A PASSIONATE AND COMPASSIONATE DENTIST ON LONG ISLAND
Dr. Tonya Bissoon
Dr. Tonya Bissoon knew she wanted to become a dentist when she was nine years old. Growing up in Barbados, she watched as a retainer transformed her cousin’s teeth and became fascinated by what dentistry could make possible. That childhood curiosity grew into a lifelong calling.
Dr. Bissoon began working in dentistry while attending Clara Barton High School for Health Professions, where she earned her National Certification for Dental Assisting. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Quinnipiac University, followed by her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine. She then completed a General Practice Residency at NYU-Winthrop University Hospital.
Over more than 20 years in dentistry, Dr. Bissoon has experienced the profession from nearly every angle: as a dental assistant, front-office team member, associate dentist, and, eventually, founder of Brilliance Dentistry. Each role shaped the kind of dentist and practice owner she wanted to become.
Today, she combines extensive training in restorative dentistry, prosthodontics, implant restorations, veneers, Invisalign, and teeth whitening with something equally important: the ability to make people feel safe, respected, and understood. She is always learning, always advancing, and always looking for a better way to care for the person sitting in her chair.
In addition to her work at Brilliance Dentistry, Dr. Bissoon is an active member of several professional dental organizations, including the American Dental Association, Nassau County Dental Society, and the New York State Dental Association. She has also participated in various dental outreach programs, such as Hope Day in Brooklyn, Give Kids A Smile Day, and a dental outreach trip to Buff Bay, Jamaica.
Outside of her professional life, Dr. Bissoon is a devoted wife and mother of two children. She values spending intentional quality time with her family, planning memorable experiences, and cherishing every moment together. Dr. Bissoon also enjoys giving back to her community, volunteering as a dance instructor at a local dance studio, where she helps young people and their families develop holistic principles around mental and physical wellness.
HELPING THE NEXT GENERATION SEE WHAT IS POSSIBLE
When a young Black or brown child sits in Dr. Bissoon's chair, she wants them to leave with more than clean teeth.
She wants them to see a Black woman who became a doctor, founded a practice, and built something beautiful from the ground up. She wants them to feel that exceptional spaces belong to them, too — and that their own futures can be much bigger than what they have already seen.
Dr. Bissoon and Ryan often ask their youngest patients about school, their dreams, and the kind of lives they hope to create. Their goal is not to tell children who to become. It is to widen the picture of what they believe is available to them.
Brilliance Dentistry was built for Dr. Bissoon's own children, for the little girl she once was, and for every person who has wondered whether they could become the first in their family to do something extraordinary.
If her journey can give someone else the lift they need to begin, that is part of its purpose.