When people ask Dr. Michael Sonick what he does for a living, he doesn’t begin with implants or periodontics. He begins with people.  He likes to say he’s in the hospitality business—and dentistry just happens to be the vehicle through which he serves.

“I’m in the hospitality business. Dentistry is simply the vehicle I use to serve people.”

This mindset has shaped more than 40 years of practice in Fairfield, Connecticut. It has also shaped a life focused on human connection, family, mentorship, and the careful pursuit of balance outside the operatory — something increasingly essential for today’s practice owners.

A Path Built on Service

Dr. Sonick’s early work life reads like a lesson in people skills: waiter, bartender, lifeguard, cocktail pianist, furniture deliveryman. Each job taught him something, but waiting tables opened his eyes to the power of truly caring for others and anticipating their needs.

Dentistry wasn’t a childhood plan. After graduating from Colgate University, he envisioned becoming a therapist. But a single conversation with his father changed everything. What career, his father asked, would allow him to help people while also supporting a family? Dentistry became the answer.

He trained at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, followed by a demanding surgical residency at Metropolitan Hospital in Spanish Harlem—an environment that sharpened both his technical and emotional instincts.

Working in Manhattan clinics afterward revealed what he didn’t want to become—a dentist driven by volume rather than values. That clarity pushed him to seek a different path, and he found a powerful mentor in the charismatic Dr. Myron Finkel.

“Every patient interaction is a performance—one that deserves preparation, intention, and genuine care.”

From Dr. Finkel’s daily declaration of “It’s showtime!” to the supportive environment of his residency in Periodontics at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Sonick learned to approach patient care as both a science and an act of hospitality—meeting each patient as a person first.

Today’s Biggest Challenges

Like most dentist-owners today, Dr. Sonick feels the strain of a rapidly shifting dental landscape. Corporate dentistry’s presence is expanding, reimbursements continue to shrink, staffing remains difficult, and technology evolves faster than ever. The emotional aftershocks of the COVID-19 era still ripple through patient expectations and team dynamics.

These pressures can easily drain a dentist’s energy and clarity.

But Dr. Sonick returns to a deceptively simple mission: improving the quality of patients’ lives.

“When you focus on the person—not the procedure—everything else falls into place.”

Staying grounded in that mission helps him maintain purpose and resilience, even amid industry challenges.

Dr. Sonick and his team participate annually in the William Raveis cancer fundraiser for Damon Runyon Foundation.

Finding Balance Outside the Operatory

Work–life balance never happens by accident. It requires intention, boundaries, and the willingness to step away from daily demands long enough to recharge.

For Dr. Sonick, balance comes from the people and pursuits that keep him tethered to what matters most.

Family is at the foundation. His wife, Carrie, has been his steady anchor across decades in practice. Their three children—Becky, Jason, and Jenn—have taught him that a meaningful life is measured not in productivity but in presence.

Mentorship also plays a central role. Teaching young dentists at schools, conferences, and study clubs across the country brings him joy and keeps his curiosity alive.

Travel expands his understanding of service and hospitality. Whether at a café in Barcelona or a resort in the Caribbean, he studies how people create comfort, welcome, and trust.

Daily rituals help him transition between worlds.

“At the end of each day, I reflect on my interactions. It helps me leave work at work and be fully present when I get home.”

Physical activity—walking, biking, yoga, weight training, swimming—keeps his energy high and his mind clear. These rhythms support his well-being and sustain his capacity to serve others.

“Balance doesn’t happen by accident. You have to be intentional about creating space for the things that give you energy.”

Bonus Insights

What most peers don’t know:
He’s an accomplished piano player and once worked as a cocktail pianist. Music remains his creative outlet—another discipline that blends precision, practice, and performance.

Favorite quote:
“Hospitality exists when you believe the other person is on your side.”
This line from Danny Meyer captures the core of his entire patient-care philosophy.

Who he admires:
Restaurateur Danny Meyer for redefining service, and his father for instilling integrity and the belief that one’s word is a bond.

Still Hearing “It’s Showtime.”

After four decades in practice, Dr. Sonick feels more energized than ever. He still hears his mentor’s voice each morning— “It’s Showtime!” — but today it means something deeper.

Dentistry is not about teeth. It’s about easing fear, building trust, and improving lives one person at a time.

That perspective keeps him passionate, balanced, and continually grateful for the opportunity to make a difference.