You go to see Dr. Brunacini or Dr. Karagiorgos for your dental care. But where do Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos go to get their teeth checked? Where did they go when they were kids? What inspired them to get on the other side of the dental chair? Let’s listen! 

1.Who was your childhood dentist? 

Dr. Brunacini: My dad! My father, Timothy, was my dentist. I grew up at his dental office, watching dentist videos on VHS. The Charlie Brown special, The Dental Flossophy, was my favorite. 

Dr. Karagiorgos: His name was Dr. Arnold Weiss. He was still practicing when I went to dental school! 

2. Did you look forward to going to the dentist? 

Dr. Brunacini: Yes. I always had good exams and good experiences. 

Dr. Karagiorgos: I did. I really liked everything about going to the dentist. 

3. What was your favorite part of a trip to the dentist? 

Dr. Brunacini: I was part of the “No Cavity Club” for a while. We had our pictures taken with a Polaroid camera and hung on the wall. That was cool, but eventually I got a cavity. My dad wasn’t happy about that. 

Dr. Karagiorgos: There was an airplane mobile on the ceiling above the dentist chair that I liked to look at. After my exam, I’d get to choose a prize from the toy chest. The jelly hands were my favorite. 

4. Did your childhood dentist inspire you to pursue dentistry? 

Dr. Brunacini: Not really. Even though he was my dad, he never pressured me to be a dentist. I’ve always been medically-minded, and I liked that the dental office is a fun, cheerful, uplifting place to be. Everyone’s smiling! 

Dr. Karagiorgos: No, not Dr. Weiss. But my cousin was also a dentist and she really encouraged me to pursue the field. She knew that I liked people and appreciated the science side of things. It was a practical option. 

5. How do the dentists at FDA help younger patients to love their dental visits? 

Dr. Brunacini: We’re always striving to be accommodating and to be good listeners to all of our patients. We do give out little toys and stickers, but we empower young kids to be responsible for their dental health. They get excited about it. 

Dr. Karagiorgos: The dentists and hygienists here all work hard with our younger patients to meet and talk to them on their level. We explain things in a way they can understand, and always answer their questions. I would encourage parents to make sure that they are always talking about their own dental cleanings and procedures in a positive light–kids listen to everything! 

Do you have more questions for Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos? Ask them at your next exam! To schedule, please call our office at 207.781.5900.

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