Get To Know Us
Meet the Team
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John Buzza, DDSDr. Buzza has been changing lives and perfecting smiles for his Santa Rosa dental care patients since 1983.
Dr. Buzza enjoys all aspects of dental care and excels in creating incredible smiles, often while his dental care patients are lightly sedated using sleep dentistry. A true dental care pioneer, Dr. Buzza brought sleep dentistry to Santa Rosa in 1997 and is sought after for his dental care practice's sedation and cosmetic dentistry expertise by dental colleagues.
Many of his dental care patients travel hours to benefit from the considerate, comprehensive dental care he and his team provide.
Dr. Buzza has been a dental instructor on cosmetic dentistry at the Pacific Aesthetic Continuum, a unique program teaching advanced cosmetic and reconstructive dental techniques and helping dentists enrich patients' lives and exceed their expectations with only the finest dental care.
When Dr. Buzza is not working in his Santa Rosa dental office he enjoys skiing and hiking with his wife Martha, and his children Meg & Jake. Cycling is one of his passions as well as 35 years of aviation. -
Tom - Dental HygienistMany of the Santa Rosa patients who come to us for their dental needs appreciate the feeling of comfort provided to them by Tom. Tom obtained a Registered Nursing degree from Long Beach City College in 1969, as well as a BA degree in Economics/Business Administration from CSU, Humboldt. After several years in ER and OR nursing he returned to college to receive an AS degree in Dental Hygiene in 1975.
Tom has been practicing dental hygiene in Sonoma County since 1985. After a brief time teaching Dental Hygiene in Saudi Arabia, he returned to Santa Rosa and joined Dr. Buzza's Santa Rosa comfort dental team in 2002.
Tom enjoys gourmet cooking and raiding his extensive wine cellar. He has been an avid traveler to the Middle East and Asia, have ridden horses through France, and will be traveling to China.
He is currently in the process of designing a country/ranch-"craftsman style" house for his eight-acre property in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. He loves and still drives a 1965 Datsun truck that he bought in 1966 as well as a restored 1966 MGA Roadster, which he loves to drive on trips to the coast and "wine country". -
Melanie - Patient CoordinatorWorking in a dentist office is very personal. I get to know each of our patients and the best part of my job is hearing what kind of a difference we make in people’s lives. Sometimes juggling schedules to make treatment more convenient for our patients can demand creativity, but when we meet our patients needs I know I have improved someone’s life….and that feels good.
We are blessed to have the highest technology in the industry to make treatment and follow up effortless. But the most important part of what we do, and Dr. Buzza is the best at…is listen. We hear tons of heartwarming stories. My favorite was shared by a patient who got the job after he dramatically improved his smile with Invisalign braces…a job he really wanted but had been previously “overlooked” for. There is no doubt his self esteem was much improved the second time he applied for the job.
When I am not working in the office I enjoy spending time with my family, husband, David, and their two children, Veronica and Mason. I enjoy traveling, camping, working in the garden and those fun Santa Rosa backyard barbecues! -
Karen - Dental HygienistPrior to joining our Santa Rosa dental office team Karen graduated from the University of California San Francisco Dental Hygiene program in 1990 and has been providing dental hygiene care for the patients of Dr. Buzza's Santa Rosa dental office since 1994.
In an effort to provide the highest level of care for all of our dental office patients, Karen is soft tissue laser certified and regularly takes advanced educational courses to keep up on the latest dental techniques and therapies. Karen is an instructor at Santa Rosa Junior College where she teaches clinical Dental Hygiene.
In Karen's free time away from the dental office she enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, Keith, and dog Tia. Karen play competitive soccer and enjoys golf, camping, and travel. -
Linda - Lead Assistant"For 25 years I have reassured dental patients who sought sedation dentistry, by holding their hands while they gently fall asleep. For many, sedation dentistry allows them to have just one visit giving them the smile they desire. The best part of my job is witnessing the happiness that radiates from patients as we positively affect their lives through perfecting their smile. Working with Dr. Buzza and our team in the office gives me the confidence that all of our patients will have their expectations met consistently. When I’m not caring for my patients, I love to spend time with my friends and family at our summer home on Clear Lake."
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Marcelle Pitofsky - Patient Care SpecialistMy career in dentistry began in 1984 while I was still attending High School. Dentistry was an instant love for me and quickly became my passion. I received my Registered Dental Assisting and X-ray licenses in 1987 and for many years worked in general, periodontal and oral surgery practices.
I look forward to meeting you soon. I can assure you that becoming part of the Buzza family dental practice will be one of the best decisions you can make for your dental health.
Working with Dr. Buzza and my fellow staff members has been a great pleasure. Dr. Buzza is a one-of-a-kind doctor. It is rare to find a doctor who is practicing for the right reasons….and he is. He truly wants to see his patients with healthy, vibrant smiles and he works hard to see it happen by utilizing the best materials and latest techniques.
While I am away from the practice I enjoy spending time with my family. We spend our time boating, fishing, hiking and exploring the beaches of California. -
Renee Lawrence - Dental HygienistIn 1996 my family and I started seeing Dr. Buzza as our primary dentist. Right away we felt at home with Dr. Buzza and his team. All of our dental needs were met beyond expectations. My family and I felt comfort in knowing that we were receiving a superior level in the quality of dentistry along with a superior level of compassion.
When I’m not working, I enjoy the outdoors. I love cycling, backpacking, camping and travel. Although I was borne and raised here in Santa Rosa I have traveled all over the world. And every time I return home I appreciate Sonoma County even more. I am grateful to be able to live and work in such a beautiful part of the world.
When I decided to pursue a career in dental hygiene I envisioned myself working at an office that provided the same quality of care to their patients as Dr. Buzza’s office gave to me. Now I am proud and fortunate to be a part of Dr. Buzza’s team. I strive to offer personal care in a warm family environment. I appreciate all of our patients and want to make them happy that they chose to be a part of our family.
I received my Associates of Science in Dental Hygiene from the Santa Rosa Junior College. At the SRJC I was trained by highly skilled clinicians such as Karen McGinn (one of our hygiene team members). In order to provide our patients the top most in dental hygiene, I am also laser certified.
