IT IS SURELY SAFE to assume that nobody ever put in the countless hours of study and toil, the long nights and the sheer expense, required to become a dentist in the hope that they one day might go through a year like… this one.

We need not review here all the challenges 2020 has ushered forth. Yet the tribulations of the last eight months have also revealed the best side of America’s dentists: dedicated and caring, always with an eye toward good hygiene and safe practices, within the operatory or without. The 80 young practitioners profiled here—40 general dentists and 40 specialists, all age 40 or younger—have met the rigors of 2020 with dignified aplomb.

Some took a large financial hit but are now reopened, providing critical care for those who need it most. Some kept their lights on even through the worst of the pandemic’s early months. All have remained stalwart in the face of so much uncertainty.

This isn’t the 10th Anniversary 40 Under 40 we might have wished for. But in its own way, this year has made our point for us: When the chips are down, America’s top young dental talent will rise to the occasion.

MEET THE JUDGES

BETSY CARMACK – Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Carmack is a member of the American Dental Association, the Vermont State Dental Society and the American Academy of Facial Esthetics (AAFE). She is skilled in full-mouth extractions, wisdom teeth extractions and cosmetic dentistry.

BRIAN DANIELSSON – Brian Danielsson, DDS, MAGD is a general dentist who owns an eponymous practice in Ridgecrest, California. A member of the Incisal Edge editorial advisory board, Dr. Danielsson is also a veteran of the United States Air Force.

HOWARD STRASSLER – Howard Strassler, DMD is a professor and the director of operative dentistry at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry; he also writes the “Cutting Edge” column in each issue of Incisal Edge. He practices in Pikesville, Maryland.

THE GENERAL DENTISTS

THE TERM “general dentist” almost seems like it does a disservice to the practitioners who proudly sport it, and the 40 luminaries arrayed on the pages ahead exemplify that truism.

There is, after all, nothing “general” about their precision skills, their patient interactions or their business acumen. They bring all these talents to bear every day when they report to work, this battalion of dedicated professionals helping their clientele maximize their oral health, and by extension their whole-body health as well.

Perhaps especially at a time when so much of the dental industry—to say nothing of the world at large—is in flux, the steady reliability these 40 general dentists exude is more valuable than ever. Learn more about them, as you’re about to, and you’ll see exactly why.

Christine Altrock

Age: 39
City: San Diego, California
Name of Practice: Altrock Fabb Dental
Education: DDS, New York University, College of Dentistry
Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Altrock runs her tech-forward practice with her husband and fellow dentist, Dr. Brian Fabb. Dr. Altrock holds degrees in microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics and epidemiology as well, and she applies scientific and academic rigor to her patient treatment.

Tool She Can’t Live Without: Dr. Altrock says she relies on three more than any others: her loupes with lights; her Solea laser, which she uses to complete many procedures without anesthesia; and same-day CEREC crowns.

Exciting New Trend: Dr. Altrock is eagerly studying advances in sleep dentistry and the treatment of sleep apnea. “Patients are so appreciative when they can finally get a good night’s sleep and feel refreshed in the morning,” she says.

Sage Advice: “Always remember that the person in the chair is a mother, father, brother, sister. Treat them as if they were your family. Don’t get distracted with the business of dentistry and forget that.”

Something People Don’t Know: “I hold the women’s world record for tippet [fly fishing] on 12-pound-test line for a nine-pound, 12-ounce California yellowtail I caught on a trip with my father and husband in Baja California.”

“Always remember that the person in the chair is a mother, father, brother, sister. Treat them as if they were your family. Don’t get distracted with the business of dentistry and forget that.” – Dr. Christine Altrock

Marina Ambridge

Age: 32
City: Peoria, Arizona

Name of Practice: The Smile Institute: Advanced Dentistry & Orthodontics

Education: DDS, The University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry
Why She Was Nominated: A workaholic, top student and former professional model, Dr. Ambridge studied neuroscience
before entering dentistry. She’s the co-creator of an international orthodontics continuing-education course called eMotion, or esthetics in motion, at the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Tool She Can’t Live Without: Her DSLR camera, which she uses for cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics cases. It’s far from the only camera in her practice, though: She turned one of her operatories into a professional photo studio—complete with hair and makeup—to educate patients on treatment plans and take before-and-after photos.

Exciting New Trend: 3D-printing indirect bonding trays for digitally designed bracket placement.
Impact of the Pandemic: “We were in survival mode.” Forced to postpone all cosmetic procedures, most of Dr. Ambridge’s staff opted to stay home. Her husband became her receptionist, and two hygienists agreed to keep working for less than half their normal wages. She had to renegotiate her lease, cut business and personal expenses, find new staff and seek loans and grants.

Something People Don’t Know: “I’ve tried almost all air sports: bungee jumping, parachuting, paragliding, paraplaning, hot-air ballooning and others.”

Alex Barrera

Age: 29
City: Houston, Texas
Name of Practice: Avenue 360 Health & Wellness
Education: DDS, University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston
Why He Was Nominated: Passionate about public health and volunteerism, Dr. Barrera is an active leader in the Hispanic Dental Association and Doctors for Change, and co-created the Houston Equality Dental Network to organize LGBTQ+ dentists and provide accessible, unbiased care to LGBTQ+ patients. He promotes whole-body health as a certified Level 1 CrossFit coach and uses breathing and mindfulness techniques to help treat his patients.

Philosophy: Dr. Barrera’s employer, Avenue 360 Health & Wellness, opened in 1986, at the peak of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, to provide health care and social services to people being turned away from other establishments because of their HIV or AIDS diagnosis. The group is now a Federally Qualified Health Center providing primary, behavioral health and dental care, as well as reduced-cost pharmaceuticals, to medically underserved communities.

Tool He Can’t Live Without: “Is coffee a tool?”
Impact of the Pandemic: Avenue 360’s status as an FQHC kept it open throughout. “The beginning was scary, but it has been a fantastic learning experience. We served as a safety net and gained several new patients who were desperately seeking emergency care.” Dr. Barrera also used the opportunity to spotlight how the pandemic was unevenly affecting certain populations and wrote about the impact on the LGBTQ+ community for several platforms.

Biggest Challenge: “I’m a gay Latino in a traditionally conservative profession, so I’ve had to work to make space for myself in my career.” Disrespectful comments in dental school, he says, made him hesitant to seek help from professors or participate in student activities. Now, though, he holds leadership positions in many organizations and encourages aspiring dentists to seek out mentors both in and outside dentistry.

Shanthi Cariappa

Age: 32
Cities: East Greenwich, Rhode Island; Stonington, Connecticut
Name of Practices: Stonington Dental Associates, Frenchtown Dental Associates, Branch Village Dental Associates

Education: DDS, the Ohio State University College of Dentistry

Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Cariappa is an owner of a small group practice in southern Connecticut and Rhode Island, and still finds time to travel to attend high-end CE courses in cosmetic dentistry, full-mouth rehabilitation, oral-appliance therapy for sleep apnea, esthetic removable prostheses and restorative implant dentistry.

Inspiration: “Growing up, I was that strange kid who begged to go to the dentist. I just loved it! Since I entered the field, I’ve experienced many clinical environments, which have driven my desire to stand out from the typical group practice.”

Tool She Can’t Live Without: Intraoral scanner.
Impact of the Pandemic: In addition to increasing the use of personal protective equipment and staggering appointments, merely explaining her safety protocols has been a new experience. “By educating our patients about all the measures we take, we’ve been able to help them feel safer and more comfortable.”

Something People Don’t Know: “My second passion is rescuing dogs. I hope one day to have a farm where I can save animals and give them the life they deserve.”

Jonny Brennan

Age: 39
City: Chandler, Arizona
Name of Practice: Brennan Dental

Education: DMD, A.T. Still University Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health

Why He Was Nominated: Since 2015, Dr. Brennan has built his practice from nothing to more than $2 million in annual revenue, and launched a private-practice and dental-technology consulting firm, Blind Squirrel, to teach others how to use tech for similar success. He’s also an associate dean of innovation and curriculum at A.T. Still, where he’s leading curriculum changes that incorporate digital dentistry, cloud-based practice-management platforms and more.

Impact of the Pandemic: It has underscored the vital importance of dentistry toward people’s well-being, highlighting just how essential it is to overall health.

Something People Don’t Know: Although he now gives talks at large events without much trepidation, Dr. Brennan was once extremely shy about public speaking and worked hard as a young man to overcome his fear.

Joshua Coussa

Age: 40
City: Coral Springs, Florida
Name of Practice: Bright Smiles of Coral Springs
Education: DMD, Nova Southeastern University
Why He Was Nominated: A business-minded dentist, Dr. Coussa has run his solo practice since 2015 and is a partner with Texas-based dental service organization Deca Dental as the DSO’s first practice in Florida.

Favorite Aspect of Dentistry: The variety. “I never know what surprises are going to be thrown my way. The ability to quickly adapt and help people when they need it most is very fulfilling.”

Philosophy: “Deca Dental’s philosophy is simple but powerful: We are not in the dental business serving people, but rather in the people business serving dentistry.”

Tool He Can’t Live Without: His iTero and Trios intraoral scanners.
Sage Advice: “Stay well-rounded. College and dental school can be overwhelming, but being successful requires more than just book smarts. You need to relate to your patients and your team. People follow those they like, trust and can relate to.”

Anna Cowdin

Age: 31
City: Dallas, Texas
Name of Practices: Nomad Dental; Cowdin Cosmetic Dentistry
Education: DMD, Roseman University College of Dental Medicine
Why She Was Nominated: Over the past two years, Dr. Cowdin has designed and built a mobile practice, Nomad Dental, in addition to owning a brick-and-mortar office in north Dallas. Although the pandemic has put the mobile practice on hold, she looks forward to restarting it as soon as she can.

Favorite Aspect of Dentistry: “Being able to change a person with just some veneers or crowns. Changing someone’s smile can be life-changing, and those are the cases that make it all worth it.”

Philosophy: Dr. Cowdin started Nomad Dental to treat patients who cannot take time off to see the dentist at their place of work. Among her routine stops: police stations in Dallas, where she treats officers whose demanding schedules often prevent them from seeing a dentist. “I believe I am here to serve my patients and staff, not the other way around.”

Something People Don’t Know: “I used to write and perform sketch comedy with a group in college, and even performed with Second City.”

Dimple Desai

Age: 39
City: Newport Beach, California
Name of Practice: Luminous Smiles
Education: DDS, University of Southern California

Why She Was Nominated: As an adjunct professor at her alma mater, Dr. Desai encourages a commitment to the academics of dentistry. Originally a Registered Dental Hygienist, she was driven to pursue her DDS degree. While others may have spent the quarantine months mostly watching Netflix, Dr. Desai used the time to complete online clinical course work, even converting her dining room to a makeshift lab to refine her aesthetic dentistry skills.

Sage Advice: “Never stop learning. I’ve taken over 1,000 hours of continuing-education courses, and I’ve implemented every aspect of my education into my daily practice.”

Impact of the Pandemic: “Walking into my office on Monday, March 16, and telling my team, ‘This is our last day until further notice,’ will be an experience I will never forget.” Over the next two months, Dr. Desai purchased HEPA filters with large suctions, a defogging machine, a large UV light system, extra personal protective equipment and plexiglass shields for her front desk. “We have adapted well,” she says, “and will continue these protocols.”

Something People Don’t Know: Dr. Desai was a child model until age 4. “My mother would take me to photo shoots—and once they could no longer afford the talent-agency fees, that was the end.”

Editor’s Note: Due to a technical error, Dr. Desai was not included in the print edition of this issue. We regret the omission.

Sodabeh Etminan

Age: 36
City: Chicago, Illinois
Name of Practice: University of Illinois in Chicago Hospital Health Sciences System, Mile Square Health Center

Education: DMD, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine

Why She Was Nominated: Spurred by her belief that everyone has a right to basic health care, Dr. Etminan is the dental director in the Mile Square Health Center. “We take care of everyone, regardless of their ability to pay, and we’ve been able to have a successful practice.”

Favorite Aspect of Dentistry: “Helping patients get out of pain. I work at a Federally Qualified Health Center, and many of our patients are uninsured or underinsured. They may lack access to preventive care and come in with urgent conditions.”

