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.”