About
A career spent becoming exceptionally good at the work.
Igor V. Kaplansky, DDS, is a board-certified implant surgeon in Gasport, New York. He focuses on complex full-arch rehabilitation, zygomatic and pterygoid implants and the revision of failed implant work, in one highly specialized practice built on his own terms.
IThe path
Born in Siberia. Trained in two countries.
- Siberia
Born and raised in Siberia, Russia.
- 1993
First dental degree, Novosibirsk Medical University.
- 1998
DDS, cum laude, University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine.Starting again in a new country, with a second dental degree.
- 1999
Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency, University at Buffalo.
- 2002
Opens his own practice in Gasport, New York.
- 2007
Moves the practice into a purpose-built facility.
- 2016
Focuses the practice on surgery and implantology.
- Today
Certified ZAGA Zygoma Center Buffalo-Rochester. Founder and President of TeethNow Buffalo. Faculty with ORCAA (opens in a new tab).
IIDecisions that shaped the work
Growth is not automatically success. The right growth has to fit.
-
Implants, not general dentistry
Moving toward implant-focused dentistry and complex full-arch treatment, rather than remaining a conventional general dentist.
The practice is built around the entire process: diagnosis and planning, surgery, provisionals, final rehabilitation and long-term maintenance.
-
Strengths, not size
Building the practice around my own clinical strengths rather than simply maximizing practice size.
I would rather have a smaller number of excellent people and a strong system than grow rapidly and lose control.
-
No group model by default
I don’t need a DSO or group-practice strategy simply because it is an available path.
I can continue improving a highly successful single location on my own terms.
-
Knowing when to walk away
Not every attractive opportunity deserves my time.
Consulting, acquisitions, partnerships and referral networks taught him to separate what is theoretically attractive from what actually improves the practice and the life around it.
IIIWhat experience teaches
Experience makes you more selective.
A technically successful case isn’t enough. In complex dentistry, reputation and patient expectations matter enormously: communication, documentation, informed consent and managing expectations through a long treatment journey are as critical as the surgery itself.
“At this stage, I’m less interested in proving that I can do something and more interested in determining whether I should do it.”
He has accumulated substantial real-world experience, and remains curious: still willing to question his own assumptions, and still interested in finding better ways to do things.
IVThe practice today
One location, built for complex cases.
- Practice
- Dentistry by Dr. Kaplansky, Gasport, New York
- Facility
- Purpose-built, 7,000 square feet, 12 chairs
- Team
- 28 people, including 4 dentists and 6 hygienists
- Laboratory
- In-house, with 3 technicians, 3D printing and milling for fixed and removable work
- Focus
- Full-arch rehabilitation, 120 to 150 arches a year, including zygomatic and pterygoid implants
- Also
- Founder and President, TeethNow Buffalo
VCredentials
Board certified in implant dentistry.
- Board certification
- Diplomate, American Board of Oral Implantology DABOI
- Fellowship
- American Academy of Implant Dentistry FAAID
- Fellowship
- International Congress of Oral Implantologists FICOI
- Fellowship
- Academy of General Dentistry FAGD
- Certification
- ZAGA Zygoma Center, Buffalo-Rochester. One of 11 in the United States.
- Faculty
- ORCAA (opens in a new tab), international implant education
- Author
- Contributing author to Dr. Dan Holtzclaw’s book on remote anchorage
- Education
- DDS, University at Buffalo, cum laude, 1998. AEGD residency, 1999. Novosibirsk Medical University, 1993.
VIWork with him
Talk through a case, a practice decision or an invitation to speak.
Looking for care?
Patients are seen at his practice, Dentistry by Dr. Kaplansky, and through TeethNow Buffalo, which he founded.
Visit drkaplansky.com (opens in a new tab)