Exciting New Trend: “The increased focus on interdisciplinary care and social determinants of health. It is difficult to see patients in pain with several chronic issues, but an emphasis on systemic problems now means we can prevent some of those cases moving forward.”

Sage Advice: “Give yourself time to explore different pathways within dentistry. There are many options besides the traditional private practice route. I strongly encourage new graduates to consider the National Health Service Corps to improve their clinical skills while also serving the community without the stress of running a practice.”

Liany Farinas-Han

Age: 40
City: Upper Saddle River, New Jersey
Name of Practice: Smiles by Bergen Dental
Education: DMD, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

Why She Was Nominated: The performing arts are rarely a gateway to a career in medicine, but in Dr. Farinas-Han’s case, her education at Juilliard, where she studied as a classic pianist, was a precursor to becoming a dentist. Dr. Farinas-Han, who emigrated from Cuba at age 17, delivers exceptional care thanks to her unique marriage of nimble pianist hands and the most modern technology. “Dentistry is unique in that it is both medicine and artistry,” she says.

Exciting New Trend: Digital dentistry. “Complete digital flows have allowed us to carry out both routine and complex procedures in a more effective manner. The collaboration of different specialties, labs and patients has become seamless.”

Philosophy: “As any artisan would do, I place heavy importance on doing things correctly, however small the tasks might be, and practice them until they are second-nature.”

Sage Advice: “Dentists are in the people business. Always listen and pay attention to what patients have to say. We take it for granted that the patient sitting in the chair is placing his or her trust in us.”

As any artisan would do, I place heavy importance on doing things correctly, however small the tasks might be, and practice them until they are second-nature.” – Dr. Liany Farinas-Han

Michelle Farnoush

Age: 35
City: Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada
Name of Practices: Summerlin Center for Aesthetic Dentistry (Las Vegas); The Office of Dr. Michaela Tozzi (Henderson)

Education: DMD, University of Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine

Why She Was Nominated: It’s fair to say that dentists are high performers. Dr. Farnoush certainly is. After getting a degree in human kinesiology at McGill University in Montreal, she studied (at Harvard, mind you) business and health policy, then got another master’s in nutrition from Columbia, where her thesis explored the prevalence of pediatric caries. She graduated from the Kois Center for Dental Excellence and has completed advanced certification in implantology with the AAID and facial aesthetics with the AAFE.

Why She Became a Dentist: “Dentistry is the art of transforming lives. It allows you to be a healer and build someone’s confidence, often in a single visit. It’s important to remain humble, work hard and treat others with respect and kindness. This profession allows me to practice those ideals and serve my community with my own two hands.”

Inspiration: “I’m thankful to Dr. John Kois for the influence he has had on me personally and professionally. The education I’m continually gaining via the Kois Center helps me aspire to higher excellence.”

Something People Don’t Know: “I’ve been a violinist since age 7 and have played in a philharmonic orchestra, wedding quartets, summer-
theater orchestral pits, a punk-rock band in high school and even an oldies cover band in college.”

Shalom Fialkoff

Age: 33
City: Paradise Valley, Arizona
Name of Practice: Paradise Valley Dental
Education: DMD, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine; MPH, Columbia School of Public Health

Why He Was Nominated: Dr. Fialkoff has run Paradise Valley Dental since 2016. His practice serves multigenerational families and patients who have been coming to the practice for decades. He has boosted revenue growth by 50 percent a year using only word-of-mouth referrals. He expertly blends classic techniques (TMJ analysis, gold restorative preparations and perio-prosth design) with more modern technological tools (CBCT, intraoral scanning, occlusal analysis) in a whole-body approach. He has helped patients get diagnosed and treated for a variety of serious medical conditions.

Why He Became a Dentist: A lifelong bibliophile, he grew up reading the work of physician-authors—Atul Gawande, Siddhartha Mukherjee, Oliver Sacks, Jerome Groopman, Lewis Thomas—and realized the beauty of clinical care lies in developing meaningful long-term patient relationships.

Philosophy: “As surgeons, we have this duality: On one hand, we need to be humble, to understand our limitations and to strive to become better at our craft. On the other, we must also have the confidence and arrogance to take a blade to human flesh.”

Something People Don’t Know: “I’ve been bouldering for a few years, and I love it. It’s an amazing workout because each route is mentally and physically challenging.”

Hadi Ghazzouli

Age: 38
City: Collegeville, Pennsylvania
Name of Practices: Upper Gwynedd Dental Arts; Abington Dental Care

Education: DMD, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine

Why He Was Nominated: Hints of Dr. Ghazzouli’s yen for dentistry began in childhood: Young Hadi would wait until his grandfather was eating so he could clean and inspect his dentures during family meals. “I’ve always been fascinated with teeth,” he says. Now, with the help of his mentor and business partner, Dr. Alexandre Cho, Dr. Ghazzouli owns several practices.

Inspiration: “My parents. They came to the United States when they were young and are two of the hardest-working people I know. My father taught me to do whatever it takes to reach my accomplishments, and my mom taught me to value optimism. In dentistry, your patients don’t always want to see you, which is tough—so I always come to work with a positive vibe and do my best to pass it along.”

Sage Advice: “Explore and have patience. Don’t give yourself limitations out of the gate. There may be practice styles you think aren’t for you but actually are, and vice-versa. Don’t handcuff yourself to one or two opportunities.”

Tiffanie Garrison-Jeter

Age: 34
City: Nashville, Tennessee
Name of Practice: Definition Dental Studio
Education: DMD, University of Louisville School of Dentistry
Why She Was Nominated: As a U.S. Army National Guard veteran, Dr. Garrison-Jeter started her dental practice from scratch. Her exquisite clinical skills mix fine art and science, providing patients with facial esthetic options that also enhance their dental quality of life. She is also proficient in orofacial pain/TMD management.

Inspiration: “To live a life that is pleasing to God and being the best me for my family.”
Sage Advice: “Don’t live life with regrets—YOLO! Start the business. Learn the skill or hobby you’ve been thinking about. Pursue what you think is unattainable. People with less talent have achieved, so why not you? If you fail, at least you tried.”

Something People Don’t Know: “I’m obsessed with watching, learning and making TikTok dance videos.”

India D. Gibson

Age: 39
City: Sugar Land, Texas
Name of Practice: Bella Smiles Cosmetic and Family Dentistry
Education: DDS, Meharry Medical College
Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Gibson’s general excellence showed itself even during her career’s earliest days. Shortly after graduating from dental school, she was named dental director of David Raines Community Health Centers in Louisiana, where she managed seven community dental-health programs and offered comprehensive care to the underserved. Today, Dr. G (as her patients affectionately call her) treats each patient with warmth and tenderness. “I’ve never treated a stranger,” she says.

Sage Advice: “Dentistry is what you make of it. Your commitment to learning is measured by your desire to be the best you can be. Soak up the knowledge and enjoy the process.”

Something People Don’t Know: “I’m an avid interior decorator. My love for interior design is fueled by my nightly watching of HGTV. My dental office is a true depiction of my style and decorating skills.”

Paul Hung

Age: 36
City: Grand Prairie, Texas
Name of Practice: Village Family Dental in Dallas
Education: DDS, New York University College of Dentistry
Why He Was Nominated: In addition to his accolades—he has been on the “America’s Best Dentists” list four years running—Dr. Hung’s dogged leadership built his practice from zero patients to $1 million in production in just two years. He also pursues more than 125 hours of continuing education each year and holds a Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry—recognition held by just 6 percent of dentists in Texas—and a Fellowship in the International Congress of Oral Implantology.

Exciting New Trend: 3D digital dentistry. “I love technology and the ability to cut down on overhead and time.”

Something People Don’t Know: Watch your back: Dr. Hung holds a black belt in shuri-ryūu karate.

Steven Hippeli

Age: 27
City: Mountain Top, Pennsylvania
Name of Practice: The Dental Offices of Steven Hippeli, DMD, and Loren J. Grossman, DMD

Education: DMD, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine

Why He Was Nominated: Dr. Loren Grossman started his practice more than 35 years ago, but it wasn’t until a certain dogged dental school student started showing up to shadow him each Friday that he finally met someone he could trust not only to team up with, but potentially to helm his practice one day. The two officially partnered in 2018. Dr. Hippeli has excelled in all aspects of cosmetic and implant dentistry. “The practice has thrived ever since he joined me,” Dr. Grossman says.

Inspiration: “Dr. Grossman has mentored me not only in the art of dentistry, but in the arts of business and life. Every hectic Friday I spent shadowing him would end with a good meal and lessons about how to treat people instead of just teeth. Every day I’m thankful for his mentorship.”

Tool He Can’t Live Without: “My iTero Element intraoral scanner. It makes performing Invisalign treatments accurate and efficient, and taking impressions extremely easy. I use it for every phase of treatment, including impressions for crowns, bridges, implants, surgical guides, removable partial dentures and occlusal appliances. Most days, the scanner spends all its time in and out of my treatment rooms because I rely on it so much.”

Hillary Homburg

Age: 35
City: Charleston, West Virginia
Name of Practice: Cabin Creek Health Systems
Education: DDS, West Virginia University School of Dentistry; GPR, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry

Why She Was Nominated: For her devotion to serving West Virginia’s underserved. Ten years ago, during her residency, a professor recommended her to lead the development of an oral-health program for Cabin Creek Health Systems, a Federally Qualified Health Center; since then, it has expanded to two (soon to be three) locations. Dr. Homburg, who puts in more than 30 hours of hands-on comprehensive patient care per week in addition to her administrative responsibilities, also proudly serves as a dental officer with the rank of Major in the West Virginia Air National Guard.

Why She Became a Dentist: “West Virginia consistently ranks in the top three states for incidence of childhood caries and adult tooth loss. I entered dental school wanting to make a difference in those statistics.”

Exciting New Trend: “We recently began using silver diamine fluoride in our offices. Its ability to arrest decay has been instrumental in buying time for patients who need extensive restorative work but have limited financial resources or transportation. This means the ability to save more teeth, reducing extractions and maintaining functionality and bone levels.”

Inspiration: Her father, who recently passed from pancreatic cancer. He was a dedicated public servant, she says, who taught her to give back to her community.

Jaclyn Johnson

Age: 38
City: Kingwood, West Virginia
Name of Practice: Preston Dental Care
Education: DDS, West Virginia University School of Dentistry
Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Johnson left behind her aspirations to become an actress to pursue an unexpected career in dentistry. (She does, however, keep her interest in theater alive via her office’s humorous YouTube and Facebook videos.) She dedicates her time and practice to helping her hometown, including special assistance for veterans during the local Smile for Heroes initiative each November.

Why She Became a Dentist: “I love working with people. My community is very rural, and I didn’t receive the dental care I needed growing up. I really enjoy educating my patients and improving oral health in this area.”

Philosophy: “My No. 1 priority is to put patients at ease. We keep it lighthearted and always, always nonjudgmental at my office.”

Most Memorable Patient: “One who came in during Smile for Heroes last year and almost walked right back out. He had fallen on hard times and was self-conscious—his teeth were gone; there was nothing left to save. He sat in the chair and cried, and I cried. It was emotional. I decided to do the case pro bono and am happy to say he smiles with ease now.”

Alan Jurim

Age: 40
City: Woodbury, New York
Name of Practice: integratedDENTAL
Education: DDS, New York University College of Dentistry
Why He Was Nominated: Having received a dual degree in computer systems engineering and electrical engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute prior to dental school, Dr. Jurim gazes at dentistry through this analytical and scientific lens. His practice prioritizes cutting-edge digital and CAD/CAM technologies to deliver optimal care. He’s the cofounder of the CADpro Academy and is director of digital dentistry and clinical assistant professor of dental medicine at the Touro College of Dental Medicine.

Why He Became a Dentist: Dr. Jurim grew up amid Jurim Dental Studio, founded by his father, Adrian Jurim, MDT, who was instrumental in inventing the technique for porcelain laminate veneers.

Exciting New Trend: “The move toward digital workflows and digital medicine. We’re using data from our patients to help predict and prevent disease before it becomes a true issue.”

Tool He Can’t Live Without: All of his “digital ecosystems.”

Joyce Kahng

Age: 34
City: Huntington Beach, California
Name of Practice: Orange + Magnolia Dental Studio
Education: DDS, University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry

Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Kahng isn’t just a dentist and practice owner; she’s also the master of her own personal brand, with YouTube, TikTok and Instagram accounts where she posts videos about how to floss, tips for budding dental students, what it’s like to be a dentist during the pandemic and much more. She also worked as an assistant clinical professor at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry.

