Dr. Caputo began his practice as a dentist anesthesiologist in 1997. He and the wonderful staff perform both adult and pediatric sedation dentistry. At the bottom of this page you may review Dr. Caputo’s extensive credentials, but to begin. Let’s get to know the personal side of this fine doctor.
If you ask Dr. Caputo, what has been the driving force for his life he will tell you that it has been to serve his patients with excellence and enjoy what he is doing. He says, “I know that as a practitioner I impact the lives of my patients by the treatment I provide for them. They trust me to deliver the best possible service. When providing pediatric sedation dentistry, parents trust me to take care of their children and to make sure they are safe. I bring my A game to work every day. There is no place for anything but excellence in what I do. It’s not just a job; it is something I feel I was meant to do.
Dentistry is in His Genes
In the old days, you could tell a left-handed dentist by the line down his coat caused by his belt-driven hand tools since the tools were right handed. If Dr. Caputo had practiced back then he would have had a line on his coat, as did his mom’s father and her brother, also dentists and also left-handed. You could say dentistry is in Anthony’s genes.
Dentistry – He Knew in Fourth Grade It Was What He Wanted to Do
Growing up, Anthony played football and baseball as other boys do and came away with an appreciation for how sports had developed his understanding of people…about working with people as a team. He also played trumpet in the band and he talks about how that experience developed his character as well. But the theme of Anthony’s growing up years snaps into focus when he says, “By the time I was in 7th grade I was already doing geometry. I enjoyed math and science and just enjoyed school tremendously.”
He says that by about the 4th or 5th grade he knew he wanted to be a dentist. He, along with his brothers and sisters, went to see an orthodontist for routine checkups and to see if they needed braces. He says, “I was so enthralled with the doctor’s practice and office, I decided dentistry is what I wanted to do with myself; specifically, I wanted to become an orthodontist.”
“When I was at the University of Arizona getting ready for dental school I met a local orthodontist, Dr. Jim Weaver, who became a good friend and a strong supporter. When I left in 1989 for dental school at the University of Colorado, the plan was that I would come back and practice orthodontics with him.”
An Unexpected Change of Direction
After dental school, Dr. Caputo decided that before he did his residency in orthodontics, he wanted to pursue something with more of a medical emphasis. His decision took him to the University of California at Los Angeles, UCLA, where he did hospital dentistry.
During that time he had tremendous experiences, especially working with patients who were compromised physically, mentally or some combination of both. He says, “I found tremendous satisfaction treating these more compromised patients and seeing the success we had in treating their dental issues by putting them under anesthesia. That was my first exposure to providing anesthesia for patients getting dental treatment. That experience changed the direction of my career. I wanted to become a dentist anesthesiologist and provide patients with pain free dentistry.”
“To complete my training, from 1995-1997, I had the honor and privilege of participating in the oldest anesthesia training program on the planet. The program provides training, not only for dentists, but also for physicians. Dr. Leonard Monheim, a man many consider the father of anesthesia, founded the program in 1949 at the University of Pittsburgh.”
He Loves to Learn and He Loves to Teach
From the beginning, school was easy for Anthony. Combine that with how Anthony was fun-looking-for-a-place-to-happen and you have a recipe for the hot water that Anthony was often in.
That is, until Mrs. Nelson got hold of him. She was a teacher Anthony describes as the best and hardest teacher he ever had.
She started digging for two ends of the strand of potential she saw in Anthony. She found them, and found a way to tie them together–she fused Anthony’s love of having fun with the super-charged thrill of learning. Because of what she helped him discover, he traded silly fun for serious fun and as they say, the rest is history.
If you have a while, read Anthony’s long list of credentials as a dentist anesthesia. If you are in a hurry, just give them a scanning glance or take a look at the summary also provided here. You will be surprised by how he has studied and just as surprised by how generous he is with what he has learned. Just put him in front of people who share his passion for learning and he will give them–even his competitors–all he knows.
