Welcome, I am Dr. Eric B. Salmonson. I was born in Killeen, Texas, but grew up in both Shoreham and Port Jefferson, New York. I currently live in Mount Sinai with my wife Stephanie, and our daughters Lauren and Jaime.
My interest in dentistry obviously goes back to my childhood, in large part because of my father, Dr. Ronald J. Salmonson. My brother and I grew up in a home dental office always surrounded by the profession. I always loved going to the dentist as a child, not surprising since my dad always let my brother and I play with the instruments and pretend to be the dentist.
In 1994, I graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelors degree in Psychology. I volunteered as a dental assistant at the Delaware State Hospital psychiatric clinic during my undergraduate education. During school breaks, I would help out in my father's dental office as his dental assistant.
In 1998, I graduated Cum Laude from the University of Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine. After graduation, I enrolled in a one-year advanced education of general dentistry at SUNY at Stony Brook, School of Dental Medicine where I was enriched professionally in all specialties of dentistry and had extensive training in restoring dental implants. While in dental school I was awarded the Delta Sigma Delta buffalo chapter award for initiative, attitude, and general excellence in operative dentistry.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, photography, computers, and tennis. I find that my background in psychology helps me to better understand and reassure those patients feeling anxious about their dental visits. I have also received additional training in the use of Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas).
I enjoy doing all phases of General, Pediatric, and Cosmetic dentistry. I always look forward to welcoming new patients and their families into our practice, and to seeing our existing patients at their regular visits.
I knew I wanted to be a dentist from the time I was eight years old. This early realization helped me focus on a straightforward path. I also had the privilege of working in Manhattan with my family dentist, who was my mentor.
The well-regarded Dental School I chose had one of the smallest classes in the country. I felt this was an ideal way of learning from their renowned faculty. I graduated from the University of Buffalo Dental School in 1970 with various accolades, including the highest honors in Radiology. I received scholarship grants and fellowships during my four years of dental school. Additionally, I published a paper that evaluated psychological stress factors in dentistry. Through a research grant from the famous Roswell Park Cancer Hospital, I also studied the oral manifestations of leukemia.
After graduation, I did my residency at Fort Hood, Texas where I honed my skills in all phases of dentistry. I was a dental officer (captain) in the US Army Dental Corps during the Vietnam War. Upon completing my military commitment, I practiced in a prestigious Manhattan dental office, under the tutelage of my own highly acclaimed family dentist.
In 1973, I moved to Shoreham, N.Y. where our practice has been for over forty years. I was extremely fortunate to be a health care provider in this rural atmosphere. Due to the growth of the practice and community, in 1980 I relocated my office to a former Catholic Church (St. Marks) in the same community. Many of my present patients had been parishioners of this same church.
In 1981, I was asked by the distinguished faculty of Stony Brooks School of Dental Medicine to join their staff, as a Clinical Assistant Professor in their Restorative Department. I am very proud that I have given back to the profession that I care so much about, by having taught our next generation of dentists. I was also flattered when one of the classes selected me to be their honored dentist at their own graduation.
Besides my son, Dr. Eric who has been associated with the practice since working as a teenager, I have influenced many people who eventually went into the field of dentistry, be it as a dentist or in an ancillary role.
My early dental experiences as a child were negative ones. Then one day my mom took me to a female dentist. I was nine years old and it was the most pleasant dental experience I had ever had. I remember thinking, 'Wow, I want to be a dentist too! And the white coat looks so cool!' It was then I knew that I wanted to be in the dental profession.
At the age of five, my family immigrated to the United States. I grew up on Long Island. In 1988, I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry with honors from Hofstra University. I graduated Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Among my most valuable experiences during college, in terms of understanding human nature and people in pain, was the volunteer work I did at University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. An excellent education that not only included the traditional core course curriculum but also included classes in things like ethics and bed-side manner in pediatric dentistry.
While at the University of Pennsylvania, I was accepted into the hospital dentistry honors program. This gave me the opportunity to take first year medical courses at the University's medical school, as well as a dental and medical externship at HUP (Hospital University of Pennsylvania). The program emphasized general dentistry, oral surgery and oral medicine. I also did a summer externship in dentistry at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park.
I went on to do a two-year residency in general dentistry at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. The program included advanced training in general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, geriatric dentistry, oral surgery, periodontics, and oral pathology. Upon completing my residency, I went into private practice.
It has been my privilege to be an associate at Shoreham Family Dental since February 1996. One of the things that I value the most here is that Dr. Ron and Dr. Eric and I all share the same philosophy on patient care and dental treatment. Our first priority is the patient, then their comfort, and addressing their concerns. There are many aspects of dentistry that I enjoy like making a nervous patient feel comfortable, alleviating a patient's discomfort, and having a patient like their own smile. I like all aspects of general dentistry, from filling cavities to implants.
I 'm basically a 'Soccer Mom.' I enjoy spending time with my husband, son, and daughter. My interests are drawing, painting, art history, and sports, especially soccer and baseball. I enjoy ice skating and I am a member of the American Dental Association and New York State Dental Society. I take continuing education courses on all aspects of dentistry.