Dentistry: Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Expert Witnesses: 7

Dean M. DeLuke, DDS, is currently Professor Emeritus, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at VCU School of Dentistry, where he has been the recipient of multiple teaching awards. He is also the recipient of the Daniel M. Laskin Award for Excellence in Predoctoral Education, a national award conferred by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS).

Litigation Support - Dr. DeLuke provides expert witness services to attorneys representing plaintiff and defense. His services include medical record review, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

Dr. DeLuke is a graduate of St Michael’s College (B.A.), Columbia University (D.D.S.), and Clarkson University (M.B.A.). He completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery training at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and a Fellow of the American and the International College of Dentists.

Prior to coming to Virginia Commonwealth University, he was active in private practice in New York State for nearly 30 years, where he was also Chief of Dentistry and Oral Surgery and Co-Director of the Cleft Palate Service. He is a past president of the New York State Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and has served in the AAOMS House of Delegates.

He was also active for many years on the Advisory Board, Risk Management and Finance Committees of OMS National Insurance Company, the primary provider of professional liability insurance for oral surgeons. He authored a text on Syndromes of the Head and Neck, along with numerous other journal articles and book chapters. He has been a frequent lecturer at regional and national meetings for the past 30 years.

Willeam A. Choby, DMD, MPA, MAGD, FICCMO, DICOI, has over 40 years of experience Dentistry and Oral Surgery. He is a Board Certified Implant Dentist that perfoms both the Surgery and the Restoration of Implant Teeth. A “Master” in the Academy of General Dentistry (MAGD), Dr. Choby has been recognized by other general dentists as a leader and an example to other dentists of the importance of quality continuing dental education to patient care. Masters have accepted the charge to keep abreast of advances in dentistry for the benefit of patients and the betterment of dentistry. Dr. Choby is also a Fellow in the International College of Cranio-Mandibular Orthopedics (FICCMO), earned a Masters of Public Administration (MPA), and is a Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (DICOI). He is recognized as One of America's Top Dentists by the Consumers Research Council of America. Litigation Support - Dr. Choby's expertise is frequently called upon for second opinions for quality assurance companies, peer review panels, workmen's compensation disputes, automobile accident claims, dental insurance companies, physicians, attorneys, and other dentists. He has offered his expert opinion in more than 100 dental malpractice cases, inspected over 1,100 dental offices for insurance companies, and performed over 1,000 second opinion case reviews, IMEs and peer reviews. His cases have included issues concerning:

View Dr. Choby's Consulting Profile.

Vicki Petropoulos, DMD, MS, FACP, holds a B.A. from Smith College, a D.M.D. from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, a Certificate in Prosthodontics as well as a M.S. in Oral Biology for her work in Implant Dentistry from Temple University’s Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry.

Dr. Vicki Petropoulos is a Board Certified Prosthodontist with over 32 years of experience in Dentistry and Prosthodontics.  She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics, a Fellow of the Greater New York Academy of Prosthodontics, a Fellow of the American College of Prosthodontists and a member of the OKU Honorary Dental Society.  

Dr. Petropoulos has extensive teaching experience in her specialty having been a tenured faculty at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine for 20 years where she was engaged in private practice, and critical research projects. She currently holds the distinction of Emeritus Standing Faculty from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.  She has been widely published with over 33 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals in the areas of prosthodontics, implant dentistry and advanced restorative dentistry.   Additionally, she is a frequent lecturer at international, national and local dental conferences and dental societies.

During her career, Dr. Petropoulos  has received major Prosthodontic awards at both national and local levels in recognition for her excellence in patient care.  She is the recipient of the Charles E. English Award for her novel approach to delivering care for a patient.  In 2012, her treatment and passion for a complex reconstruction was showcased in the prestigious Journal of Prosthodontics’ special edition “Inspirational Cases in Prosthetic Dentistry” for her life changing treatment of a patient using implants which transformed their life.

Areas of Expertise: Dr. Petropoulos is experienced with over 20 years of providing opinion and testimony for the following areas:

Case Evaluation Screening Report and In Depth Report

Dr. Petropoulos has worked equally doing plaintiff work and defense work. She will review your case and determine its merit based on the applicable standard of care in dentistry and any deviations from those standards.  An opinion will be presented as to occurrence of malpractice / negligence.

She will also provide a comprehensive report which will include the case’s merit and applicable standards of care and deviations if any, and for the likelihood or absence of negligence and dental malpractice.