Dr. Caputo Loves to Laugh
Anthony’s not serious about himself. He reserves “serious” for the way he cares for his patients. Yet often he has his patients laughing away their fears even before he administers a carefully selected sedation. The medication certainly takes away their fears. It also happily prevents any painful memory of the experience.
Mom’s happy, because her baby is in a safe, comfortable place. The dentist is happy because the work that needs to be done can be done in a calm efficient way, leading to the best possible outcome.
The baby is happy, waking up in the last place he or she remembers, in mother’s arms.
Dr. Caputo loves to talk about dental anesthesia, but it’s not the toys of his trade that makes him happiest- it’s the turn of events he can bring in people’s lives.
You get the feeling that this doctor loves what he does because of the difference he makes for people every day… usually for some man, woman, boy or girl who would have otherwise been denied the amazing health and quality of life excellent dental care makes possible.
CREDENTIALS
Anthony Charles Caputo, DDS, MA, FACD, FICD, DADBA, DNDBA
Summary:
President | Southwest Dental Anesthesia Services
Past President | American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists
Fellow | American College of Dentists
Fellow | International College of Dentists
Diplomat | American Dental Board of Anesthesiology
Diplomat | National Dental Board of Anesthesiology
Director of Anesthesiology | The Scottsdale Center for Dentistry
Assistant Director | Lutheran Medical Center | Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program
Professional Qualifications:
I am a Hospital Dentist, Anesthesiologist and Educator. I am currently in private practice providing anesthesia services for pediatric and adult dental patients. I maintain a strong interest in caring for patients with developmental and intellectual disabilities. I was a Senior Associate Director for the Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency with NYU/Lutheran Medical Center. I have faculty positions with the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health and Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health.
Education:
MA: Master’s in Education, Specializing in Dental Education, University of Pacific/AAL, 2012-2014
Certificate in Anesthesiology: University of Pittsburgh, School of Dental Medicine, 1995-1997
Certificate in Hospital Dentistry: University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dentistry, 1993-1995
DDS: University of Colorado, School of Dentistry, 1989-1993
BA: Philosophy, University of Arizona, 1985-1989
Employment:
President, Southwest Dental Anesthesia Services 1997 – Present
I am a Dentist Anesthesiologist providing comprehensive sedation and anesthesia services for dentistry.
Assistant Program Director, NYU/Lutheran Medical Center 1998 – 2014
Arizona-based health centers are affiliated with Lutheran Medical Center providing residency experience in General Dentistry. I coordinated, facilitated and supervised residents at health centers throughout the state. The program is designed utilizing a distance-learning format.
Senior Associate Director, NYU/Lutheran Medical Center 2014 – 2018
State health centers are affiliated with Lutheran Medical Center providing residency experience in General Dentistry. I coordinated, facilitated and supervised residents, faculty and staff at health centers in 12 Western States.
HealthSouth Rehabilitation Institute of Tucson 1997 – 2015
I served as a Consulting Dentist for this health center providing courtesy consultation and dental evaluations with limited dental services for patients.
Cornerstone Hospital of Southeast Arizona 1998 – 2015
I served as a Consulting Dentist for this health center providing courtesy consultation and dental evaluations with limited dental services for patients.
