Denté Magazine / Special Issue / 2026
Founders Melissa K. Turner & Dr. Sonya Dunbar
Issue The 2026 Denobi Awards
Archetypes The Visionary · The Leader · The Community Builder · The Creative
Archetype 01
The Visionary
Innovation and the future of dentistry. Builds what does not yet exist.
Archetype 02
The Leader
Business, culture, and organisational impact. Creates conditions for others to thrive.
Archetype 03
The Community Builder
Access, outreach, and public impact. Expands who dentistry is for.
Archetype 04
The Creative
Branding, aesthetics, and cultural influence. Reshapes how dentistry is seen and felt.
The Visionary · Cover
Dr. Divian Narendra Patel
Building what does not yet exist in dentistry. Innovation feature alongside A2Z Imaging's Bhumika & Jignesh Patel.
The Leader · Cover
Bethany Montoya
MBA, BAS, RDH
Creating the conditions for others to thrive — business, culture, and organisational impact at scale.
The Leader · Supporting
Tonya Jeffries
EdD, RDH
Her career is defined by seeing what does not yet exist within dentistry and choosing to build it.
The Leader · Supporting
Shelley Brown
MEd, BSDH, RDH, FADHA
Portable public health dental hygienist. Bringing care to patients in long-term care facilities who cannot come to dentistry.
The Community Builder · Cover
Lindsey Vizcay
RDHAP
Expanding who dentistry is for — access, outreach, and public impact in the communities most often overlooked.
The Creative · Cover
Kari Carter-Cherelus
RDH DA
Reshaping how dentistry is seen and felt — branding, aesthetics, and cultural influence.
The Creative · Supporting
Rachel Ann Sanner
RDA, SOA
Creative voice and cultural contributor redefining how the profession communicates its identity.
The Team
Golden Age Dental Care
21 dentists, 13 hygienists, 100+ professionals. 300 long-term care facilities across California. Access redefined.
Legacy
Brett Kessler, DDS
Past President, American Dental Association. Leading Project Oral Health 2050 — reimagining dental care for the next 25 years.
The Founders — Who Built the Stage
Melissa K. Turner
BASDH, RDH, EFDA · @TheToothGirl
A 20-year veteran dental hygienist, fractional executive, keynote speaker, and the industry's first Chief Hygiene Officer. Founder of the HALO System — dentistry's first 360° influence blueprint for corporate brand growth. Co-founder of the National Mobile & Teledentistry Conference. Creator of the I Heart Dentistry Network.
Dr. Sonya Dunbar
PhD, MPH, RDH · Navy Veteran · TEDx Speaker
Chief Operating Officer of Mobile Dental Xpress Management Group. Founder of the Geriatric Oral Care Certification. Co-founder of the National Mobile & Teledentistry Conference and the American Mobile & Teledentistry Alliance. Instrumental in establishing Geriatric Toothfairy Day — November 9th.