Dentistry: TMJ (Temporo Mandibular Joint) Expert Witnesses: 6

Dean M. DeLuke, DDS, is currently Professor Emeritus, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at VCU School of Dentistry, where he has been the recipient of multiple teaching awards. He is also the recipient of the Daniel M. Laskin Award for Excellence in Predoctoral Education, a national award conferred by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS).

Litigation Support - Dr. DeLuke provides expert witness services to attorneys representing plaintiff and defense. His services include medical record review, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

Dr. DeLuke is a graduate of St Michael’s College (B.A.), Columbia University (D.D.S.), and Clarkson University (M.B.A.). He completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery training at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and a Fellow of the American and the International College of Dentists.

Prior to coming to Virginia Commonwealth University, he was active in private practice in New York State for nearly 30 years, where he was also Chief of Dentistry and Oral Surgery and Co-Director of the Cleft Palate Service. He is a past president of the New York State Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and has served in the AAOMS House of Delegates.

He was also active for many years on the Advisory Board, Risk Management and Finance Committees of OMS National Insurance Company, the primary provider of professional liability insurance for oral surgeons. He authored a text on Syndromes of the Head and Neck, along with numerous other journal articles and book chapters. He has been a frequent lecturer at regional and national meetings for the past 30 years.

Willeam A. Choby, DMD, MPA, MAGD, FICCMO, DICOI, has over 40 years of experience Dentistry and Oral Surgery. He is a Board Certified Implant Dentist that perfoms both the Surgery and the Restoration of Implant Teeth. A “Master” in the Academy of General Dentistry (MAGD), Dr. Choby has been recognized by other general dentists as a leader and an example to other dentists of the importance of quality continuing dental education to patient care. Masters have accepted the charge to keep abreast of advances in dentistry for the benefit of patients and the betterment of dentistry. Dr. Choby is also a Fellow in the International College of Cranio-Mandibular Orthopedics (FICCMO), earned a Masters of Public Administration (MPA), and is a Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (DICOI). He is recognized as One of America's Top Dentists by the Consumers Research Council of America. Litigation Support - Dr. Choby's expertise is frequently called upon for second opinions for quality assurance companies, peer review panels, workmen's compensation disputes, automobile accident claims, dental insurance companies, physicians, attorneys, and other dentists. He has offered his expert opinion in more than 100 dental malpractice cases, inspected over 1,100 dental offices for insurance companies, and performed over 1,000 second opinion case reviews, IMEs and peer reviews. His cases have included issues concerning:

View Dr. Choby's Consulting Profile.

Armond Kotikian, DDS, MD, FACS, is double board certified in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. In the clinic setting, Dr. Kotikian routinely performs IV sedations for complex cases including impacted wisdom teeth removal, dental implants, bone grafting and tumor excisions. He specializes in:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Trauma
• Infections
• Oral Pathology Resection and Reconstruction
• Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients (surgical and non-surgical)
• Craniofacial Anomalies (orthognathic surgery / corrective jaw surgery)

Litigation Support - A Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Kotikian has extensive experience as an expert witness in the field of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Dentistry. His Dental law and Dentistry services have been requested all over the country. Dr. Kotikian has been an expert witness on over 125 malpractice cases, given depositions on over 65 cases and testified at court over the past six years. His cases have included a wide variety of issues related to the Oral and Maxillofacial region including

• Oral Pathology
• Nerve Injuries
• TMJ Issues
• Oral Trauma
• Oral and Facial Fractures and Lacerations
• Injuries related to Extraction of Teeth
• Injuries related to Dental Implant \ Surgery
• Orthognathic Surgery Complications
• Head and Neck Infections related to Teeth and Salivary Glands

More information at www.oralsurgeryexpertwitness.com

View Dr. Kotikian's Consulting Profile. 

As of January 2024: I have been deposed over 150 times and reviewed over 1,000 cases for both defense and plaintiff, including peer review, accidents, and malpractice. 52% defense / 48% plaintiff. I have qualified in Superior Court over 75 times and have never been disqualified on the stand or prior to trial. At least 95% of my time is spent in patient care. 

I can be counted on to be ethical, competent, prepared, analytical, articulate, and persuasive at depositions and court appearances. As of February 2024, there are over 297 published articles, write-ups and lectures in print, radio, and TV. (http://www.expertwitness.dental/)

 I hold two current professorships: UCLA School of Dentistry (Volunteer) & NYU College of Dentistry. Licensed in 42 states to opine on the standard of care, with specific licenses in California, Nevada, New Mexico, and the Northeast as well as a Florida Expert Certification. Graduated NYU 1988; GPR Residency NYU 1989, Lieutenant, United States Navy 1989- 1991; private practice Brentwood, CA since 1991 – serving over 15,000 patients on a fee-for-service basis.

Founder of the non-profit “Homeless Not Toothless” (www.homelessnottoothless.org), which has made it possible for over 124,000 homeless Veterans, women of domestic abuse and foster children to receive over $10 million in pro-bono dental care. 

Member: 

American Academy of Cosmetic Orthodontics: 2013-present, American Dental Association (ADA) since 1991 

Peer Review Committee ADA 1995-2009, 

American Legion 2018 - present

Medical Disciplinary Committee Delta Dental 2000-present; Veteran Administration QME Examiner 2019-present

Harry I. Aronowitz, DMD, is a Board Certified Orthodontist who has been in private practice in Beverly Hills,and West Hollywood California for over 30 years. He is Clinical Professor of Orthodontics at the University of Southern California in the Graduate Department of Orthodontics where he helps train future orthodontists. Licensed in California and New York, Dr. Aronowitz has experience as a Former Chief of Dental, Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery Section at the Beverly Hills Medical Center and served as Chairman of the Orthodontic Peer-Review for the Los Angeles Dental Society. Dr. Aronowitz is a Diplomate The American Board of Orthodontics anda current member of Orthodontic Peer Review for the Los Angeles Dental Society. He is a member of the American Dental Association, The California Dental Association, The Los Angeles Dental Society, as well as The American Association of Orthodontists. 

Litigation Support - Dr. Aronowitz serves as an Independent Medical Examiner for The State Board of Dental Examiners in California. He provides expert witness services to attorneys for both defense and plaintiff, including medical record review, second opinions, depositions, mediation, and trial testimony as needed. 

Areas of Expertise:

Dr. Phillip R. Devore actively practices dentistry in Las Vegas and he is an expert witness, case planner and evaluator to the legal profession, particularly in regard to professional liability matters. He offers advice on case viability and strategic planning for depositions and trial, and testifies in affidavits, depositions and at trial. In the last 40 years, he has testified hundreds of times in numerous states prevailing in the vast majority of his cases.

Dr. Devore graduated from UCLA in 1980, lectured there part-time for 18 years, and lectured and consulted in over thirty states, attending 1,800 dental offices. He also taught at UNLV School of Dental Medicine as a full-time Associate Professor of Clinical Sciences where he chaired the business classroom courses and was the Director of the Faculty Group Practice  in addition to his other faculty duties.

Areas of Expertise:

• Aesthetic Dentistry
• Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry
• Dental Care Analysis
• Dental Implants
• Dentistry / Odontology
• General Dentistry

Associations & Memberships

• American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
• Las Vegas Dentist Member of American Academy of Cosemetic Dentistry
• American Dental Association
• Nevada Dental Association
• Southern Nevada Dental Association
• Academy of General Dentistry
• Pierre Fauchard Fellow