Through the keyhole - Dr. Frank Celenza

Dr. Frank Celenza reflects on his mentors, his goals, and the exhilaration of a dual-specialty practice

What can you tell us about your background?
I grew up on Long Island, NY, the son of a well-known prosthodontist and teacher. My dad, Dr. Frank V. Celenza, set the example for me and my brother, as a passionate professional who loved what he did and pursued it with abandon. He took us to Europe many times when I was young, and was a pioneer of teaching domestically and abroad. It impressed me as a great lifestyle, even though I had other interests. I largely followed his mold and eventually emulated what he did, although in other specialties, also traveling and teaching extensively. He was a very open-minded individual, and although he encouraged me to become a dentist, he insisted that I do so away from his influence. Consequently, I went to dental school at McGill University, in Montreal. From there, I went to the University of Pennsylvania to commence my specialty training. It was only when I returned to New York that I truly began to interact with New York dentists and dentistry.

When did you become a specialist and why?
My plan was to become a specialist, before I even entered dental school. At that time, I wasn’t sure what discipline would appeal to me, but I knew that specialty practice was the way to delve more deeply into a field and achieve greater satisfaction.

Is your practice limited solely to implants/periodontics/orthodontics?
Yes, I limit my practice to those areas, if you can call that a limitation! The adult dentition may involve many considerations that do not arise in the adolescent dentition. Planning for implants and prosthetics is paramount among these. In my mind it takes a different office setting to cater to these needs. Consequently, we have set our practice up for that patient type, and likewise are not really equipped for the younger age groups.

Why did you decide to focus on implants/periodontics/orthodontics?
Under the influence of people like Dr. Morton Amsterdam at the University of Pennsylvania, I became well trained in periodontal/prosthesis, and more importantly, in the setting up and rehabilitation of debilitated dentitions preparatory to their restoration. This involved the interplay of periodontics and orthodontics, and that’s how I became interested in these fields. Interestingly, my older brother Vincent, who is a prosthodontist, made a keen observation during this time. His thoughts were that if I became a prosthodontist, then we would likely share an office together, but not necessarily work together. If I became a periodontist, conversely, then we would function more as a team, and even in separate offices, would likely work together more closely. That was a turning point for me. Further along in practice, as implants came into vogue, it became obvious that we needed to follow this direction. Consequently, we have become fully versed and current with implant technology and techniques.

Do your patients come through referrals?
My patients come largely through patient and doctor referrals, yes. But I have tried hard to build a practice that is not as referral dependent, and through the orthodontic aspects of my practice I have succeeded to some degree in that regard. Patients who are satisfied with their treatment will always recommend friends and family, whether it is for implants, periodontics, or orthodontics.

How long have you been practicing, and what systems do you use?
I have been practicing my dual specialty since I completed my training in 1989. All aspects of what I do have changed dramatically since that time, largely due to the acceptance of implant dentistry. So, you could say that is how the inclusion of the third discipline came about, because in this day and age to be a periodontist you have to be doing implant surgery. In orthodontics, I have used clear brackets for years, as adults would demand, but more recently Invisalign^® has become a big part of my practice. I was the first orthodontist in New York City to embrace this new system, and I am presently pioneering the inclusion of TAD and implant-supported appliances, as I did with fixed appliances for many years. In this regard, I use Dentaurum products, and for implants I use Nobel Biocare^™, Biomet 3i^™, Straumann^®, and Astra Tech.

What training you have undertaken?
Literally thousands of hours of continuing education, and still counting. The constant evolution of dentistry is one of the most challenging and intriguing aspects of it. Being a speaker for so many years has kept me in touch with and exposed to very high-level dentistry.

Who has inspired you?
Of course, my dad, and my brother. But their involvement exposed me to so many leaders in our field that I have really been most fortunate in that way. People like Drs. Gerald Kramer, Burt Langer, and my first partner, Ron Odrich, in periodontics. Leaders in orthodontics include Drs. Vince Kokich, Roger Wise, and others whom I have shared podiums with. So many top restorative pioneers were regular guests at our dinner tables–Drs. Leonard Abrams, Morton Amsterdam, Arnold Weisgold, Dennis Tarnow, Ed Rosenberg, Niles Guichet–the names just go on. More recently, my brother has become very active and involved in high-level prosthodontics, so the exposure continues.

What is the most satisfying aspect of your practice?
The constant evolution of the practice and the development of new ideas and techniques, as well as the ability to interact with patients directly and on a daily basis.

Professionally, what are you most proud of?
Some of the awards and commen-dations that I have received, from dental academies and the city of New York, and the exposure to so much of the world that my work has taken me to. Developing a reputation as a pioneer and being recognized for my work has been especially gratifying.

What do you think is unique about your practice?
No question, the dual specialty has carved a very unique niche for me that I continue to develop.

What has been your biggest challenge?
Trying to manage a vast array of case types, patient types, procedures, and supplies, while also remaining current in all these different aspects.

What would you have been if you didn’t become a dentist?
I would like to think I would be in the automotive field, designing and testing cars. I took a lot of mechanical drawing and architecture in my early schooling to go in that direction, but I think the mindset of doing something creative and technical is very much the same as what I am doing now.

What is the future of dentistry and your specialties?
I see a very bright future for dentistry, but also an evolution into areas and delivery that is always driven by what is best for the patient. Computer-driven technologies will continue to develop many of our procedures, and that has actually made things a lot easier, and more predictable.

What are your top tips for maintaining a successful specialty practice?
Relationships and integrity are so important. Becoming involved with and recognized by your peers and community. New York City is a big place, but in reality, I still feel that we all know each other, and reputation is still critical.

What advice would you give to budding multi-specialists?
As with anything else, find what you love, and then it’s so much easier to enjoy and work hard at it.

What are your hobbies, and what do you do in your spare time?
I have always been involved with motorsports, and consider myself a knowledgeable historian of the sport of car racing. I have become very active and successful as a road racer myself; I just love to drive. (visit http://www.frankcelenza.com/racing.php) I am a cyclist for fitness and recreation, often commuting to work by bicycle over the George Washington Bridge. My four children also keep me pretty well entertained!

Top Ten List:
1. Invisalign^® (Align Technologies)
2. TADs
3. Mucograft^® (Osteohealth^®)
4. Resorbable membranes
5. Digital impressioning
6. Clear Fusion
7. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)
8. Minimally invasive surgery
9. Bone grafting putties
10. Fiber-reinforced composites

Dr. Frank Celenza is uniquely certified in both orthodontics and periodontics. He received his periodontal certificate from the University of Pennsylvania in 1986 and his orthodontic certificate from New York University in 1988. He has authored numerous publications in the dental literature, has been involved in postgraduate teaching for more than 15 years, and maintains a private practice in Manhattan. Dr. Celenza comes from a long line of dentists; both his late father and his brother are prosthodontists as well. Dr. Celenza is a father of four and lives in New Jersey. He pursues other passions outside of dentistry, which include sports car racing, competitive cycling, writing, and computer technology. He owns a three-chair office on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, facing Central Park. He employs a loyal staff that works very closely together and is comprised of two assistants, a hygienist, an office manager, and a periodontal associate, Dr. Mitchell Bloom. He works four days a week, and has recently started to develop a practice in a beautiful facility in New Jersey, near his home. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and www.frankcelenza.com, or (212)327-2623.