Exciting New Trend: “Virtual smile consultations. I’ve been using Smile Virtual since August 2019, and it has been a game changer for my practice, especially during the [pandemic] when my office was closed. Patients are truly amazed that a dentist would take time out of her day to discuss their cosmetic goals with them for free.”

Tool She Can’t Live Without: “Single-tooth anesthesia. Being able to provide fearful (and non-fearful) patients with a near-painless injection keeps my office atmosphere calm and starts every appointment off on the right foot.”

Impact of the Pandemic: “My practice closed for months and had a soft opening on May 18. It was an interesting experience, rallying the troops back into the office. Despite adequate PPE, some of my staff were scared to come back. Nonetheless, it has been something we’ve worked through, and my team is finally full again. Stay strong, everyone!”

Jay Kansal

Age: 38
City: Atlanta, Georgia
Name of Practice: Heart of Vinings Dentistry
Education: DMD, the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
Why He Was Nominated: In just two short years, Dr. Kansal and his team have doubled the 30-year-old practice’s revenue and patient base, and will soon be acquiring a second location. The state-of-the-art practice goes above and beyond for its patients, offering an extensive comfort menu and providing a preventative, integrated approach to overall health and wellness. Dr. Kansal has completed more than 1,000 hours of continuing education, and his entire office takes off two days each month for clinical team training.

Exciting New Trend: “The link between dental health and whole-body health. We’ve always known there’s a correlation, but the rate of new discoveries regarding their connection is especially exciting.”

Philosophy: “To make sure every interaction is beneficial in some way. Anytime I meet with anyone—a friend, a patient, a team member—I want to make sure that they get something out of it. It can be the answer to a question, learn something new, get something off their chest or just share a laugh.”

“I want every interaction to be beneficial in some way. Anytime I meet with anyone—a friend, a patient, a team member—I want to make sure they get something out of it. It can be the answer to a question, learn something new, get something off their chest or just share a laugh.” – Dr. Jay Kansal

Parsia Koleini

Age: 37
City: Bradford, Massachusetts
Name of Practice: Associates in Dental Health
Education: DMD and certificate in advanced general sciences, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine

Why He Was Nominated: A general practitioner who spends roughly 40 percent of his time on oral surgery and implant cases, Dr. Koleini thrives when asked to go beyond the call of duty. He originally wanted to be a lawyer, but pivoted at age 23 to dentistry, and went on to graduate magna cum laude from Boston University’s dental school.

Philosophy: “You’re never going to look forward to getting a filling or crown, but I’m going to make it so that you don’t dread it either.”

Exciting New Trend: Implant dentistry. “I place my own implants and really appreciate all the high-tech digital tools we have at our disposal. We know exactly how the final product will look before we even get started. Appointments are shorter, patients have almost no postoperative discomfort and the implants come out more predictably.”

Biggest Challenge: Competing with large dental corporations to buy a practice of his own. “They would buy practices cash over asking price without even looking. It took me a while to find the perfect practice to buy, mostly because of that.”

Lee Gary & Wendy Lewis

Ages: 40 (Gary); 38 (Lewis)
City: Brandon, Mississippi
Name of Practices: The Winning Smile
Education: DMD, the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry (both)
Why They Were Nominated: Drs. Gary and Lewis, who co-own and practice at their three office locations, are two of the most accomplished young dentists in Mississippi. Dr. Lewis is active in women’s dental groups and an advocate for women in dentistry more broadly; she was recently named one of the 50 Leading Businesswomen in Mississippi by the Mississippi Business Journal. The two have won numerous other accolades as well, including the Best Small Business to Work for Award by the Rankin County, Mississippi, Chamber of Commerce.

Tool They Can’t Live Without: Their DSLR camera. “Photography is the most powerful communication tool I can think of,” Dr. Gary says. “It changed my practice, and, in the process, it changed my life.”

Sage Advice: “It’s an exciting time to be in dentistry,” Dr. Gary says. With the burgeoning acceptance of the link between oral and overall systemic health, dentists have a unique opportunity to be a leading voice in medical care.”

“Photography is the most powerful communication tool I can think of. It changed my practice and, in the process, it changed my life.” – Dr. Lee Gary

Andrew Lyons

Age: 36
City: Charlotte, North Carolina
Name of Practice: Smile Savvy Cosmetic Dentistry
Education: Bachelor’s in biology, North Carolina Central University; DDS, Meharry Medical College

Why He Was Nominated: Dr. Lyons’s interest and expertise in dental-practice design has advanced to the point where he’s now being tapped by his peers to give talks at professional events on how best to optimize the look and flow of a dental office for maximum patient, doctor and team comfort. In both 2018 and 2019, he was named one of Charlotte’s top dentists. He and his wife, Dr. Joya Lyons, founded The Lyons Share, a charitable extension of their dental practices that partners with various nonprofit groups to give away four “smile makeovers” every year, as well as a variety of other charitable initiatives.

Exciting New Trend: Even before the pandemic made telemedicine far more widely used, Dr. Lyons in 2019 signed on to be able to offer “Smile Virtual Consultations”—just one more way he has implemented the latest technology in his practice for his patients’ benefit.

Something People Don’t Know: Drs. Andrew and Joya Lyons recently became the first couple ever featured on the cover of Dentaltown magazine. He is also an avid runner who has completed 13 half-marathons.

Joya Lyons

Age: 36
City: Charlotte, North Carolina
Name of Practice: Smile Savvy Cosmetic Dentistry
Education: DDS, Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry
Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Lyons is founder and CFO of S.C.O.R.E. (Successful, Confident, Optimistic, Regal and Engaging), a nonprofit that bolsters STEM education to high school girls from underserved groups. S.C.O.R.E. provides paid summer internships to girls in the Charlotte and Atlanta metro areas, and has offered more than $10,000 in scholarships to date. Dr. Lyons and her husband (and practice partner), Dr. Andrew Lyons, also cofounded “The Lyons Share,” the philanthropic arm of their practice, which provides four pro bono smile makeovers a year via partnerships with local nonprofits. (Read: “How to Do It”)

Why She Became a Dentist: “I was inspired at a young age. Pretending to be my family’s dentist, I’d take out my siblings’ loose baby teeth.”

Tool She Can’t Live Without: The Smile Lite MDP camera attachment. “Not only does it make my cosmetic cases pop, it also makes communication with our lab regarding expectations seamless.”

Impact of the Pandemic: “It has affected our practice for the better. I’ve always been one to see the good in every situation. This pandemic has allowed my husband and I time to transform our practice into the practice we’ve always dreamed of—minus the excessive PPE.”

Andrew Martin

Age: 40
Cities: Gainesville and Lake City, Florida
Name of Practice: Comprehensive Dental Care and Lake City Dental
Education: DMD, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
Why He Was Nominated: The son of a dentist, Dr. Martin moved to the U.S. from India with his parents when he was 16. He’s past president of the Alachua County Dental Association and current president of the Florida Academy of General Dentistry; he also volunteers at the local We Care Clinic and for the Baptist Mobile Health Ministry.

Inspiration: “My mentor is Dr. Frank Spear. I’ve been fortunate to have several great dentists in my life, but no one compares to the contribution this man has made to my dental career.”

Sage Advice: “You have chosen an amazing career in which you’re at the helm of your own destiny. Never settle for ‘good enough’ or for mediocrity when excellence is possible. Never stop learning.”

Something People Don’t Know: Dr. Martin loves sailing. He has sailed the British Virgin Islands and aspires to sail around the globe. At first he was terrified of the pursuit. Now, he says, “few things make me happier than being on a sailboat.”

Gabriela Nwobu

Age: 40
City: Jamestown, North Carolina
Name of Practice: Smile Starters
Education: DDS, New York University College of Dentistry
Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Nwobu studied dentistry in Nigeria before moving to the United States in 2007 and getting her NYU degree. Now she brings her passion, empathy and technical savvy to her craft in North Carolina.

Philosophy: “Be as minimally invasive as possible. I implement the best and latest materials and technology while paying attention to detail so that function and aesthetics can happily merge.”

Inspiration: “Dr. Ricardo Boyce, the program director at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, where I did my residency. His passion for dentistry and helping his students succeed in life is admirable.”

Something People Don’t Know: “I’m very passionate about cooking and hope to own a restaurant someday.”

Charmaine Ng

Age: 37
City: Oakland, California
Name of Practice: Alameda Health System
Education: DMD, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health
Why She Was Nominated: Her tireless dedication to public health and the underserved. The recipient of the 2020 Lucy Hobbs Project Woman to Watch Award worked as the dental director of a tribal health clinic before coming to HealthRIGHT360 as its founding dental director. At this community health center, she established an integrated dental program that serves the homeless and others in need in the Bay Area. As the current chief chair of dentistry at Alameda Health System, Dr. Ng oversees a general dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery program in a Level 1 trauma center hospital and a pediatric clinic.

Inspiration: “Having great mentors in my life has inspired me to pay it forward and mentor the next generation of dentists. My hope is that these future dentists will find a way to give back because they’ve witnessed how having access to care can make a huge impact on this patient population.”

Impact of the Pandemic: “I work in a hospital system that even before the pandemic was used to seeing many dental emergencies every day, so we may have been busier than private offices during this time. Dental providers and staff are the unspoken heroes of this pandemic. We cannot change the fact that we work inside the mouth and that our profession is one of the most high-risk for contracting this virus. While the pandemic has put a strain on our profession as a whole, it behooves us to look at our practices and find innovative ways to safely meet our patients’ needs.”

“While the pandemic has put a strain on our profession as a whole, it behooves us to look at our practices and find innovative ways to safely meet our patients’ needs.” – Dr. Charmaine Ng

Jeffrey Ng

Age: 32
City: Garden City, New York
Name of Practice: Dental365
Education: DDS, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine
Why He Was Nominated: Just one year after becoming an associate at Dental365, New York State’s largest dental provider, Dr. Ng became its chief dental officer thanks to his enthusiasm for both the practice and its patients. He incorporates the latest tech to help streamline digital workflows, and prizes honest patient communication.

Most Memorable Patient: “The first one who fell asleep while in my chair. In any other setting I’d worry I was boring, but as a dentist, I took it as the ultimate compliment: I couldn’t be happier knowing that my patient felt comfortable enough to relax and doze off. I hope to bring that sense of ease to all the patients I treat.”

Impact of the Pandemic: “It has forced the world into a new way of life in unpreceden­ted ways. While these are trying times of countless uncertainties and mandated closures of many things we have long depended on, it has been a great honor to continue working and serving my community.”

Something People Don’t Know: “I had to do an emergency delivery of my son at home. It was at the crack of dawn on April 1, 2018. I thought my wife was playing an April Fool’s prank on me. That changed in about two seconds, when I saw my son’s head crowning! Needless to say, I have an even greater appreciation for our gynecologist now—and I’ll stay focused on my DDS training going forward.”

Simon Oh

Age: 33
City: Ambler, Pennsylvania
Name of Practice: AC Dental of Langhorne
Education: DDS, University of Maryland School of Dentistry
Why He Was Nominated: Dr. Oh is the chief clinical officer of an East Coast DSO with 35 locations and roughly 100 dentists throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey that treats about 1,100 patients every day. He also has a practice dedicated to full-arch implants, where he tackles up to 300 cases a year working part-time. He’s passionate about education and mentoring to help other dentists help their patients.

Most Memorable Patients: Those in addiction recovery who can’t get jobs because of their appearance, for whom he does pro bono work. He steps in to stop the vicious cycle and finds the transformations his patients make, he says, extremely rewarding.

Sage Advice: “Pay attention to every patient encounter and never stop growing. Set short-term and long-term goals for yourself. Ask yourself what you can do better every day.”

Something People Don’t Know: “For the last decade, my driver’s license has said that I’m two feet, eight inches tall.”

Sunny Rajendra Patel

Age: 35
City: Overland Park, Kansas
Name of Practice: Love to Smile Dentistry
Education: DDS, the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry

Why He Was Nominated: A pioneer of mobile dentistry, Dr. Patel’s Love to Smile OnSite—a custom-built 54-foot mobile dental studio with CBCT, iTero and CEREC—serves Kansas City–area businesses and their employees. Dr. Patel donates 10 percent of his practice’s income to pro bono work in the KC area and recently spearheaded mission trips to treat rural Brazilian tribes.