Armond Kotikian, DDS, MD, FACS, is double board certified in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. In the clinic setting, Dr. Kotikian routinely performs IV sedations for complex cases including impacted wisdom teeth removal, dental implants, bone grafting and tumor excisions. He specializes in:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Trauma
• Infections
• Oral Pathology Resection and Reconstruction
• Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients (surgical and non-surgical)
• Craniofacial Anomalies (orthognathic surgery / corrective jaw surgery)

Litigation Support - A Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Kotikian has extensive experience as an expert witness in the field of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Dentistry. His Dental law and Dentistry services have been requested all over the country. Dr. Kotikian has been an expert witness on over 125 malpractice cases, given depositions on over 65 cases and testified at court over the past six years. His cases have included a wide variety of issues related to the Oral and Maxillofacial region including

• Oral Pathology
• Nerve Injuries
• TMJ Issues
• Oral Trauma
• Oral and Facial Fractures and Lacerations
• Injuries related to Extraction of Teeth
• Injuries related to Dental Implant \ Surgery
• Orthognathic Surgery Complications
• Head and Neck Infections related to Teeth and Salivary Glands

More information at www.oralsurgeryexpertwitness.com

View Dr. Kotikian's Consulting Profile. 

As of January 2024: I have been deposed over 150 times and reviewed over 1,000 cases for both defense and plaintiff, including peer review, accidents, and malpractice. 52% defense / 48% plaintiff. I have qualified in Superior Court over 75 times and have never been disqualified on the stand or prior to trial. At least 95% of my time is spent in patient care. 

I can be counted on to be ethical, competent, prepared, analytical, articulate, and persuasive at depositions and court appearances. As of February 2024, there are over 297 published articles, write-ups and lectures in print, radio, and TV. (http://www.expertwitness.dental/)

 I hold two current professorships: UCLA School of Dentistry (Volunteer) & NYU College of Dentistry. Licensed in 42 states to opine on the standard of care, with specific licenses in California, Nevada, New Mexico, and the Northeast as well as a Florida Expert Certification. Graduated NYU 1988; GPR Residency NYU 1989, Lieutenant, United States Navy 1989- 1991; private practice Brentwood, CA since 1991 – serving over 15,000 patients on a fee-for-service basis.

Founder of the non-profit “Homeless Not Toothless” (www.homelessnottoothless.org), which has made it possible for over 124,000 homeless Veterans, women of domestic abuse and foster children to receive over $10 million in pro-bono dental care. 

Member: 

American Academy of Cosmetic Orthodontics: 2013-present, American Dental Association (ADA) since 1991 

Peer Review Committee ADA 1995-2009, 

American Legion 2018 - present

Medical Disciplinary Committee Delta Dental 2000-present; Veteran Administration QME Examiner 2019-present

Harry I. Aronowitz, DMD, is a Board Certified Orthodontist who has been in private practice in Beverly Hills,and West Hollywood California for over 30 years. He is Clinical Professor of Orthodontics at the University of Southern California in the Graduate Department of Orthodontics where he helps train future orthodontists. Licensed in California and New York, Dr. Aronowitz has experience as a Former Chief of Dental, Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery Section at the Beverly Hills Medical Center and served as Chairman of the Orthodontic Peer-Review for the Los Angeles Dental Society. Dr. Aronowitz is a Diplomate The American Board of Orthodontics anda current member of Orthodontic Peer Review for the Los Angeles Dental Society. He is a member of the American Dental Association, The California Dental Association, The Los Angeles Dental Society, as well as The American Association of Orthodontists. 

Litigation Support - Dr. Aronowitz serves as an Independent Medical Examiner for The State Board of Dental Examiners in California. He provides expert witness services to attorneys for both defense and plaintiff, including medical record review, second opinions, depositions, mediation, and trial testimony as needed. 

Areas of Expertise:

Dr. Sander I. White is an experienced Doctor of Dental Surgery. He has been in private practice for over 35 years. During this time, he has taken more than 2,000 hours of continuing dental education courses. Aside from his experience in General and Preventative Dentistry, Dr. White specializes in: Restorations, Advanced Aesthetics, and Gum Care. 

Dr. White has served as a clinical instructor at both Temple Dental School and the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. He also lectures to various dental groups and is involved in training younger dentists. Currently, he is presenting a seminar series at the University of Pennsylvania Dental School on “Becoming the Consummate General Dentist”. 

Dr. White has made numerous appearances on television news and talk shows, and was recently recognized by Main Line Life magazine as one of the top dentists in the Pennsylvania area.