Care that never loses sight of the person in the chair.
Welcome to Meanwhile, Smile!
Dentistry the way it should be
Meanwhile, Smile! is an independent practice on Staten Island's South Shore, welcoming children, adults, and families. We do everything from exams and cleanings to implants, veneers, Invisalign, and Botox with the same level of thought and care. You'll be heard, never rushed or pressured, and you'll only ever be recommended what's truly best for you. We're not a corporate chain, and you'll never be treated like a number.
Meet
Dr. Zaccary Cardito
DDS, FAGD, FICD
Dr. Zaccary Cardito founded Meanwhile, Smile! to create the kind of dental practice he believes patients deserve, one built around trust, honesty, thoughtful treatment planning, and dentistry that never loses sight of the person in the chair. He earned his DDS from NYU College of Dentistry and completed his general practice residency at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn. Continuing education has been a defining part of his career, with advanced training in implant dentistry (including through the Misch International Implant Institute), Invisalign, cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental sleep medicine, and facial aesthetics. That commitment earned him a Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry, which requires at least 500 hours of approved continuing education (he has completed more than 800) and a comprehensive exam, and which approximately 6% of general dentists in the U.S. and Canada achieve. He was also invited to become a Fellow of the International College of Dentists, an invitation-only honor that requires nomination by an existing Fellow and a peer-review process, and is offered to approximately 4% of dentists in the U.S.
Dr. Cardito has returned to NYU College of Dentistry as a guest lecturer for five consecutive years, giving first-year students his annual talk, “This Too Shall Pass,” on resilience and holding on to your humanity in the profession. Through mobile dentistry, he has cared for elderly and medically compromised patients, patients with autism or Down syndrome, nursing home and memory-care residents, homebound patients, and people with special needs in underserved communities across Long Island and all five boroughs, and he has fundraised for Make-A-Wish. His philosophy is straightforward: every patient should receive the same honesty, care, materials, and treatment planning he would want for someone he loves, and cost alone should never determine the quality of care. Outside the office, he’s a lifelong Mets, Knicks, and Rangers fan who takes fantasy football far more seriously than he probably should, and he’s equally happy discussing implant dentistry or an inexplicable Mets loss.
Services
Comprehensive care, from everyday dentistry to smile-changing treatment
Preventive dentistry
Catching problems early means simpler, more conservative treatment and a better chance of keeping your natural teeth healthy for the long run. Every exam includes a periodontal evaluation and an oral cancer screening, and your care is tailored to your age and risk.
Restorative dentistry
We take a minimally invasive approach, preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible, and when a tooth truly needs restoring, we use tooth-colored fillings and custom lab-made crowns and bridges. They’re made with carefully researched materials and dental laboratories chosen for quality. We’ll walk you through every option, including implants, so you can decide what’s right for you.
Cosmetic dentistry
Whitening, bonding, veneers, and full smile makeovers, planned around your goals for a natural result you feel confident about. We also offer Botox and fillers for facial aesthetics.
Sleep apnea treatment
We offer at-home testing and custom oral appliances for appropriate patients with a sleep physician’s diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea. It’s a comfortable, custom-made option to help you rest more easily.
Invisalign
Straighten your teeth with Invisalign clear aligners, planned by a dentist with advanced Invisalign training. It’s a discreet, comfortable path to a smile you feel confident about.
Dental implants
Replace a missing tooth with a single-tooth implant that is digitally planned and placed with guided precision. Your treatment is mapped out before it begins, so you know exactly what to expect.
What sets us apart
Advanced dentistry, honest recommendations, and time for you
You deserve a dentist who takes the time to listen, explains your options in plain language, and only recommends what’s right for you. Longer appointments mean you’re never rushed, and our conservative, quality-first approach means you can feel confident in every decision along the way. Dr. Cardito treats every patient the way he would treat his own family.
Honest, thoughtful treatment planning
Dr. Cardito only recommends what he would recommend to someone he loves, and he's upfront about what's necessary, what's optional, and what can wait. Longer appointments mean you're never rushed and your questions get real answers.
Advanced dentistry with a conservative mindset
An intraoral scanner, 3D CBCT imaging, and digitally planned guided implants help us diagnose and plan with precision, and we only use technology that meaningfully improves your care. When early decay can be treated without removing healthy tooth structure, we'll offer that option first.
Quality chosen for you
We research our materials and choose our dental laboratories for craftsmanship, consistency, and communication, not price alone. That means restorations that look natural, fit well, and are built to perform.
Opening soon on Staten Island
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Dentistry doesn’t have to feel rushed, clinical, or impersonal. At Meanwhile, Smile!, you’ll be heard, you’ll get honest answers, and you’ll be cared for by a team that never loses sight of the person in the chair. Join our VIP list and be among the first to experience a different kind of dental visit.