Continental Who's Who

Eric J. Coontz, DDS, MS

Eric J. Coontz, D.D.S., M.S., is recognized by Continental Who’s Who as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member in the Dentistry field. Dr. Coontz was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and Natural Sciences at Assumption College in Worcester and graduated Cum Laude. He was always interested in the medical field and wanted to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, who was a successful general surgeon in Worcester, and one of the founders of St. Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts. Later, Dr. Coontz decided to pursue graduate study in Anatomy at St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri. While there, he taught medical students head and neck anatomy. Dr. Coontz then decided to pursue a career in dentistry due to his interest in head and neck anatomy. Throughout the course of his education and training, Dr. Coontz graduated from Loyola University School of Dentistry in Chicago where he obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. Upon graduation, Dr. Coontz spent the next three years on active duty as a general dentist in the U. S. Army.

He then completed a residency in periodontics at Loyola University School of Dentistry. He also completed a Master of Science degree in Oral Biology. Dr. Coontz has practiced both in private practice, as well as in the public health sector with the Indian Health Service and the Veterans Health Administration. Additionally, Dr. Coontz has always had an interest in bringing the latest technological advances to his patients. He was one of the first periodontists to be certified in the use of the carbon dioxide laser in periodontal surgery in the early 1980s.

He also introduced the Indian Health Service to lasers and CAD/CAM dentistry, bringing these technologies to the Zuni Public Health Service in Zuni, NM, and the first in the Indian Health Service. Following his work in the Indian Health Service, Dr. Coontz completed his career in public health at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center as the Chief of the Dental Service. He directed a staff of 35 who provided comprehensive dental care to a medically compromised patient population. Dr. Coontz has struggled with severe obstructive sleep apnea for over 15 years, and suffered a heart attack in 2013.

It is believed that his OSA contributed to his heart attack. This attack was a turning point for Dr. Coontz, at which time, he immersed himself in the study of sleep disordered breathing. After retiring from the VA in 2015, he decided to continue his career in the private sector focusing on the treatment of OSA with oral appliances, as well as temporomandibular joint disease, which oftentimes afflicts the patient at the same time as their OSA. Dr. Coontz also is an adjunct faculty member at the University of New Mexico. To further his professional development, he is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, the American Sleep and Breathing Academy, the American Academy of Physiologic Medicine and Dentistry, the Academy of Sleep Disorders Disciplines, the International Academy of Physiologic Aesthetics and the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain.

Additionally, Dr. Coontz devotes at least 100 hours to continuing education per year. His advice to those looking to enter the field is to “be persistent” and “develop relationships with sleep disorder specialists. Helping patients with sleepdisordered breathing is a team effort.” Dr. Coontz can assist patients of all ages with proper breathing using a dental approach by ensuring the patient’s oralpharyngeal airway is functioning properly and breathing techniques are appropriate. To this end, he has incorporated oral-myofunctional and orthotropic therapy to assist in airway and facial development. When not working, Dr. Coontz enjoys photography, reading and traveling with family to exotic lands – while embracing all that different cultures offer. He dedicates this recognition to Tom Meade, D.D.S., an internationally known pioneer in dental sleep medicine. For more information, visit www.abqsleep.com