as well. She recently became a new mother a second time, and when she is not juggling motherhood and work, she is writing or playing tennis. Jackie will tell you she just loves the artistic component of her job and gets a real kick out of watching children explore the Konikoff Dental offices.

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, 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.

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.

Benjamin McCarty, D.D.S.

Growing up in Hawesville, a small town in western Kentucky, Dr. Benjamin McCarty knew that he wanted to help people through his profession. He attended the College of Wooster in Ohio for his undergraduate degree then proceeded on to the University of Louisville Dental School to follow his dreams. Konikoff Dentistry is pleased to welcome Dr. McCarty as part of our team because of his love for dentistry. Dr. McCarty particularly enjoys being able to solve tricky cases helping patients back to their best form, function, and health. McCarty says that every case is unique and different.

Seeing a patient happy with an outcome of treatment is what makes his day.

Joshua O. Miranda, D.M.D.

A Virginia Beach native, Joshua earned his B.S. in Chemistry from the College of William and Mary, his D.M.D. from Boston's Tufts University and A.E.G.D. from the LMC Department of Dental Medicine. Prior to joining Konikoff Dentistry, Dr. Miranda served his residency in Flagstaff, Arizona on a Navajo Indian Reservation. He met his wife, Dr. Seema Chawla-Miranda (fortunately for us, also practicing at Konikoff Dentistry!), at Tufts. They live in Virginia Beach.

Joshua was inspired to be a dentist from a young age. His pediatric dentist was a very kind-hearted individual, and he tries to emulate his kind and caring approach. In his spare time, you can find Joshua playing the soprano saxophone, out on the golf course or spending time with his family.

Mason Morris, D.D.S.

Dr. Morris earned her B.S. degree at the University of Richmond and her D.D.S. from the Medical College of Virginia. A Lynchburg, VA native, Mason joined us in 2008 and now calls Virginia Beach her home.

Dr. Morris loves her job, especially working with all types of people to create new smiles; she believes that you need to be both a science maven and an artist to create winning smiles. When not in the office, Mason enjoys running, travel of any kind, hanging at the beach and playing the violin.

Dina Pearl, D.D.S.

Dr. Dina Pearl is a graduate of both Medical College of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University. A New York transplant, she moved here over 20 years ago and now calls Chesapeake, Virginia home. Earning patient trust, providing quality dental care and maintaining long term dental relationships are Dr. Pearl's priority. She joined Konikoff Dentistry because she believes in our philosophy that any dentist can brighten your teeth, but her goal is to brighten your day as well - and she works to do just that.

Dr. Pearl stays very busy competing in triathlons (that’s the one where you bicycle, swim and run!) and she holds a 1st Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. Dr. Pearl is married with two energetic sons.

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 Cincinnati, OH (1994) with a B.S. Degree in Natural Sciences, and later he graduated from West Virginia University School of Dentistry in Morgantown, WV (2001) where he obtained a D.D.S. degree. 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.

Patricia Solarte, D.D.S.

Dr. Solarte is Colombian -- born and raised. Completely bilingual, Patricia has practiced dentistry in Colombia and here in the U.S. in both English and Spanish. A graduate from a Colombian dental school as well as NOVA Southeastern University Dental School, she has practiced dentistry for more than six years. Dr. Solarte joined us just last year.

Patricia enjoys swimming, any kind of travel, cooking and playing her guitar with the musical group, "Tuna."

Amy Tam, D.D.S.

After obtaining her B.S. in Biopsychology from the University of Michigan, Dr. Tam moved to New York City where she received her D.D.S. from Columbia University. Enthralled with the urban life, she continued her training and attained her A.E.G.D. from Columbia University as well. Amy knew she wanted to be a dentist when she compulsively brushed 7 times a day when she had braces.

Amy enjoys making a difference in people's lives. The gratitude she receives from her work is seeing her patients smile. When not practicing dentistry, you can find Amy hiking, dining around town and laughing it up with friends. Amy's guilty pleasure: singing karaoke!

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. Vicky enjoys scrapbooking and spending time with her husband and two sons.

Mollie Gioffre, D.D.S.

Born and raised in Reston, Virginia, Dr. Mollie Gioffre always knew she wanted to be a dentist. The appeal was and still is, in having a direct positive effect on others. Dr Gioffre enjoys both personally interacting with her patients and artistically using her hands. A graduate of James Madison University, Dr. Gioffre earned her D.D.S. at the VCU School of Dentistry and then served 3 years in the US Air Force as a dentist. She has been practicing dentistry since 2006 and joined Konikoff Dentistry in 2009.

On a personal note, Dr. Gioffre has one daughter and is looking to grow her family. When not helping people with their smiles, Dr. Gioffre enjoys snow skiing, tennis and golf with her friends and family.

Catherine Ashley Muldoon, D.M.D.

Dr. Muldoon has been around dental offices since she was 15 years old. �I feel like dentistry is an art, and teeth are my canvas. I love to make beauty in the world,� says Catherine. As a child, Dr. Muldoon learned about the importance of dentistry when she required multiple complex dental procedures to correct a congenital condition. Going through the transformational process allowed her to realize that changing a person�s smile not only improves self confidence, but also that change has the power to positively impact those around them. �Smiles are contagious�, she says.

Dr. Muldoon grew up all over the country including New York, Atlanta, Philadelphia and now finally Virginia Beach. She joined Konikoff Dentistry in 2011 after graduating from New York University, College of Arts and sciences graduating magna cum laude, and with honors in the DMD program from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. In addition to working at Konikoff Dentistry, Catherine serves as the Current Miss Virginia USA 2012. She looks forward to representing the state in the Miss USA 2012 pageant.

J. Mark Reichley, D.M.D.

Dr. Reichley lives his life by the following philosophy, �Greatness can be achieved as long as you give the present moment your heartfelt best and always strive to do better today than you did yesterday.� Born and raised in Lansdale, Philadelphia, Dr. Reichley now calls Virginia Beach home. He joins us from the US Navy where he practiced dentistry for four years, prior to which he earned a B.S. in Biology, (graduating summa cum laude) at the University of Maine. He earned his D.M.D. at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Reichley loves being �on the go.� He enjoys the beach, golf, working out, and spending time with friends and family. He participated in Operation Unified Response in Haiti after the January 2010 earthquake as well as various other humanitarian missions which have taken him all over the globe including Central America in Honduras, Guatemala, Columbia, Belize, Nicaragua, and Western Africa in Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon, and Sao Tome.