Meet the Team
We work with well qualified general dentists and specialty dentists who are accredited with organizations such as:
• American College of Prosthodontists (ACP)
• Special Care Dentistry Association (SCDA)
• American Dental Association (ADA)
• Academy of General Dentistry (AGD)
David Matouk Betesh DMD
Clinical Director
David Matouk Betesh DMD is a general dentist licensed in both New York and New Jersey. After attending Tufts Dental School and Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, Dr Betesh started practicing dentistry in 2014. Prior to his dental education, Dr Betesh attended CUNY Brooklyn College Scholars Program as well as the Yeshivah of Flatbush. Since very early on in dental school, Dr Betesh took a very special interest in interacting with seniors. He feels that in treating the elderly population, there is so much to learn from each and every one of their life experiences. In addition, he considers it both an honor and a privilege to serve their needs and restore their smiles. When not in the dental office, Dr Betesh focuses his attention on the Sephardic Pizmonim Project, whose website, www.pizmonim.com, aims to preserve liturgical poetry of the Syrian Sephardic Jewish tradition. He also enjoys spending quality time with his wonderful family.
Dr. Valentina Fleece
Dr. Valentina Fleece graduated from the Honors College at Stony Brook University, focusing on
research in the field of Archaeology. She went on to earn her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree
at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine in 2008. She gained additional experience
completing an internship at the Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo and a General
Practice Residency at Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, NY. Dr. Fleece truly enjoys being a
Dentist and values the relationships she has developed with her patients and community over
the years. She is dedicated to being a caring and skilled provider. Dr. Fleece is a member of the
Nassau County Dental Society. In her down time, Dr. Fleece enjoys exploring beaches and
sailing with her husband and two children.
research in the field of Archaeology. She went on to earn her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree
at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine in 2008. She gained additional experience
completing an internship at the Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo and a General
Practice Residency at Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, NY. Dr. Fleece truly enjoys being a
Dentist and values the relationships she has developed with her patients and community over
the years. She is dedicated to being a caring and skilled provider. Dr. Fleece is a member of the
Nassau County Dental Society. In her down time, Dr. Fleece enjoys exploring beaches and
sailing with her husband and two children.
Dr. Bartov is a graduate of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, MA. After graduation, he has moved to New York City to attend an intense GPR residency program at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. He has obtained unimaginable experience in both surgical and emergency dental medicine. During his residency, Dr. Bartov has found his passion towards dental implants, which help him work his way up to attending New York University College of Dentistry to specialize in Surgical Implantology and Prosthetic Dentistry. Dr. Bartov is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), and fellow at International Congress of Oral Implantologist (ICOI). He currently has over 3000 hours of Continuing education in all aspects of dentistry, ranging from implantology to dental esthetics and orthodontics. He treats his patients with the highest respect and strives to achieve dental perfection. https://empiredentalny.com
Dr. Aleksandr Izrailov, DDS
Dr. Aleksandr Izrailov attended New York University Dental School from 2000-2003, where he obtained a degree in General Dentistry. Before attending NYU, he completed his education in Dagestan Medical School of Dentistry. Dr. Izrailov completed his residency in Lutheran Medical Hospital, where he gained skills and knowledge in general dentistry. After completing his residency, Dr Izrailov has been practicing in private clinics in Bronx, Brooklyn and Long Island . Ever since 2006 he has his own practice in Brooklyn . Proficient in all areas of General and Implant Dentistry.
Dr. Leo Shimanov, DDS
Dr. Leo Shimanov studied biology at Queens college and then obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at SUNY @ Stony Brook in 2000. He had been in private practice ever since and had developed excellent clinical skills as a general and cosmetic dentist. In 2007 Dr. Shimanov started his own practice in Queens, NY and became very successful providing dental care to a diverse community. His patience with geriatric population, love for the profession, and ability to explain treatment to people with different backgrounds make every patient feel very comfortable and appreciative of the care received.
Elizabeth Gharemani-Sion, D.M.D
Dr. Elizabeth Gharemani-Sion graduated from Stony Brook University in 1989. She completed her post graduate education at Boston University School of Dental Medicine in 1994. In addition, she completed a residency in General Dentistry at Woodhull Hospital in 1995. Her areas of concentration during her residency included oral surgery and geriatrics. Dr. Gharemani-Sion has a huge heart for the elderly and a passion to treat them with respect and gentle care. She currently treats patients at the Ozanam Hall Nursing Home. She has professional training in cosmetic dentistry, endodontics, oral surgery, implant dentistry, pediatric dentistry and extensive experience and knowledge in treating medically compromised patients. She was the Chief of the Department of Dental Medicine at Parker Jewish Institute from 2004-2006. In this position she taught and supervised Long Island Jewish Medical Center dental residents as well as presenting lectures to the medical staff. Dr. Gharemani-Sion was also selected to be a member of the Parker Jewish Institute Review Board to review medical research. She has co-authored articles related to laser dentistry which have appeared in the Journal of the Academy of General Dentistry in 1995.
Dr. Alina Lane, DDS
Dr. Lane grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland before majoring in Chemistry at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. She knew from a young age that she wanted to become a dentist, and obtained her DDS from the University of Maryland, Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. At Maryland, she was selected to complete a year long clerkship in Implantology, where she focused on the advanced restoration of dental implants. She continued her advanced education by completing a General Practice Residency at Woodhull Medical Center, an affiliate of the NYU School of Medicine. In addition to treating medically compromised patients with complex treatment plans, she trained with cutting-edge technology to provide exceptional comprehensive dental care. She was selected from 22 residents to receive the prestigious Resident of the Year award. Since residency, she has been providing high quality cosmetic and functional dental solutions to her patients in private practice.
Dr. Lauren Atwell-Rice, DMD
Dr. Lauren Atwell-Rice was born in Brooklyn, New York. In her early childhood, she moved to Florida where she would later attend the University of Florida, earning degrees in Psychology and Doctor of Dental Medicine. Dr. Atwell is an active member in the New York Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is also a member of the New York Dental Society and the American Dental Association.
Dr. Paolo Saggese, DMD
Dr. Paolo Saggese received his D.M.D from Temple University in Philadelphia. He then went on to complete a general practice residency at Woodhull Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. He is currently an Implantology Fellow at the New York University School of Dentistry. Dr. Saggese is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Dental Association. He prides himself on staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in dentistry, allowing him to provide his patients with the best quality of care. Dr. Saggese has a wide range of experience in many areas of dentistry, from cosmetic and restorative dentistry to surgical extractions and root canals. During his residency he was also trained in emergency dental care.