Denté Magazine / Special Awards Issue / 2026
A snapshot before the announcement — where recognition exists without hierarchy, and every name carries the same weight of possibility.
Founders Melissa K. Turner & Dr. Sonya Dunbar
Archetypes The Visionary · The Leader · The Community Builder · The Creative
Legacy Brett Kessler, DDS — Past President, ADA
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.
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 directly to patients in long-term care facilities.
The Community Builder · Cover
Lindsey Vizcay
RDHAP
Expanding who dentistry is for — access, outreach, and public impact in 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.
The Team · Shortlist
Dr. Keeper's Dental Wellness · Parkside Orthodontics · Salem Dental Arts · Smiles Across Montana · Well Being Dentistry
Six teams recognised for moving together — clinical skill, operational strength, and shared purpose.
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.
Legacy
Brett Kessler,
DDS
Past President · American Dental Association
Brett Kessler did not set out to become a dentist. His original path was in biomedical engineering — a field grounded in precision, systems thinking, and the integration of science and design. That engineering mindset never left him and continues to shape how he approaches both clinical practice and leadership.
During his presidency of the American Dental Association, he focused on three central pillars: wellness, inclusivity, and the integration of oral and systemic health. He is currently leading Project Oral Health 2050 — an initiative designed to reimagine the future of dental care over the next twenty-five years, bringing together voices from across the entire dental team.
"The most transformative era of dentistry lies ahead. While the profession will continue to evolve, the central element will remain unchanged — the relationship between clinician and patient."