Why He Became a Dentist: “I love working with my hands. I get to come to work every day and play with toys and the latest technology. As a business owner, I also get to create the office culture for my team and our patients. We laugh, we tell stories, we even make TikToks—all while doing great technical dentistry and changing lives for the better.”

Exciting New Trend: “3D printing and mobile dentistry—they’re definitely the future. I want to bring Amazon-style convenience to dentistry.”

Something People Don’t Know: “I’ve been to five of the seven continents, and plan to visit the other two in the near future. I want to see every corner of this beautiful planet.”

Katie To

Age: 35
City: Katy, Texas
Name of Practice: Center for Integrative Wellness and Cosmetic Dentistry
Education: DDS, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School

Why She Was Nominated: Dr. To took over her practice in 2015 from a disabled doctor, and her exceptional clinical skills, generosity and mentoring have helped it quintuple its growth in the five years since.

Most Memorable Patient: “A man in his fifties was told he would need dentures by two different dentists. He came to me for a third opinion, and with comprehensive planning using Digital Smile Design and noninvasive full-mouth rehabilitation with composite, I saved all his teeth—and he got promoted at work thanks to his new smile and confidence.”

Impact of the Pandemic: “My practice is growing, since we were not only prepared with supplies and equipment for safety in holistic dentistry, but we also became the first and only DSD clinic in Katy, Texas. We’ve completed more cosmetic cases so far compared to last year and the year before.”

Something People Don’t Know: “My husband and I have traveled to 34 countries and counting. We believe adventure is out there.”

Heidi Reuter

Age: 40
Cities: Wadena and Perham, Minnesota
Name of Practices: Reuter Family Dentistry
Education: DDS, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry
Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Reuter owns two practices northwest of Minneapolis, not far outside Fargo, North Dakota. Reuter Family Dentistry offers root-canal therapy, facial esthetics, cosmetic dentistry, pediatric dentistry, Invisalign, implants, sedation and wisdom-tooth removal. Providing these advanced services in a rural area is appreciated by patients accustomed to traveling some distance for medical care.

Most Memorable Patient: “My grandfather Garven. While I was in dental school, he drove four hours to see me for multiple dental visits. He had many health issues, so this was no easy task for him. It meant so much that he trusted me with his dental care, and it was time together that I will cherish forever.”

Biggest Challenge: “Recruiting, training and maintaining an excellent dental team to support our ongoing growth. I consider my dental team my second family and the office’s greatest asset. A qualified, highly trained team is the driving force behind a successful practice and manageable work/life balance.”

Philosophy: “Grow our practice to maximize the impact on those around us while providing exceptional patient care in a positive, fun work environment.”

Sage Advice: “Decide who you are as a dentist and dental practice. Define who you are to your team so that you surround yourself with people who share your core values and goals.”

Kianor Shah

Age: 39
City: Palm Desert, California
Name of Practice: Desert Dream Dentistry & Spa
Education: DMD, Southern Illinois University; MBA, Brandman University
Why He Was Nominated: Dr. Shah is a clinician and an entrepreneur. Prior to establishing his full-service private practice, Dr. Shah was a traveling dentist who practiced in more than 300 offices. He has built numerous co-brand, private-label, peer-to-peer and educational health-care organizations. He’s also a seasoned public speaker and educator in office-based oral surgery and implantology who has organized several large symposia. He’s proficient in prosthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, oral surgery and more—no surprise, then, that he was recently chosen 2020 Dentist of the Year by Top Doctor magazine, as well as one of the year’s top dentists by Palm Springs Life magazine.

Why He Became a Dentist: “To be able to treat patients while also building a successful business from scratch and having the time to raise a happy and healthy family.”

Philosophy: “Render the highest-quality care, exercise benevolence, employ friendly staff, do no harm and always put patients before profits.”

Impact of the Pandemic: “It rebooted the industry and created the opportunity to improve our processes and practices. Sustainability has been redefined for us.”

Something People Don’t Know: “I enjoy playing table tennis and soccer, and researching historic events—as history often repeats itself.”

Render the highest quality of care to each patient, exercise benevolence, employ friendly staff, do no harm and always put patients before profits.” – Dr. Kianor Shah

Stacey Rogers

Age: 39
City: North Kingstown, Rhode Island
Name of Practices: Seacoast Family Dental; North Providence Dental Associates
Education: DMD, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine
Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Rogers is the clinical director of a dentist-owned group practice, Plum Dental. She set up all its clinical protocols, is responsible for chart audits, handles recruiting, organizes its continuing-education program and serves as the primary mentor of many of the group’s younger dentists. She also recently completed an advanced course in sleep dentistry.

Tool She Can’t Live Without: “I appreciate the simpler things in life: The flame-shaped finishing bur and composite polishing discs make me happy.”

Exciting New Trend: “Sleep dentistry is coming into its own. It affords dentists the opportunity to change and save lives in a way in which we’re not typically accustomed. It also allows us the opportunity to work with our medical colleagues in a more meaningful manner.”

Sage Advice: “Walk before you run. You don’t have to be a master of all facets of dentistry right out of the gate—or ever, for that matter. Do what you do well, and don’t be scared to show patients your confidence and pride in your work.”

Impact of the Pandemic: “We’ve felt the effects in every facet of the business. What stand out most are the immense challenges our team members have endured—personal medical problems, children who are home and require care and supervision, elderly and compromised family members, financial burdens. In light of those challenges, it’s remarkable to see the strength of so many folks in the face of a challenge. The efforts of our team and the gratitude our patients have shown upon our return have been truly heartwarming.”

Amy Tongsiri

Age: 36
City: Las Vegas, Nevada
Name of Practice: Smile Designers of Las Vegas
Education: DDS, University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine
Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Tongsiri graduated from dental school at age 23 with no idea exactly what she was getting herself into. Thirteen years later, she owns a practice and has taught at her alma mater, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine. Recently, she took a position as dental director for Liberty Dental Plan, a private benefits company, which has enabled her to fight for underserved communities in the Silver State. She educates, trains and partners with other community programs to spread the gospel of oral health.

Why She Became a Dentist: “My mother was a nurse and always encouraged me to get into health care. After shadowing my childhood dentist, I decided I wanted to do the same.”

Exciting New Trend: “Teledentistry—the ability to connect with patients, colleagues, mentors and more. Teledentistry [offers] multiple revenue [streams] that we’re now starting to utilize: access to care, sharing of treatment options and integration into hospital emergency rooms.”

Most Memorable Patient: “My first denture patient in dental school. It was a really long process. I was nervous the whole time, and she was very patient and understanding. The denture turned out perfect, and her smile was priceless!”

Sage Advice “Dentistry has endless opportunities. Try everything and figure out what you like, then become the best in that field.”

“Dentistry has endless opportunities. Try everything and figure out what you like, then become the best in that field.” – Dr. Amy Tongsiri

Matthew Wimmer

Age: 39
City: Centennial, Colorado
Name of Practice: Matthew R. Wimmer DMD
Education: DMD, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Why He Was Nominated: Dr. Wimmer is a technologically advanced, highly progressive dentist. His practice integrates technology: He has two Solea all-tissue lasers, Amann Girrbach milling systems, and has incorporated 3D printing. His work with those, as well as his advanced research into dental technology integration, have helped other doctors get familiar with these important new tools.

Exciting New Trend: “CO2 all-tissue lasers from Solea. Reliable, anesthetic-free dentistry is amazing and has totally changed the way I practice.”

Inspiration: “My wife, Kinsey, and our new daughter, Norah. They are my everything.”
Something People Don’t Know: “I love to race mountain bikes. I’ve competed in a seven-day mountain-bike stage race in Canada, a six-day race in Breckenridge, [Colorado], and have finished the Leadville Trail 100 mountain-bike race [also in Colorado].”

Diana Tadros

Age: 35
City: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Name of Practice: Beauty & the Teeth Dentistry
Education: DDS, University of Tennessee College of Dentistry; AEGD, University of Florida
Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Tadros has done more than 750 hours of courses advancing her skills and has earned Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry and Fellowship in Implantology. She has obtained Accreditation Candidate status of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and is an active member of the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry.

Most Memorable Patient: “My brother. He chipped his tooth and made me do his bonding at home with my dental-school tool kit in our kitchen. That bonding is still standing, and he has yet to pay his bill for my exceptional house call!”

Exciting New Trend: Composite veneers and responsible esthetics. “The less you touch teeth, the better. Prevention is key, and understanding risk assessment and conservative treatment options is a close second.”

Sage Advice: “Do a residency. Dentistry is evolving rapidly—keep going in your pursuit of knowledge.”
Something People Don’t Know: “All the eccentric lip art on my Instagram page is done by me—the makeup, the photography, the modeling and the editing. A hobby that started during quarantine when I couldn’t meet up with my friend or makeup artist for a shoot has really taken off into a full-blown one-woman show.”

“The less you touch teeth, the better. Prevention is key, and understanding risk assessment and conservative treatment options is a close second.” – Dr. Diana Tadros

Abdulla Zoobi

Age: 40
City: Manhattan and Astoria, New York
Name of Practice: Elements Dental of New York
Education: DDS, Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York
Why He Was Nominated Dr. Zoobi has long pursued his dream of building a top dental practice from the ground up. Since dental school, he has grown two dental implant centers operating under the Elements Dental of New York brand, which he founded in 2008. As his patient base burgeoned, Dr. Zoobi saw a market opportunity for affordable implants and studied how best and most efficiently to deliver full-arch reconstructions affordably.

Tool He Can’t Live Without: “My Cone Beam.”

Philosophy: “The best view comes after the hardest climb. Nothing compares to watching that first smile of a happy patient after the final placement. Dentists are blessed not only to help treat their patients, but also share in their joy after they get their dream smile.”

Impact of the Pandemic: “To help my patients, along with the rest of the New Yorkers in need of emergency dental care, our offices remained open on the frontlines throughout. This also helped take the load off and relieve our New York City hospital emergency rooms from dental emergencies.” (Read: “First Person”)

Something People Don’t Know: “I’m an avid poet and philosopher. Being able to slow things down and express my gratitude daily has allowed me to dig deeper for purpose.”

Matthew Sheldon

Age: 35
City: Melbourne, Florida
Name of Practice: Solid Bite
Education: DMD, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine; AEGD, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center at Baylor College of Dentistry

Why He Was Nominated: Dr. Sheldon is a member of the local Spear Study Club and continues to seek out opportunities for continuing education. He gives back through his involvement in the Brevard County Dental Society. His practices employ laser dentistry, CBCT and 3D printing for surgical guides; Solid Bite has been voted Best in Brevard by the readers of the newspaper Florida Today for the past seven years.

Most Memorable Patient: “I saw a terminal cancer patient who just wanted a beautiful smile for her fiftieth high school reunion. It was a memorable week for multiple reasons: My first child was born the day before the procedure, my birthday was the day of the procedure and her reunion was the following day. All went according to plan, and she got her final wish.”

Exciting New Trend: “Laser dentistry has really taken off the past few years. Being able to treat a wide array of esthetic, functional and biological problems with laser therapy is fantastic for patients.”

Sage Advice: “Invest in yourself through great continuing education. Spear Education and the Pankey Institute have helped me gain the knowledge and confidence to treat complex patients.”

Something People Don’t Know: “My family and I love “Survivor.” I auditioned to be on the show last year.”

THE SPECIALISTS

WE’VE LONG OBSERVED that the distinctions between a variety of dental disciplines—endodontics, prosthodontics, orthodontics, you name it—aren’t something the lay patient ever really considers until he or she finds him- or herself in need of special treatment.

Who better to call for special treatment, naturally, than a specialist? The 40 talented professionals profiled throughout the pages to follow are some of the country’s best practitioners of their chosen skill, adding layers of panache atop the core medical and scientific knowledge they’ve worked so hard for so long to acquire. Read their stories, marvel at their aptitude and discipline . . . and by all means be glad they’re there when a patient comes calling. One day, after all, that needy patient just might be you.

Rose J. Amable

Age: 38
City: Ardsley, New York
Specialty: Pediatric dentistry
Name of Practice: Ardsley Family Dental
Education: DDS and board-certified pediatric dentist, New York University College of Dentistry

Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Amable is a board-certified pediatric dentist, a clinical assistant professor at New York University College of Dentistry, the founder and director of the pipeline initiative “Bringing Smiles Enrichment Program” and the owner of Ardsley Family Dental.

