Why She Was Nominated:

A mother, wife and woman of color, Dr. Ahanor has never bowed in the face of steep odds. After earning the equivalent of a DDS in Nigeria, she moved to the United States, attended NYU and became the first dentist in her family. She regularly invests in advanced technology such as CBCT, iTero, handheld Nomad X-ray units and intraoral scanners to ease patient care and increase diagnostic accuracy. Dr. Ahanor partners with local charities, including KidsRFirst, which donates school supplies to children in need, as well as Africa DIME (Divine Mercy Orphanage Dental Outreach), a program that provides dental care for kids in foster homes.

Tool She Can’t Live Without:

“Intraoral camera and iTero. At Aglow Dental Studio, we take baseline photos for all patients. These help educate them about their oral health, facilitating dialogue between our patients and the team as we navigate the treatment plan and create the perfect smile.”

Biggest Challenge:

“Building a dental practice de novo during a pandemic. I’m very proud of my team at Aglow Dental and the quality of care we’re able to provide, even during the stress of the pandemic.”

Favorite Aspect of Dentistry:

“Educating patients about their oral health. Transitioning a patient’s mindset from unhealthy to healthy oral habits and seeing the results manifest through that patient’s smile.”

Why She Became a Dentist:

“I got interested at a young age when I realized my great-aunt had dentures. I was so mystified as a child that she went to bed without teeth but woke up with teeth. I needed to solve that puzzle! Learning there was a career where you could actually help people get their confidence back through their smile—I was sold.”