Teaching:
NYU/Lutheran Medical Center, AEGD Senior Associate Director 2014 – 2018
NYU/Lutheran Medical Center, AEGD Assistant Program Director-Arizona Region 1998 – 2014
NYU/Lutheran Medical Center, Attending Faculty, Pediatric Dentistry 2010 – 2018
NYU/Lutheran Medical Center, Attending Faculty, Dental Anesthesia 2008 – 2014
El Rio Health Center, Anesthesia Faculty, AEGD and Pediatric Dentistry 1998 – Present
Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, Adjunct Professor 2006 – Present
Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, Anesthesia Faculty, AEGD 2008 – Present
Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health, Adjunct Professor 2014 – Present
Winslow Indian Health Care Center, Anesthesia Faculty, AEGD 2018 – Present
The Foundry Dental Clinic, Attending Anesthesiologist, AEGD Faculty 2019 – Present
Professional Experience:
• BCLS Instructor, American Heart Association and American Red Cross, 1995-2002
• Certification/Training in BCLS, ACLS and PALS, 1992-present
• Board Member and Regional Vice-President, American Association of Hospital Dentists, 1999-2004
• Vice President, American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists, 2001-2003
• President-Elect, American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists, 2003-2005
• President, American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists, 2005-2007
• Past-President, American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists, 2007-2009
• New Dentist Committee Chair, Arizona Dental Association (SADS), 1998-2002
• Board Member, AzDA Services, Arizona Dental Association, 2006-2009
• Member, Council on Government Affairs, Arizona Dental Association, 2009-2012
• Board Member, Arizona Dental Foundation, 2010-present
• Chair, Arizona Dental Foundation, 2018-present
• Delegate, Arizona Dental Association, 1998-2009
• Alternate Delegate, American Dental Association, 2009-2016
• Delegate, American Dental Association, 2016-present
• Speaker of the House, Arizona Dental Association, 2012-present
• Anesthesia Evaluator, Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners, 1997-present
• Anesthesia Committee, Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners, 2006-2007, 2012-2013
• Spokesperson/Recognized Anesthesia Expert, American Dental Association, 2018-present
Publications:
“Oral Transmucosal Fentanyl Pretreatment for Outpatient General Anesthesia”, Authors- Moore P., Cuddy M., Magera J., Caputo A., Chen A., Wilkinson A., –
Anesthesia Progress, Vol. 47, No. 2, Spring 2000
“Alternatives to Care: Treating Patients with Special Needs in the Dental Office Under General Anesthesia”, Author- Caputo, A. – Paper presented at Special Care Issues in Dentistry Annual Conference, Clinical Issues Symposium, March 2003
“Alternatives to Care: Treating Patients with Special Needs in the Dental Office Under General Anesthesia (Unconscious Sedation)”, Author- Caputo, A. – Paper presented at Special Care Dentistry Annual Session, Consensus Conference on Anesthesia, Sedation and Alternatives Techniques for Providing Dental Treatment for People with Special Needs, June 2006
“Providing Deep Sedation and General Anesthesia for Patients with Special Needs in the Dental Office-Based Setting”, Author- Caputo, A. – Spec. Care Dentist 2009;29:26-30
“Anesthesia in Dentistry for People with Developmental or Acquired Disabilities”, Author- Caputo, A. – EP Magazine 2009;39(5):42-44
Honors & Awards:
• Omicron Kappa Upsilon, Pi Rho Chapter, University of Colorado, 1993
• Fellow, American College of Dentists, 2003
• Diplomat, American Dental Board of Anesthesiology, 2004
• Diplomat, National Dental Board of Anesthesiology, 2004
• Fellow, International College of Dentists, 2007
Professional Memberships:
• American Dental Association, Arizona Dental Association, Southern Arizona Dental Society
• American Dental Education Association
• American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists
• American Dental Board of Anesthesiology
• American Dental Society of Anesthesiology
• National Dental Board of Anesthesiology
• American Association of Hospital Dentists
• Academy of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities
• Special Care Dentistry Association
• American College of Dentists
• International College of Dentists
• Delta Sigma Delta Fraternity
Community Activities:
• Chapter Advisor, Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, University of Arizona ( www.delts.org )
• Volunteer, American Heart Association ( www.heart.org/en/affiliates/arizona/tucson )
• American Heart Association, Tucson Heart Ball Chair 2008
• Donor, National Marrow Donor Program ( www.bethematch.org )
• Knights of Columbus ( www.kofc.com )
• Centurions ( www.thecenturions.com )
