Meet Your Provider: Antonella Maietta, DMD
Zufall Health providers perform many roles beyond their primary job functions, and dentist Antonella Maietta, DMD, is one shining example. For the past 11 years, she has been a full-time dental provider while assuming additional responsibilities that alleviate patients’ barriers to oral health care.
Maietta is first and foremost a general dentist who cares for children and adults. She provides care wherever she is needed – in any of our dental offices or on our mobile dental van. Patients appreciate that Maietta makes them feel comfortable and treats them with respect.
“My patients tell me I put them at ease and make them feel relaxed. I think that is quite profound considering most people are afraid of dentists. It is satisfying to end a visit with a happy, relieved patient.
“I will also never forget the military veteran who, after we reviewed his treatment plan, told me, ‘Thank you, doc, for taking the time to explain things to me. You treated me and advised me like I could be one of your family members,’” Maietta says.
Maietta has leveraged her dental experience and genuine concern for her patients to take on additional roles. Beyond being a dentist, she is the unofficial dental van manager, faculty member to both our Community Dental Health Coordinator (CDHC) program and in-development dental residency program, and an advisor to our Children’s Oral Health Program (COHP).
When Maietta joined Zufall, she already had significant experience providing mobile dental care, particularly to the elderly, people with disabilities, and other populations who cannot access a physical dental office. Her expertise enabled her to take the lead on managing the dental van, a role in which she supervises monthly audits, inventory, and equipment maintenance.
“I was thrilled when we launched the Zufall Health Delta Dental Mobile in 2016. With two dental operatories, the van allowed us to provide far more than basic screenings at homeless shelters, schools, farms, public housing developments, and health fairs.”
As a faculty member for both the CHDC and the dental residency programs, Maietta trains and supervises professionals who are committed to caring for undeserved patients’ dental needs. Maietta earned the CDHC designation in 2019, qualifying her to supervise Zufall’s own staff CDHCs on projects like pediatric HPV vaccination efforts and helping dental patients with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. She takes great pride in witnessing our CDHCs’ advocacy for our patients.
And as an advisor to COHP, Maietta has supported the development of fluoride varnish programs used for children statewide. Fluoride varnish helps prevent cavities for children with limited access to dental care.
“It is very satisfying to know that we are making a difference,” says Maietta of her diverse scope of responsibility.
Maietta earned her doctor of dental medicine degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. She completed her residency at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center.
Above: Dentist Antonella Maietta, DMD, cares for a patient on the Zufall Health Delta Dental Mobile at an outreach event.