When Lillian Mann’s family gathers at the dinner table each evening, she simply can’t get over how good it looks, overjoyed at how absolutely perfect things turned out.
What she is looking at is not a perfectly cooked entrée or delicious dessert. Instead she is looking across the table at her daughter, Catherine. And each time she does, the Downingtown resident pauses for a moment of thanks for what oral surgeon G. Joel Funari M.S., D.M.D., of Devon-based Advanced Oral & Facial Surgery of the Main Line did last year to change the life of the now-perpetually smiling 16-year-old.
“Catherine was born with an under bite that seemed to worsen over time,” Mann says. “We tried to correct it with orthodontics and headgear when she was about nine years old, but she needed more.
“Our orthodontist recommended Dr. Funari,” she continues. “We liked him right from the initial consultation, and we were very impressed with his experience. Dr. Funari basically moved Catherine’s top jaw forward to correct the problem. She looks fantastic. At the dinner table, I always look and see her smiling. Dr. Funari didn’t only improve her jaw but also her self-image. I just can’t say enough about him.”
Dr. Funari possesses the ability to help patients who require maxillofacial surgery such as routine tooth extractions, removal of wisdom teeth, bone grafting and dental implants, as well as the resolution of impacted canines, oral pathology or temporomandibular-joint disorders.
“My staff and I are committed to providing uncompromising care in the privacy of a relaxed, friendly and professional environment,” says Dr. Funari, who purchased the Advanced Oral& Facial Surgery of the Main Line practice in 2006, two years after retiring as a captain from the Navy, where he served 21 years. “The feedback we get from patients is phenomenal. We get them through routine surgeries and recovery uneventfully. Everything goes smoothly and, in most cases, better than the patient thought it would.
“The key for us is personalizing our treatments for our patients,” he adds. “We’re not a large multi-office/multi-doctor entity, so, unlike our contemporaries, we have the ability to tailor appointments to get to know the patient’s needs and provide suitable individualized care. We have found this approach leads to good outcomes and satisfied patients.”
Dr. Funari brings to his practice—and his patients—nearly 30 years of experience providing high-quality and compassionate care. A graduate of Villanova University and the Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University, he completed a surgical residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas/Parkland Memorial Hospital, respected nationally and internationally for the quality of the surgeons it produces. He is board certified in surgery and anesthesia and is on staff at Main Line Health hospitals.
He also has advanced training and special interest in dentoalveolar surgery, craniofacial implants, obstructive sleep apnea, orthognathic and craniofacial surgery, trauma and reconstruction, facial aesthetic surgery, pediatric surgery and office-based anesthesia.
While serving in the Navy, Dr. Funari rose to the rank of Captain and, prior to retirement, held the position of associate director for specialty surgery at the President’s Hospital, National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Today he serves as president of the Delaware Valley Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, president of the Dental Society of Chester and Delaware County, board member of the Pennsylvania Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and is a delegate to the Pennsylvania Dental Association. Dr. Funari is a national board examiner in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery as well as a consultant to the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation and Navy Postgraduate Dental School. He is fellow or member of numerous national and international oral and maxillofacial and dental associations.
Making the Commitment
Dr. Funari’s interest in dentistry and helping people started in junior high school, when his orthodontist showed an interest in him beyond being a patient.
“The friendly work environment in his office, his interaction with the patients and impact he made on their lives made a great impression on me,” says Dr. Funari. “It was easy to envision myself in the dental profession. As I progressed through high school I spent time in his office becoming familiar with orthodontics specifically and dentistry in general. It’s because of him that I have the career I have.
“It was during my first tour in the Navy at Bethesda Naval Hospital, where I was involved in managing wounded sailors and Marines, that I made a commitment to become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.”
Dr. Funari believes this personal approach is what moves his satisfied patients to remain in touch with him long after his services are no longer required.
“I get holiday cards and occasional gifts from patients I haven’t seen in years,” he says. “When I was in the Navy, we did a lot of facial reconstruction surgery. The physical change in the patients was significant. But the change in their psyche and their outlook in life was even more dramatic.
“I still get cards from those patients remarking how their lives have been changed. They always say something like, ‘I’m sure you don’t remember me, but I just wanted to thank you for helping me.’ When you’re having a bad day, a little letter like that from one of your former patients makes you know you chose the right profession.”
Phil Gianficaro is an award-winning writer based in Doylestown.
Advanced Oral & Facial Surgery of the Main Line
223 Lancaster Ave.
Devon, PA 19333
Phone: 610-688-6682
Fax: 610-971-0481
Web: www.funarioralsurgery.com
E-mail: info@funarioralsurgery.com.
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