Most Memorable Patient: “An 8-year-old boy with ectodermal dysplasia who was really struggling with bullying at school because of his missing teeth. After the completion of his treatment, he looked at his new smile—with acrylic partial dentures—in the mirror and started to jump on the dental chair out of happiness. He was full of life and energy! My heart couldn’t have been happier for him, his mom and his new smile.”

Biggest Challenge: “Trying to balance my time between my private practice, my duties as a clinical professor, my responsibilities as a program director and mentor, and my most important role: being a wife and a mom to my three children.”

Impact of the Pandemic: “My husband and I were about to open our startup practice in the middle of March. We took advantage of the time off to work on the efficient systems for the office and safety protocols for our patients and staff. We started seeing our first patients on June 1.”

“It’s a challenge to balance my time between my private practice, my duties as a clinical professor, my responsibilities as a director and mentor and, most importantly, being a wife and a mom to my three children.” – Dr. Rose J. Amable

Femme Ambrosio

Age: 39
City: San Diego, California
Specialty: Pediatric dentistry
Name of Practice: Elite Pediatric Dentistry
Education: DDS, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Ambrosio’s boutique practice allows her to spend time with her patients and their parents to provide the best possible care. Her practice includes child-size digital radiographs, computer-controlled single-tooth anesthesia units and overhead flat-screen monitors to keep children distracted and entertained.

Why She Became a Dentist: “It offered me the possibility of balancing family and career. Pediatrics specifically, because working with kids is so fun.”

Most Memorable Patient: “I’ve seen young patients experience the challenges of life, like the death of a parent, cancer and divorce. Parents come to me to brush their child’s teeth, but when a personal relationship is built with the family based on trust, it’s truly humbling.”

Tool She Can’t Live Without: “Loupes. Don’t know how I worked without them.”
Impact of the Pandemic “The greatest change is my outlook. Before, it was easy to get caught up in the grind. I’m more grateful to come to work every day and serve patients. This pandemic, although challenging, has brought to light what is most important in my life.”

Eva Anadioti

Age: 34
City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Specialty: Prosthodontics
Name of Practice: Penn Dental, Family Practice at Locust Walk
Education: DMD, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine; prosthodontics, University of Iowa

Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Anadioti is a clinical assistant professor of restorative dentistry and the founding director of the prostho­dontics residency program at the University of Pennsylvania. She became a diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics at just 27 years old. She was also awarded first place at the American College of Prosthodontics’ John J. Sharry Research Competition in 2013 for the project she did for her master’s degree.

Exciting New Trend: “The overall transformation to digital dentistry and the advent of dental microscopy in prosthodontics.”

Sage Advice: “This is a great time to be a dentist, as our field is becoming digital. Stay open-minded, adopt new technology and look for scientific evidence to help patients improve their quality of life.”

Impact of the Pandemic: “My practice closed for several months to ensure everyone’s safety while we were working on implementing appropriate changes. Now that we’re back open, I’m thrilled to see my patients—from behind an N95 mask and shield!”

Milad Azadi

Age: 39
City: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Specialty: Endodontics
Name of Practice: Chester County Endodontics
Education: DMD, Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry
Why He Was Nominated: After many years of endodontic clinical experience, Dr. Azadi is the new owner of Chester County Endodontics. He was director of the emergency department at Temple’s dental school, where he also served as president of the Endodontology Society.

Why He Became a Dentist: “I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands to fix things like cars and household items. Dentistry gave me the opportunity to apply that skill to patient interactions along with the ability to become a practice owner.”

Biggest Challenge: “Managing the different roles of a practice owner, whether being up to date on new techniques and technology or ensuring we maintain the best staff. Both are crucial to building a successful practice.”

Exciting New Trend: “The use of CBCT 3D imaging, which has greatly enhanced our ability to diagnose and treat patients while achieving more predictable favorable outcomes.”

Something People Don’t Know: “I have a passion for cars. I love working on them so much that I attended night trade school during my undergrad years to become a certified mechanic.”

Brooke Berson

Age: 33
City: Mullica Hill, New Jersey
Specialty: Endodontics
Name of Practice: Pure Endodontics

Education: Postgraduate/endodontic certificate, Nova Southeastern University

Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Berson followed in the footsteps of her father and grandfather by becoming a dentist. She is a diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics and a board-certified endodontist—one of only a few women in her region to be so certified. Her husband, Dr. Chad Rebhun, is also a dentist—one of 11 in their family.

Why She Became a Dentist: “I grew up going to my dad’s dental office in Philadelphia. During his breaks, he would take me out for donuts and then to get my nails done. I thought being a dentist was awesome! I later learned that beyond donuts and manicures, dentistry was an incredible opportunity to help people. My dad opened my eyes to this wonderful chance to combine my love of art and entrepreneurship with an ability to take people’s pain away.”

Most Memorable Patient: “While I was in residency in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, I had a patient come in for a root canal. He casually asked me if I happened to know a Dr. Frank Berson from Newton, Massachusetts. I responded, ‘Of course I do—that’s my grandfather!’ It was remarkable to treat the same patient that my Pop Pop had treated 40 years earlier.”

Exciting New Trend: “Dynamic 3D-guided endodontics. We’ve known for a while now that 3D imaging has an incredible ability to help us diagnose and treat teeth endodontically. It’s astonishing to see what we can do with its assistance.”

Something People Don’t Know: “I’m an avid self-taught baker. I bake elaborate custom cakes, and I even baked my own four-tier wedding cake.”

Anita Bhavnani

Age: 35
City: Yorba Linda, California
Specialty: Orthodontics
Name of Practice: Sorenson & Bhavnani Orthodontics
Education: DMD, Case Western Reserve University Dental School; orthodontic residency, Saint Louis University

Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Bhavnani believes in classic orthodontics that will remain stable for a lifetime. Her office is completely digital, with 3D CBCT X-ray units and iTero scanners. She’s also trained to provide InBrace, a behind-the-teeth straightening device.

Why She Became a Dentist: “I knew that I wanted to become an orthodontist when I was 12 years old. I love that it is my job to give patients, who didn’t have it before, the confidence to smile.”

Tool She Can’t Live Without: “A good old-fashioned bird beak—a tool used to detail the orthodontic wire which then, in turn, details the tooth position.”

Impact of the Pandemic: “Other than the obvious financial loss, I would say it has brought my team closer together. We appreciate each other and support each other more than ever.”

Daniel Bienstock

Age: 34
Cities: Oceanside and Bellmore, New York
Specialty: Oral and maxillofacial surgery
Name of Practice: Dental365
Education: DMD, Harvard University School of Dental Medicine; MD, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Why He Was Nominated: Dr. Bienstock is an accomplished, board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon with both dental and medical degrees. Fluent in Spanish, he developed the Spanish Language Oral Health Outreach Program while at Harvard. He was also one of the first to recognize that a diagonal earlobe crease is associated with carotid atheromas seen on CBCT imaging.

Why He Became a Dentist: “I love how dentistry combines elements of both art and science, and oral surgery is at the crossroads of medicine and dentistry. It’s no wonder that in my fifth-grade yearbook, my greatest ambition was listed as ‘dentist.’ ”

Most Memorable Patient: “While on a clinical rotation in medical school, I was called to evaluate a woman in the emergency department who had been coughing up blood. At first glance, many of the physicians had attributed this to a pulmonary issue. After a thorough physical examination, I noticed a large bleeding palatal tumor. I then went on to biopsy and care for this patient. As a dentist, I brought a fresh pair of eyes with a unique perspective.”

Exciting New Trend: “Digital full-arch implant therapy.”

Tool He Can’t Live Without: “CBCT. It has substantially enhanced how I diagnose and treat my patients. Plus, patients love that the unit plays Beethoven’s ‘Für Elise’ as it circles their head.”

Aaron Bloom

Age: 38
City: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
Specialty: Pediatric dentistry
Name of Practice: Seaside Pediatric Dental Associates
Education: DDS, West Virginia University School of Dentistry
Why He Was Nominated: Dr. Bloom practiced as a general dentist for seven years before deciding to do a residency in pediatrics. His practice (where he works with Dr. Matt Tillman) offers in-office conscious sedation and hospital dentistry.

Most Memorable Patient: “One who was going through treatments for leukemia has been a complete 180 from when I first met him. He was extremely scared of any treatment and now is one of my best patients—and cancer-free!”

Biggest Challenge: “Getting parents to realize the importance of oral hygiene and diet for their children. A lot have the philosophy that ‘they’re just baby teeth.’ ”

Philosophy: “First, address the psychology of getting treatment for kids; then address the actual treatment. This is something [children] never been through before, and every child is different.”

Something People Don’t Know: “I’m slightly obsessed with music by Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen. Basically all I need to listen to.”

Rachel Bresler

Age: 37
City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Specialty: Pediatric dentistry
Name of Practice: Doc Bresler’s Cavity Busters
Education: DMD, Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry; certificate in pediatric dentistry, Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital

Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Bresler works alongside her sister-in-law, Dr. Tracey Bresler (next dentist), at Doc Bresler’s Cavity Busters, founded in 1982 by the late David A. Bresler (Rachel’s father) and now run by his children and daughters-in-law. The practice has grown to eight locations, 45 dentists and 250 staff. The group also owns and operates Red Lion Surgicenter, the nation’s first free-standing ambulatory surgery center dedicated exclusively to dental procedures.

Why She Became a Dentist: “When I was in high school and assisting my father in the office, I fell in love with the fact that dentistry was its own language. I loved that I could discuss cases with my dad or any dentist in the world, and they would know exactly what I was talking about. Pediatric dentistry is the perfect combination of psychology, education and goofiness—everything I wanted in a career.”

Most Memorable Patient: “In my first week of residency, I was called for a consultation for a newborn with a cleft lip/cleft palate. I met with the family every week for the first few months to help with nasoalveolar molding. I was in the O.R. when the child had his first surgery, and although they live in Cleveland, years later, I’m still in touch with the parents.”

Inspiration: “My relationship with my two brothers. All three of us are pediatric dentists, and we work together in our practice every day.”

Impact of the Pandemic: “We’re drinking a lot more water to keep up with the sweat from all the new PPE.”

“When I was in high school and assisting my father in the office, I fell in love with the fact that dentistry was its own language. I loved that I could discuss cases with my dad or any dentist in the world, and they would know exactly what I was talking about. Pediatric dentistry is the perfect combination of psychology, education and goofiness—everything I wanted in a career.” – Dr. Rachel Bresler

Tracey Heiken Bresler

Age: 38
City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Specialty: Pediatric dentistry
Name of Practice: Doc Bresler’s Cavity Busters
Education: DMD, Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine
Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Bresler has been a practicing pediatric dentist for 10 years. Over the last 38 years, her practice (founded by her late father-in-law) has become one of the largest children’s dental practices in Pennsylvania.

Why She Became a Dentist: “I always knew I wanted to work with children. In college, I had a friend who encouraged me to join the pre-dental club, and through various club activities and presentations, I knew this was a perfect opportunity for me.”

Impact of the Pandemic: “We’ve developed new protocols for PPE use, aerosol management, schedule management with social-distancing considerations and physical-plant engineering to help mitigate the spread of Covid-19.”

Something People Don’t Know: “You can take the girl out of Miami, but you can’t take Miami out of the girl.”

Christian Cabello

Age: 38
City: Laredo, Texas
Specialty: Pediatric dentistry
Name of Practice: Dr. CC’s Tooth Factory
Education: DDS, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Cabello stays current with dental advances and keeps her office tech up to date. She’s a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and sits on the board of the Laredo Border Olympics, Laredo Dental District Society, the Texas Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and on the membership council of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

Why She Became a Dentist: “I love the relationships you build in the chair. It’s so beautiful to see children grow up and live out their journey.”

Biggest Challenge: “Resetting after a parent who finds it difficult to trust and comply with our safety recommendations.”

Exciting New Trend: “The Icon treatment and laser frenectomy.”
Impact of the Pandemic: “It has made our days longer but the team stronger and more grounded. Now, the trust and confidence our [patients’] parents have in us is evident more than ever. For that, we’re most grateful.”

