Zysik Joins In Family Field Of Dentistry

MASSENA - A passion for dentistry is just another trait passed on through the generations in one Massena family.

Dr. Jonathan Zysik, DDS, will be joining the general dentistry practice of his uncle, Dr. Edmund Zysik Jr., DDS, Massena, as a third generation dentist in the Zysik family.

The younger Dr. Zysik's father, Dr. David Zysik, DDS, is a practicing orthodontist in Massena, and his grandfather, Edmund Zysik Sr., now retired, also worked as a dentist and an orthodontist.

"I'm excited to work with the family. I think we will work well together," Dr. Zysik said. "Ed has been practicing dentistry for over 30 years so he has a lot of experience, and I'm hoping to learn from him. He has a great team and I know his office will be a nice place to work."

While the younger Dr. Zysik said his father and uncle are excited about his decision to become a dentist, they didn't pressure him into joining the profession.

"My family didn't force me into dental school, but my dad and uncle both really enjoy what they do and I saw that they make a difference in the community, so I decided I wanted to do the same thing," he said.

But before joining the family business, Dr. Zysik took another path. After graduating as a biology major from Hartwick College in Oneonta in 2000, Dr. Zysik worked in the environmental field for five years before attending dental school at SUNY Buffalo, where he graduated in May 2009.

After completing his one-year clinical residency at St. Joseph's Hospital in Syracuse, Dr. Zysik chose to return to Massena to join his uncle's practice.

Unlike his father, Dr. Zysik decided not to specialize in orthodontics because he said he prefers the wide variety of procedures involved with general dentistry.

There are no hard feelings between the father and son, however, because as David Zysik said, he's just happy his son is back in upstate New York doing something he enjoys.

"It's so hard to get young people to come back to Massena so I'm grateful that he chose to work here," David Zysik said. "It's nice working with family because we already trust each other and my brother will be able to mentor him."

Dr. Zysik will be joining his uncle's practice in mid-August.