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March 12, 2009

WDeJ Editor Dr. Sheri Doniger interviews Dr. Cristina Teixeira, an orthodontist with a special interest in early orthopedic treatment and adult multidisciplinary and surgical cases. She lives in Manhattan and practices in Hoboken, N.J. Dr. Teixeira was one of our winners in the Woman Dentist eJournal cover contest announced last fall. Read on to get to know her better ...

Cristina Teixeira, DMD, MS, PhD

What decade were you born in?

I was born in the late 1960s, during a dictatorship in the most western country in Europe.

Where were you born?

I was born in the north of Portugal, in the same town as the first king of Portugal.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Portugal between the city, the beach, and the countryside.

Tell me about your family.

I had a very exciting but dysfunctional family. My role model was (and still remains) my mother. She is a smiling, strong woman who decided education was the most important gift for a woman. I have two younger sisters. While being raised in a very conservative Catholic society, we were anything but conventional.

Where do you live?

I live in Manhattan, Washington Square area.

Did you work during high school, and what did you do?

Yes, in an ice-cream shop. It was heaven. I also found other ways to make money with my sister. We edited and printed a "family newspaper" that we sold to family and friends. It was a monthly edition with very interesting stories. I was the art director and wrote about health issues.

Where did you go for undergrad, and what was your major?

In Portugal we go straight from high school to dental school. Dentistry is a six-year degree program.

When did you graduate?

I graduated from the University of Porto in 1992. After working in general practice with an emphasis in oral surgery for a year, I attended the University of Pennsylvania and successfully completed a three-year combined program in orthodontics and master of oral biology. While enjoying the extraordinary intellectual environment of the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, my enthusiasm for science led me to pursue a PhD in developmental biology in 2001, along with my DMD in 2000. My research in bone formation and growth stems from my exposure to patients with cleft palate and other growth anomalies during my clinical experience.

Do you specialize?

I'm an orthodontist with a special interest in early orthopedic treatment and adult multidisciplinary and surgical cases. I enjoy challenging cases.

Why did you become a dentist?

As a teenager, I was interested in art and wanted to be a scientist. I think I became a dentist because it allowed me to explore and combine both my artistic and scientific interests.

How did you begin your dental career?

I began in Portugal, working as an associate with an oral surgeon. I also started a private practice with two other colleagues. It's funny when I look back to realize that I made more money working one morning a week with the surgeon, than all week in my private practice. I learned a lot in both settings. I sold my practice when I moved to the United States.

Describe your office setting.

I wanted my office to be not only a center of high quality care, but also original, surprising, and whimsical. I have a low volume practice designed by an artist. Contemporary, high-tech medical equipment inhabit a minimalist space, where objects created by different European designers and antiques from around the world (mainly dental paraphernalia) can also be found. We run a constantly evolving contemporary video, music, book, and magazine program supervised by an art director.

Dr. Teixeira's waiting room

Treatment area in Dr. Teixeira's practice

Do you own or lease your office?

I lease the space.

How big is it in square feet?

It is 1,800 square feet, set up as a loft space.

How are you involved in dental leadership?

I'm involved both as a teacher and researcher. I'm a full-time faculty member at New York University College of Dentistry, with a dual appointment in the orthodontic department and the basic science and craniofacial biology department. I conduct NIH-funded research with a focus on bone development and growth. For five years, I served as director of orthodontic research, coordinating the research activity of all residents in the postgraduate program. I am an elected member of the Angle Society of Orthodontics, and elected director of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Craniofacial Biology Group.

Are you involved in your community?

Yes, I regularly participate in community outreach activities such as teaching local school children how to eat healthy foods and maintain good oral health. I try to convey the importance of oral health in their general well being. I also participate in the oral cancer screenings organized by NYU College of Dentistry, the "Give Kids A Smile" organized by the ADA, and the annual Oral Cancer Walk hosted in NYC.

What is your most prized accomplishment?

That would be my ceramic pieces and my friends.

What are your goals?

As a scientist, my long-term goal is to acquire new knowledge of bone development and growth. As a clinician, my long-term research goal is to use this information to develop novel therapeutic approaches to growth anomalies, and other debilitating cartilage pathology such as osteoarthritis. As a practicing orthodontist, my aim is to provide the best quality of care to my patients, and to be a positive influence in their lives, especially when so many patients visit us routinely through their adolescence or difficult growing moments.

What are you known for (in general or dental-related)?

In general, I am best known for my direct manner.

Do you have any advice for new graduates?

Honesty and hard work will lead you wherever you want to go. Dishonesty may get you there faster but you'll miss the joy of the ride. Do not let adversity derail you!

Are you especially fond of certain dental equipment?

Not really; they are just expensive tools.

If you were a dental instrument, what kind would you be and why?

A high-speed drill because I can be that strong-minded and stubborn sometimes.

What do you do for fun?

I enjoy photography and making jewelry.

What are your hobbies?

My hobbies are art, photography, international traveling, reading, collecting antiques, making jewelry, and ceramics.

If you wrote a book, what would be your short, three-line biography inside the book jacket?

If I wrote a book now it would be about orthodontics and the book jacket would summarize my training and work in the field. But if I get to be really, really old, I will write my memories of events occurring in the two centuries when I lived. Until then I hope to accomplish a lot so I'll have something exciting to write in that cover jacket.

Tell me three things about yourself that might surprise people.

I never watch TV, I only wear grayscale colors, and I have a family of finches.

What book are you currently reading?

"Rogue States, The Rule of Force in World Affairs" from Noam Chomsky

What is your favorite Web site?

I like eBay. You can find anything for sale, literally anything!

Where do you go to get your information?

I go to journals, books, documentaries, and photographs. Now with digital photography, I worry that images may lie.

What is your favorite comfort food?

Chocolate. Lots of it!

Where is your favorite restaurant in your town, and what is your meal of choice?

Marumi; I like everything on their menu.

If you were to interview one person, who would it be and why?

Benazir Bhutto, because of her vision and courage. Unfortunately, her life was cut short and she is no longer with us.

Where is your favorite vacation spot?

I have not been to the same vacation spot twice! The world is so vast that I want to visit at least a fraction of it in my lifetime. This past year I went to Canada, Ecuador, and Colombia.

Where do you go to escape?

I go to the seaside.

Are you a fan of online blogging?

No. I'm just curious about the phenomenon.

What is the best excuse a patient has given you as to why they do not floss?

Not having time!

Is there anything we didn't cover that you'd like to mention in this article?

I decided to start private practice while maintaining a full-time faculty position at NYU College of Dentistry, and while conducting NIH funded research. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to handle so many responsibilities, but I was very lucky to have met a wonderful woman, Ms. Alana Cueto. She is the president of AC² Healthcare Consulting & Management Services who has extensive knowledge and experience in setting up private practices; from the construction stage all the way to getting the patients through the door. Alana was invaluable during the whole process. Her total commitment and caring manner made this project a reality.

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Contact information for Cristina Teixeira, DMD, MS, PhD ...

Office address: CTNP Orthodontics, 79 Hudson Street, Suite #400, Hoboken, NJ 07030

Phone: (201) 714-9800

Fax: (201) 714-9807

E-mail: info@ctnporthodontics.com

Web site: www.ctnporthodontics.com

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