Matthew Dahar

Age: 38
City: Simpsonville, South Carolina
Specialty: Pediatric dentistry
Name of Practice: Smile Place — A Pediatric Dentist
Education: DMD, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health; pediatric dental residency, Medical University of South Carolina

Why He Was Nominated: This year, Dr. Dahar opened a pediatric practice alongside Dr. Leanna Shetler, but the business partnership was decades in the works: The duo’s fathers played football together at the University of Pittsburgh and were later together in their orthodontic residencies. Dr. Dahar, who lost his mother to cancer while he was a freshman in college, has dedicated his life’s work in her honor and spearheaded a partnership between Smile Place and Clement’s Kindness, a local pediatric-cancer organization.

Why He Became a Dentist: “My father was a big inspiration, but I found my niche in pediatric dentistry through my mentor in dental school, Dr. Joseph Creech. He’s the director of pediatric dentistry at ASDOH, and the Michael Jordan of pediatric dentistry. He has all the tools you need to be the best: a kind heart, exceptional clinical skills, patience and a calming, fun presence. I am eternally thankful for all his guidance along the way and strive to make an impact in my community the same way he was able to.”

Something People Don’t Know: “During my senior year of undergrad, I was able to travel the world via a Semester at Sea. During that trip, our ship hit a bad storm. A 60-foot-wave took out the captain’s deck window, and all power was lost. We were told that had another wave like that hit, we would have capsized. I took that as a sign that you need to live each day to the fullest.”

Lou Forrester

Age: 34
City: Marlton, New Jersey
Specialty: Periodontics
Names of Practices: Atlantic Periodontics; Silver Periodontics
Education: DMD, Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry; periodontal certificate and master’s, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

Why He Was Nominated: When it comes to treating someone’s gums and teeth, sometimes less is more, Dr. Forrester says. The New Jersey native brings a comprehensive philosophy to his hometown practices and invests in minimally invasive techniques to ensure patients’ comfort. In his free time, he pays his education and experience forward by teaching other local dentists implant-placement techniques.

Philosophy: “To provide every patient with minimally invasive treatment options to enhance their smile, confidence and function.”

Something People Don’t Know: “I’m a competitive powerlifter and have placed in national competitions for my weight class. I love to work out and am always happy to show someone the ropes in the gym.”

Julee Gil

Age: 35
City: Macungie, Pennsylvania
Specialty: Endodontics
Names of Practices: Silvaggio Endodontics; Hamilton Dental Designs
Education: DMD, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine; certificate in endodontics, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Gil, a diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics, loves learning how the latest tech tools can enhance her practice. She ensures that Silvaggio Endodontics and Hamilton Dental Designs has state-of-the-art endodontic equipment and uses CBCT imaging to more accurately diagnose patients, navigate calcified or atypical anatomies and more precisely perform surgeries. She has been performing regenerative procedures since her residency.

Why She Became a Dentist: “My father. He came to my grade school for a career day to talk about his job as a dentist. His presentation excited me, and I ended up attending his alma mater for dental school.”

Most Memorable Patient: “One of the last patients assigned to me in dental school was a college-age man who suffered a severe mental breakdown and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He had mutilated his teeth, exposing almost all the nerves. I had been seriously considering specializing in endodontics, but having to perform so many root canals—on every type of tooth in the mouth—I was able to more confidently make the decision. It was one of the most satisfying cases I’ve ever had, and it cemented my career path.”

Exciting New Trend: Guided navigation. “I’ve had opportunities in the past to witness medical surgeries performed using robotics, and I think guided navigation is the first move in that direction in dentistry.”

Cameron Howard

Age: 37
City: Milton, Georgia
Specialty: Endodontics
Name of Practice: Pinnacle Endodontics
Education: DMD, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry
Why He Was Nominated: Dr. Howard is a board-certified endodontist, a distinction fewer than 10 percent of endodontists achieve, and in just five years has built his practice from scratch to two locations, two doctors and a dozen employees. He has been published in many peer-reviewed digests, including the Journal of Endodontics, and volunteers his time to teach fourth-year dental students and general-practice residents at the Ben Massell Dental Clinic in Atlanta. He has also made mission trips to Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico and Honduras.

Why He Became a Dentist: Dr. Howard delights in relieving patients’ pain and helping them resume the most basic daily acti­vities—eating, sleeping, talking—free of discomfort.

Sage Advice: “Stay humble, continue to be a lifelong learner, realize that you’re only as good as the team around you—front team and assistants alike—and that God has given you a special gift of dental abilities, so use them to your best.”

Stay humble, continue to be a lifelong learner, realize that you’re only as good as the team around you—your front team and assistants alike—and that God has given you a special gift of dental abilities, so use them to your best.” – Dr. Cameron Howard

Jarod Johnson

Age: 33
City: Muscatine, Iowa
Specialty: Pediatric dentistry
Name of Practice: Arctic Dental
Education: DDS, the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics; certificate in pediatric dentistry from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine

Why He Was Nominated: For his deep commitment to his 23,000-strong Iowa town, and for the fact that his influence in pediatric dentistry stretches well beyond state lines. Dr. Johnson has lectured across the country on innovative ways to treat minors and underserved children, with an eye toward avoiding invasive and traumatic procedures. He has also produced continuing-education coursework for Viva Learning, Dentaltown and Sprig Oral Health Technologies, and is an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry.

Exciting New Trend: “The Hall Technique, or placement of stainless-steel crowns on primary teeth without the use of local anesthesia or drilling. I see it as a great opportunity for children who may be anxious or who are underserved. The placement of the crowns is quick and easy, and can be done at a recall appointment. This can save a family a second visit and open up operatory space for a child who has more extensive needs.”

Sage Advice: “Dental school is only the start of your professional education. Make a commitment to be a lifelong learner in the profession. Seek continuously to improve your education and skills.”

Erin Isaac

Age: 34
City: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Specialty: Pediatric dentistry
Name of Practice: Winning Smiles Pediatric Dental Care
Education: DMD, University of Penn­sylvania School of Dental Medicine
Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Issac didn’t always plan to work with youngsters, but as she’ll tell you, “once I get an idea, I go full-force.” She chose the pediatric route by process of elimination and now brings a special brand of warmth and thoughtfulness into her practice: extra-long appointment times, remembering fun facts about every kid and family and a mellow, cozy office setup and vibe that often prompts young patients to ask if she lives there. She also treats special-needs kids, and (pre-Covid, at any rate) sometimes made house calls.

Why She Became a Dentist: “I wanted to become a veterinarian, but when that didn’t work out, several family members who are dentists—who knew my scientific nature and that I liked to work with my hands—directed me toward dentistry. I ended up loving it.”

Philosophy: “Every visit should be positive. There might be a few tears, but as long as we made progress from our last visit, I consider that a win. I always make sure we say ‘great job’ to each kiddo.”

Something People Don’t Know: “I do some part-time modeling, including runway. I appreciate that parents—especially those who have young girls—can show them a three-dimensional role model. You can do this and that.”

Andi Igowsky

Age: 40
City: Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Specialty: Pediatric dentistry
Name of Practice: Just Kids Dental SC
Education: DDS, Marquette University School of Dentistry
Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Igowsky has placed more than 3,000 pediatric zirconia crowns and has traveled the world lecturing on a variety of topics critical to innovative dentistry. She’s involved in several hospital craniofacial, oncology and special-needs teams and helps run the nonprofit children’s group CustomFit. Despite the challenges this year has brought, Dr. Igowsky’s 18-year-old practice had its highest-ever production this June.

Why She Became a Dentist: Dr. Igowsky followed in the footsteps of her sister, a pediatric dentist who is seven years her senior. She joined her sister in 2010; together, the two have steadily built the practice into what it is today.

Tool She Can’t Live Without: Single-tooth anesthesia. “The Wand,” as it’s known, enables her to give a pain-free injection to her young patients.

Impact of the Pandemic: “I never could have imagined living and working through a pandemic. I did my best to be open and honest with my staff from the beginning. That meant sharing my worries and fears as well as trying to stay positive.”

Joo Kim

Age: 39
City: Syosset, New York
Specialty: Periodontics
Name of Practice: South Shore Long Island Periodontics & Implantology
Education: DDS, New York University College of Dentistry; certificate in periodontics and implantology, Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine

Why He Was Nominated: Dr. Kim’s devotion to continuing education and a mastery of the latest technologies is intrinsic to his commitment to provide supreme patient care. He brings expert knowledge of digital dentistry to the practice, and for the past four years has also regularly lectured dental students throughout the region about periodontics and implantology.

Tool He Can’t Live Without: “It has to be a periodontal probe in a literal sense. But more importantly, compassion and patience. Every patient is a human being with unique frailties and concerns.”

Sage Advice: “Work with your colleagues. Don’t try to do everything yourself. Don’t think of your colleagues as your competitors; instead, build mutually beneficial relationships.”

Impact of the Pandemic: “I certainly didn’t expect to experience a pandemic in my lifetime. Anything and everything can happen. It has taught me to be more adaptable and resilient. As dentists, we should be more proud than ever to be health-care providers during this most challenging time.”

Jeremy Kay

Age: 34
City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Specialty: Prosthodontics
Name of Practice: The Dental Spa
Education: DMD, University of 
Pennsylvania School of Dental 
Medicine; advanced education in 
prosthodontics, New York University

Why He Was Nominated: Some examples of oral trauma or dental deterioration are so complex that you need someone like Dr. Kay on the case. A recognized leader in complicated high-end restorations, dental implants and cosmetic dentistry, he’s a truly dedicated professional. Having been influenced by his own mentors, Dr. 
Kay now delights in teaching the next 
generation of dentists as a clinical instructor at his alma mater, the 
University of Pennsylvania.

Exciting New Trend: “Natural 
esthetic dentistry. I tell patients, 
‘if you can tell what I’ve done, then 
I haven’t done my job.’ ”

Philosophy: “It’s twofold. One: Dentistry is more philosophical than technical. All dentists are trained to use their hands to help patients, but what gets lost is how to think mechanically and efficiently problem-solve to help move the profession forward. Two: As my mentors taught me, if I’m not happy with something, ‘go outside, take a breath, and do it again.’ Too often, 
as owners we have to think about 
the bottom line, but if it is at the 
cost of quality and something can 
be improved, I try to uphold myself 
to this standard, which my patients 
can respect and understand.”

Mary Kang

Age: 39
City: New York, New York
Specialty: Biomimetic dentistry, prosthodontics and maxillofacial prothodontics
Name of Practice: Dr. Mary Kang, DDS
Education: DDS and postgraduate prosthodontics, New York University College of Dentistry; general practice residency, Flushing Hospital Medical Center; fellowship in maxillofacial prosthetics, University of California Los Angeles; fellowship in oncologic-based maxillofacial implants, the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Kang vividly remembers her father, a heavy smoker, losing teeth at the dinner table—an experience that would lead her not only to dental school, but to an oncologic-based maxillofacial implant fellowship program that would enable her to help people with head and neck deformities due to trauma or cancer. Her subspecialty is rehabilitating these patients by fabricating prostheses with the use of implants. She’s also a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry at New York University.

Exciting New Trend: “It’s not necessarily the trendiest aspect of dentistry, but I love fabricating removable prostheses. And with implants nowadays, there are many different ways to design for an implant over-denture.”

Philosophy: “If you want to be in this profession, you need to be able to serve others. I always tell my students: ‘patients first!’ ”

Sage Advice: “Learn something every day. Keep an open mind and work with as many faculties as you can, because you can always learn something from someone.”

Tool She Can’t Live Without: “The Maty Retractor. It’s extremely helpful for taking intraoral photos and making impressions. Making great impressions is important, and this helps me get the job done predictably and consistently.”

Roberto Loar

Age: 38
City: Austin, Texas
Specialty: Pediatric dentistry
Name of Practice: Stevenson’s Dental Ark
Education: DDS, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Why He Was Nominated: Dr. Loar has always been passionate about science, and a childhood trip to his mother’s home countries of Eritrea and Ethiopia put him on a path toward volunteerism, particularly treating children’s teeth. He says the experience forever made him aware that the comforts he had as an American were not shared by others in many countries.

Philosophy: “Everyone wants to be heard, and taking extra time [to listen] makes a huge difference.”

