Smiling woman with long dark hair in black scrubs stands on a city street with blurred buildings and cars.

Dr. Michele Carunchio-Atiencia

Smiling woman with long dark hair wearing black medical scrubs and stud earrings against a neutral background

Meet Doctor Michele Carunchio Atiencia

So I became an oral surgeon because I really wanted to help people, not only with their feeling comfortable with their care, feeling confident with their care, coming to a female doctor. I wanted to first help make people look pretty. I wanted to help people with cosmetics and this just fell into my lap. 

So in dental school, I knew that I really wanted to take my training much further. I felt that I needed more of a challenge. In dental school, I was exposed to all the specialties and oral surgery really caught my eye. 

I saw that there was a wide range of need from trauma to cosmetics and everything in between. And I really got into treating the cancer patients and the more difficult, complicated cases, orthognathic surgery. When it came down to it, I knew that I really wanted to get the medical degree as well.

So I continued on with my training in both dentistry, medicine, and through the residency program at Columbia. The most rewarding aspect of being an oral surgeon, I think, is helping the patients, patients who are in need, who are in pain, patients who have diagnoses that can be scary. I have found that even treating pediatric patients has been really fun for me because I can help walk the patients through what to expect and help make them much more comfortable even if they arrive very apprehensive. 

Right off the bat, you know, I'll take a seat and speak to the patient eye to eye. I get on their level, you know, make them very comfortable, let them know we're not going to proceed with anything that they don't want us to do. I'll ask the patient, you know, what they expect, what they want from this visit. 

If they're not ready for treatment, we can put it off for another day. Making sure that we choose the proper anesthesia option for the patient, or we help the patient choose the proper anesthesia option, whether it be local anesthesia, IV sedation, you know, a little bit of Valium to take the edge off, or laughing gas sometimes is the right choice for them. And then, you know, I'll walk them through if they choose to be walked through the procedure, I'll let them know step by step what we're going to do next.

Dr. Michele Carunchio-Atiencia Stays at the Forefront of Oral Surgery

Dr. Michele Carunchio-Atiencia brings unique dual expertise to oral and maxillofacial surgery through her combined DDS and MD degrees from Columbia University. Since 2017, she has enriched our Hoboken practice with her patient-centered approach, combining careful surgical planning with advanced techniques.

Dr. Carunchio-Atiencia's active participation in dental professional organizations reflects her commitment to staying at the forefront of surgical developments while maintaining a thoughtful, conservative treatment philosophy. She has expanded her practice to include specialized cosmetic procedures.

Her surgical precision and dedication to excellence carry forward the legacy of her mentor and father, the late Dr. Michael L. Carunchio. As a New Jersey-based surgeon, she actively engages in local health education initiatives.

Beyond her surgical work, Dr. Carunchio-Atiencia maintains an active lifestyle that includes running and Latin dance. Her involvement in maternity support programs demonstrates her commitment to community service. As both a dedicated mother and surgeon, she exemplifies how professional excellence can harmonize with family life.

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