Impact of the Pandemic: Covid-19 led to the cancellation of all of Dr. Loar’s pending volunteer events, including five international oral-health missions. “I’ve participated in over 40 volunteer events, and in the past four years I’ve done 22 volunteer trips to 12 countries. [The pandemic] hasn’t all been bad, though. It has definitely forced me to be still and reflect.”

Something People Don’t Know: “I wrote a children’s book called ‘Sugar Bugs.’ It’s basically my oral-hygiene instructions in story form. I wrote it with the hope that maybe it would get into the hands of kids who would otherwise never have heard the basics of why we get cavities and how to prevent them. I always carry a couple of copies to give out while I’m traveling.”

Erick Lund

Age: 38
Cities: Providence and South Jordan, Utah
Specialty: Orthodontics
Name of Practice: Lund Ortho
Education: DMD, Midwestern University; one-year advanced education in general dentistry residency at Fort Jackson, South Carolina; orthodontic residency at the University of Louisville

Why He Was Nominated: A decorated U.S. Army veteran, Dr. Lund served as a combat soldier, dentist and orthodontist with the Army Dental Corps over 20 years of service. He has maintained an ironclad work ethic despite battlefield injuries including the amputation of his left foot. Now retired from the military, he runs two orthodontic practices in Utah and works with a nearby pediatric practice.

Philosophy: “My practice and business model are built on the idea of personalizing the orthodontic experience. I treat only one patient at a time, and I don’t delegate any of the work to assistants. I can then guarantee that the work is professionally perfect.”

Sage Advice: “Don’t compare your beginnings with someone else’s middle and end. We all have to work for what we have. Live below your means so you can honestly provide the care your patients deserve.”

Something People Don’t Know: “I have a Purple Heart from my days as a combat soldier in the Army.”

Casey Lynn

Age: 34
City: Apollo Beach, Florida
Specialty: Pediatric dentistry
Name of Practice: smileLYNN Pediatric Dentistry
Education: DMD, Nova Southeastern University
Why He Was Nominated: Dr. Lynn scored in the top 3 percent of pediatric dentists who took the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry qualifying exam in 2018, and he now works with lactation consultants and pediatricians to treat, among other things, tongue and lip ties in infants. He also works on the craniofacial team at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, treating children born with cleft lips and palates.

Tool He Can’t Live Without: “My LightScalpel CO2 laser. I do a lot of infant and adolescent tongue- and lip-tie releases. Last year I upgraded from a diode laser to the CO2, and it has been a game changer.”

Exciting New Trend: “The fact that more providers are becoming aware of how the airway affects every aspect of patients’ lives. As a tongue-tie provider, I find so many children who have issues sleeping, eating and talking. The airway plays a huge role in all these things, and the more doctors understand and learn about it, the more patients we can help.”

Biggest Challenge: “Not getting into dental school the first time I tried out of undergrad. I was young and naive. [The rejection] made me who I am today. I reprioritized my life, did a medical master’s and reapplied to dental school.”

Something People Don’t Know: “I love hard rock and metal music.”

Shawn Lynn

Age: 40
City: Livingston, New Jersey
Specialty: Oral and maxillofacial surgery
Name of Practice: Riverside Oral Surgery
Education: DDS, New York University College of Dentistry
Why He Was Nominated: Dr. Lynn (no relation to Dr. Casey Lynn) is the lead surgeon at one of Riverside Oral Surgery’s newest locations, and he sees his patients through wisdom-teeth removal, facial reconstructive surgery and much more with warmth and a smile. “Nobody ever wants to
have to be in my chair, but we’re going to make it the best experience that it can be,” he says.

Tool He Can’t Live Without: KLS Bien Air Surgical Handpiece. “It does it all.”
Exciting New Trend: Digital workflow. “The idea that with technology we can replace teeth and restore smiles so rapidly is revolutionary.”

Inspiration: His childhood orthodontist, Dr. Donald Bronsky. “I was a patient at a very young age and spent several years [in treatment]. Dr. Bronsky’s passion for his work and his constant positive energy inspired me to choose a career in dentistry.”

Valerie Martins

Age: 39
City: Beverly, Massachusetts
Specialty: Periodontics
Name of Practice: 
Martins Dental Partners
Education: DMD, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Why She Was Nominated: 
Dr. Martins is the rare periodontist who owns her own general practice, making it possible for to treat and consult on every patient’s case, from a routine extraction to full-mouth rehabilitation. To complement her surgical skills, Dr. Martins’s 11-person team includes two general dentists, hygienists, assistants and 
a stellar administrative team. She also works closely with an anesthesiologist to provide sedation options for her patients.

Tool She Can’t Live Without: CBCT. “I use 3D technology for my implant placement. [CBCT] is not a crutch, but I do enjoy that I invested in that piece of technology.”

Impact of the Pandemic: 
The pandemic provided Dr. Martins and her team time to regroup and make changes to their systems and protocols. 
She is excited to start her maternity leave this autumn secure in the knowledge that her team is able to continue to provide an exceptional patient experience.

Ngozi Okoh

Age: 34
City: East Norriton, Pennsylvania
Name of Practice: Farm Park Pediatric Dentistry
Education: DMD, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Okoh spent the early part of her career treating young patients in inner cities—first as a scholar in the National Health Service Corps and later as a pediatric dental director at Greater Philadelphia Health Action, the city’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center. Last summer, she opened her own practice in a northern suburb of Philly, where she continues to treat patients and families with her compassionate approach.

Why She Became a Dentist: Dr. Okoh grew up in Brooklyn, the oldest of four children of Nigerian parents who both passed away before she was 11. While she was a student at Columbia College, a friend took her to visit her mother at work, and Dr. Okoh witnessed what it was like to be a pediatric dentist. “I grew up in the inner city, went to community health clinics, didn’t always live in the nicest places. And it just really resonated with me that this woman, who was also Nigerian, had this office, and was helping people and having this autonomy—it was very appealing.”

Something People Don’t Know: Dr. Okoh is a YouTuber and vlogger who shares her journey of healthy African-American hair and fashion with her followers.

Shreena Patel

Age: 39
City: Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Specialty: Orthodontics
Name of Practice: Beaches Orthodontics
Education: DMD, University of Florida College of Dentistry
Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Patel runs a high-energy, high-tech ortho practice near Jacksonville. It has a coffee bar, as well as a gaming room with an Xbox and PlayStation, plus iPads to distract and entertain kids during treatment.

Inspiration: Her mother, a general dentist for more than 40 years. “I remember so many times our mom would go in on weekends to care for a patient in pain, and I would assist her when I was old enough. Her bedside manner, her ethics and the quality of her work were inspirational.” Both Dr. Patel and her sister followed their mother into dentistry.

Tool She Can’t Live Without: “My tweed. I use it to put detailing bends in the wire near the end of treatment; I enjoy fine-tuning and perfecting the smile.”

Exciting New Trend: “Teledentistry and virtual consults and check-ins,” says Dr. Patel, who, like many dental professionals, could see patients only remotely during the first few months of the pandemic. “We did new-patient exams, and checked current braces patients and clear-aligner patients [so they] could continue their treatment without delays.”

Something People Don’t Know: Despite the beach-and-surf theme of her practice, Dr. Patel can’t swim. “But I can doggy-paddle with the best of them!”

I remember so many times our mom would go in on weekends to care for a patient in pain, and I would assist her when I was old enough. Her bedside manner, her ethics and the quality of her work were inspirational.” – Dr. Shreena Patel

Robert Peterman

Age: 34
Cities: Somerville and Hillsborough, New Jersey
Specialty: Orthodontics
Name of Practice: Somerset Orthodontic Specialists
Education: DMD, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
Why He Was Nominated: Dr. Peterman runs two all-digital orthodontic practices in New Jersey, including a modern-day home dental office in which he lives with his wife and three children. In under five years, he has become perhaps the top orthodontist in his area.

Biggest Challenge, Sage Advice: “Student debt is the biggest challenge I faced in my early years of practice. It can be scary to invest and upgrade certain aspects of your practice when you have just gotten on your feet financially. However, you can do it. Your practice will grow, and you’ll be successful with smart choices that help you become a better clinician and improve your patient care.”

Tool He Can’t Live Without: “My iTero Element Scanner and 3D printer—these two pieces of technology have completely changed my practice, allowing for a fully digital workflow. We use them all day, every day for records, aligners, retainer fabrication and indirect bonding of brackets.”

Philosophy: Communication is key. “Patients and parents know when you’re passionate about your work. This comes out in the excitement of explaining the possibilities of treatment and being able to deliver.”

Noel Rodriguez

Age: 40
City: Jacksonville, Florida
Specialty: Prosthodontics
Name of Practice: Jacksonville Center for Prosthodontics & Implant Dentistry
Education: DMD, University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine; prosthodontics, Naval Postgraduate Dental School, Bethesda, Maryland

Why He Was Nominated: A clinical and materials expert, Dr. Rodriguez frequently treats patients who are undergoing cancer or reconstructive treatments. A U.S. Navy veteran, he established and led that branch’s prosthodontics division and laboratory at its air station in Jacksonville.

Favorite Aspect of Dentistry: “The satisfaction of returning a smile to someone or helping the patient to live and eat better, knowing this will increase the patient’s confidence in daily life.”

Sage Advice: “Show great respect and always offer the best care you have.”
Something People Don’t Know: An accomplished practitioner of taekwondo, Rodriguez won the title of Southeast District Champion at the USA Sparring Competition in 2016.

The satisfaction of returning a smile to someone or helping a patient to live and eat better, knowing that this will increase the patient’s confidence, is my favorite aspect of dentistry.” – Dr. Noel Rodriguez

Aaron Scheps

Age: 36
City: Lakeland, Florida
Specialty: Pediatric dentistry
Name of Practice: Lakeland Pediatric Dentistry, Dentistry for Children
Education: DDS, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
Why He Was Nominated: Dr. Scheps might be the youngest board-certified pediatric dentist in Lakeland, but that hasn’t stopped him from innovating new ways to approach the discipline. After years as a general dentist, he decided to specialize in pediatric dentistry to provide the highest level of care possible to children, especially those with special needs.

Philosophy: “Treat everyone like you would want to be treated and strive each day to be better than you were the day before.

Impact of the Pandemic: “So much of what we do is based around a warm, friendly environment, facial expression and human touch. It’s hard to convey warmth through hairnets, glasses and face shields, two masks and a gown. The ‘fun scale’ of our practice has also taken a nosedive, since kids can’t play in the video game room, read books or congregate in the movie room, which they were once accustomed to doing. Despite all that, kids are some of the most resilient humans on earth, and it amazes me every day how well they adapt.”

Something People Don’t Know: Dr. Scheps has an extensive fancy sock collection to cover most occasions and has played hockey in seven countries.

Amit Shah

Age: 39
City: Huntington Beach, California
Specialty: Pediatric dentistry
Name of Practice: Beach House Pediatric Dentistry
Education: DDS, University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry
Why He Was Nominated: A Southern California native, Dr. Shah began his career giving back to the community by treating the underserved at Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County. He then pursued his dream of owning his own practice, and he now capitalizes on his love of design and technology. He teaches and mentors pediatric-dental residents at the University of Southern California’s Division of Pediatric Dentistry and the Western University College of Dental Medicine.

Why He Became a Dentist: “I like using my hands, being creative and making children and parents feel comfortable in an environment that can be stressful. It’s awesome that so many kids ask their parents to come back to my office so soon.”

Tool He Can’t Live Without: “DryShield, nitrous oxide and TVs on the ceiling. Outside of clinical materials and tools, the extensive development of different software for dental practices, from submitting claims to communicating with patients, even from our phones, makes everything more efficient.”

Sage Advice: “The hard work never ends; it just changes. You will always be learning—and five or 10 years out, you’ll be impressed by where you are from where you started.”

Raj Shenoy

Age: 36
City: Austin, Texas
Specialty: Endodontics
Name of Practice: Lonestar Endodontic Associates
Education: DDS, West Virginia University School of Dentistry
Why He Was Nominated: After six years as a restorative general dentist, Dr. Shenoy chose to specialize in endo­dontics. He now works at one of the most respected endodontic specialty practices in the Texas capital.

Tool He Can’t Live Without: The operating Microscope, CBCT and the Gentlewave procedure. “I use the Microscope from start to finish on all root-canal treatments and even for consultations. The CBCT has changed the way we practice. We diagnose teeth extremely effectively and provide patients better outcomes. It’s a great educational tool. The Gentlewave employs multisonic technology to disinfect the inside of the tooth, getting irrigating solutions into areas we previously couldn’t reach.”

Impact of the Pandemic: “We are at about 70 percent of normal [patient volume]. We worked through most of the shutdown, seeing emergency patients only.”

Something People Don’t Know: “When I retire, I want to work at Costco giving out samples. The good samples, not the healthy ones.”

Leanna Shetler

Age: 34
City: Simpsonville, South Carolina
Specialty: Pediatric dentistry
Name of Practice: Smile Place— A Pediatric Dentist
Education: DMD, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Shetler runs two South Carolina pediatric practices with her childhood best friend and co-owner, Dr. Matt Dahar. They’re lifelong friends who have the dental gene in their blood, thanks to their dads, who both played college football and completed their dental residencies together.

Tool She Can’t Live Without: Her dental assistants. “My team makes me a better dentist than I ever thought I could be. They make me look good every day.”

Exciting New Trend: “The blend of medical and dental is exciting and important. Having a child’s dentist and pediatrician work closely together gives a parent a sense of support and reassurance. From toddlers with failure to thrive to adolescents at high risk for obesity, we’re able to show the systemic importance of dental care and disease prevention.”

Impact of the Pandemic: Dr. Shetler’s first two employees began in January, taking calls and scheduling patients from her dining room in preparation for their office’s February opening. “Just four weeks later, we were already booking out over a month, and we had to shut our doors.” They turned the disaster into opportunity by using the time to get their systems and organization in place. “We opened again with more intense protocols than we ever thought, with a skeleton crew in a six-chair office.”

Robert Slauch

Age: 31
City: Fort Washington and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Pennington, New Jersey
Specialty: Prosthodontics
Names of Practices: Pi Dental Center; Laudenbach Periodontics and Dental Impants; Pennington Dental Associates
Education: DDS, University of Maryland School of Dentistry
Why He Was Nominated: Voted one of Philadelphia’s top dentists just six months into practicing, Dr. Slauch is already a sought-after speaker at prosthodontic and clinical-research meetings.

Inspiration: Dr. Slauch damaged his front teeth in a childhood accident, and consequently spent a lot of time with his dentist. “I developed an appreciation for how my dentist helped me, and I wanted to help people restore confidence in themselves in the same manner.”

Tool: He Can’t Live Without “Patience.”
Exciting New Trend: Rising numbers of dentists getting trained in surgical and restorative implant dentistry.
Sage Advice: “Stay active, stay humble and remind yourself you chose a profession that will make lasting impacts on people’s lives.”

Nidhi Taneja

Age: 32
City: Stockton, California
Specialty: Pediatric dentistry
Name of Practice: Kids Care Dental & Orthodontics
Education: BDS, KLE Institute of Dental Sciences, Belgaum, India; DDS, University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry; MSD in pediatric dentistry, University of Connecticut

Why She Was Nominated: Originally from India, Dr. Taneja moved to Southern California for school in 2012 and now specializes in the treatment of children with special needs, particularly autism.

Why She Became a Dentist: “Coming from a developing country such as India, where limited access to health care underscores the need for preventative care, I understood its importance to children. Becoming a pediatric dentist isn’t just a job title but a responsibility.”

Tool She Can’t Live Without: Toys and stickers for the kids. “It’s our secret weapon.”
Philosophy: “Good communication can help patients and parents feel empowered and responsible, and motivate them to take interest in maintaining oral health.”

Sage Advice: “Be mindful of work/life balance. Personal growth and self-care are as important as gaining a clinical skill or learning about the business side of dentistry.”

Coming from a developing country such as India, where limited access to health care underscores the need for preventative care, I understood its importance to children. Becoming a pediatric dentist isn’t just a job title but a responsibility.” – Dr. Nidhi Taneja

Matt Tillman

Age: 34
City: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
Specialty: Pediatric dentistry
Name of Practice: Seaside Pediatric Dental Associates
Education: DDS, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Why He Was Nominated: Dr. Tillman says being a pediatric dentist is more than just dental work—it requires teaching parents and kids preventative oral health and how to feel comfortable going to see the dentist. To help build his patients’ trust in him, Dr. Tillman goes beyond just treating teeth—he coaches Little League baseball and soccer in his South Carolina community.

Why He Became a Dentist: A third-generation dentist, Dr. Tillman knew that dentistry allowed one to build “relationships within the community while also providing a comfortable life. I’m a task-oriented person and enjoy working with others, and dentistry provided that opportunity.”

Tool He Can’t Live Without: The DryShield isolation system. “We call it the ‘mermaid tail’ or ‘dolphin tail’ for the kids. It helps with visibility, keeping the mouth comfortably open, suction, keeping a dry working environment and avoiding unpleasant tastes. Most kids tolerate this well.” Also, Fender wedges for Class II composites, sodium bicarbonate buffer for local anesthetic and SonicFill composite.

Biggest Challenge: “How young I look. I get asked daily by parents how old I am, or if I’m old enough to be doing this—although now with a mask on the entire time, it happens less frequently. When I first started practicing in 2011, it made me question the patient’s trust and confidence in me as a provider, but I’ve learned to laugh it off and take it as a compliment.”

Something People Don’t Know: “Aviation fascinates me. Before having kids, I was very into flying and was close to getting my pilot’s license.” He put off that dream when his daughter was born in 2013 but hopes to pick it back up eventually.

Shamik Vakil

Age: 40
City: Charlotte, North Carolina
Specialty: Pediatric dentistry
Name of Practice: Growing Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
Education: DDS, the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry; MS, the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Dentistry

Why He Was Nominated: The son of immigrants, Dr. Vakil knows firsthand the difficulties associated with scarcity. He is a strong advocate for access to quality oral-health care. He views practicing dentistry as a “gift,” one nearly taken from him after a severe reaction to a prescription medication in his early thirties. Now, three years into running his own pediatric practice, Dr. Vakil continues to volunteer with children’s-health programs and plans to volunteer this year as an adjunct professor at the UNC School of Dentistry’s residency program in pediatrics.

Philosophy: “Empowering our patients to grow not just in their oral health, but in their personhood. Listening to my patients’ stories and truly understanding their walk of life allows me to partner with them to elevate their oral health.”

Exciting New Trend: “Dentistry is becoming more accessible and less intimidating to the public because of technology and teledentistry. People can become comfortable with the dental setting without setting foot in a dental office now.”

Something People Don’t Know: “I can play the saxophone— Bill Clinton style!”

Blake Warner

Age: 39
City: Bethesda, Maryland
Specialty: Oral and maxillofacial pathology
Where He Works: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health
Education: DDS and Ph.D., The Ohio State University College of Dentistry
Why He Was Nominated: One of only a handful of dentists in the world to have used gene therapy in human patients, Dr. Warner was the first to comprehensively characterize the newly reported immune-related adverse event, immune checkpoint inhibitor–induced dry mouth. At the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, he leads a clinical research team investigating the causes of salivary gland dysfunction and testing novel methods to prevent and treat salivary gland diseases such as Sjögren’s syndrome and radiation-induced dry mouth.

Impact of the Pandemic: “Early on, based on prior literature, we knew there was a potential for saliva to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus. So we designed a clinical study to collect biospecimens and compare nasopharyngeal swabs—the CDC’s gold-standard test—to whole saliva collection. We were not the only team investigating this relationship, and ultimately several saliva-based tests are now available. Thus we temporarily stopped enrolling in our regular clinical research program and devoted 100 percent of our efforts to addressing unanswered questions about SARS-CoV-2 and meeting the public-health needs of this global pandemic.”

Biggest Challenge: “There are often setbacks in research and academics. You must be mentally and emotionally prepared to persist in achieving your goals while sharpening your patient-care skills. I think it’s also important to equally develop your empathy, competence and confidence—not only for yourself and family but for your patients too.”

Meggan Wehmeyer

Age: 39
City: Claremont, New Hampshire
Specialty: Periodontics
Name of Practice: Community Dental Care of Claremont (nonprofit)
Education: DDS, University of Iowa College of Dentistry
Why She Was Nominated: Dr. Wehmeyer is an internationally board-certified lactation consultant and periodontist, and uses her knowledge of tongue function and surgical skills to perform frequent frenectomy laser procedures at the nonprofit practice in New Hampshire where she’s a dental director.

Exciting New Trend: “I truly feel that airway assessment and treatment will change the practice of dentistry and consequently change people’s lives for the better.”

Philosophy: “Taking people seriously and working together with them to find solutions is a guiding philosophy in my practice—we see many families who have not previously felt heard or who have had their concerns dismissed. It is extremely important to me that every single patient and staff member feels that their concerns are our concerns.”

Sage Advice: “Listen. To your staff, to your patients, to your mentors, to your heart.”
Something People Don’t Know: “I live in a cohousing farm community on 270 acres in Vermont and own a small bath, body and skin-care business called Farmer’s Body.”

Taking people seriously and working together with them to find solutions is a guiding philosophy in my practice—we see many families who have not felt heard or who have had their concerns dismissed. It is extremely important to me that every single patient and staff member feels that their concerns are our concerns.” – Dr. Meggan Wehmeyer

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

A sampling of the ongoing exploits of 40 Under 40 honorees from the past decade.

’19

Dr. Andrea Smith
Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Earlier this year, Dr. Smith marked five years since she opened her practice, Berks Prosthodontics. “We’re using technology more effec­-
tively to communicate with our oral-surgical colleagues, between digital scanning and planning for implant treatments,” she says.

Dr. Sako Karakozian
Los Angeles, California
Named a Top Dentist by Los Angeles magazine this year, Dr. Karakozian has also weathered the pandemic well. “Ironically, July was the best month we’ve ever had,” he says. “We feel grateful and blessed—patents feel comfortable coming to us.”

’18

Dr. Malieka Johnson
San Diego, California
“The most innovative thing I’ve done with my practice since my [appearance in] 40 Under 40 has been to implement mobile dentistry for adults with special needs.”

’14

Dr. Gregg Fink
Newark, Delaware
In addition to undertaking a partial renovation to bring the older half of his practice up to the standard of the new, Dr. Fink and his wife this March adopted two young boys they’d been fostering for the last two years.

’13

Dr. Jonathan Mason
Manchester, Vermont
Since his appearance in the 40 Under 40 more than a half-dozen years ago, Dr. Mason has moved states, taking his practice, Mason Dental, from Bloomfield, Connecticut, 150 miles northeast to New Hampshire, where he has doubled its previous size. He’s also been involved in the founding
of a DSO focused on the Northeast, Select Dental Management, that currently has 13 practices under its umbrella.

Dr. Logan Reilly
Greenland, New Hampshire
“Having to prepare a plan around the Covid outbreak,” unsurprisingly, has been Dr. Reilly’s biggest challenge of late. More happily, he and his team at Three Rivers Dental recently celebrated their five-year anniversary and auctioned off Boston Red Sox tickets as part of their celebration.

’12

Dr. Stephanie Miner
Mound, Minnesota
“I had just opened my practice” when she appeared in the 40 Under 40 eight years ago, Dr. Miner says. “Looking back, I was a deer in the headlights. But any good recognition gives patients more confidence that you’re legitimate.” It’s working: She recently purchased a second practice.

Dr. Glenn Heller
Milford, Pennsylvania
What’s the industry award Dr. Heller is proudest to have won in his career? “My daughter told me I’m the greatest dentist in the world,” he says.

Dr. Lathe Miller
Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Due to Covid, I’m spending more time on the computer than I ever could have imagined,” says Dr. Miller, who recently served as president of the Michigan Association of Orthodontists and regularly lectures on cleft-lip and cleft-palate issues.

’11

Dr. Josh Austin
San Antonio, Texas
Dr. Austin has become something of an industry media mogul in the last decade: He writes for Dental Economics as well as lecturing, teaching, podcasting and a variety of other outlets. “I have this whole other part of me,” he says.

Methodology

To find the top dentists in America age 40 and under, Incisal Edge asked more than 100 industry leaders to nominate practitioners they deemed worthy of consideration. Every doctor submitted was then vetted by our judging panel of industry experts. That group then winnowed the larger list to the final 40. Want to nominate someone for next year’s list? We’d love to hear from you. Please email us at submit@incisaledgemagazine.com.

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BY: Elizabeth Dilts, Jerilyn Forsythe, and Mellanie Perez
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: Hevan Chan