Incisal Edge, Summer 2025, 32 Most Influential People in Dentistry

ABOUT INCISAL EDGE: Incisal Edge magazine is focused on helping readers get an edge—and keep it—in the fast-changing, intersecting worlds of oral healthcare and business. Known for its four signature issues—“40 Under 40 Top Dentists in America,” “The 32 Most Influential People in Dentistry,” “The Year In Innovation” and “Lucy Hobbs Awards”— Incisal Edge curates the industry’s most progressive thought leadership to concisely and compellingly spotlight the latest in dental innovations and the people behind them. Every edition delivers features and columns by prominent journalists and key opinion leaders packed with sharp advice, expert success tips on everything from marketing to operations, and the latest clinical advances and essential tools for practicing and living smarter. Incisal Edge’s print edition reaches over 107,000 readers quarterly, while IncisalEdgeMagazine.com leads with dynamic visuals and follows with exclusive web content, an improved mobile experience, and a centralized nomination hub for the magazine’s signature awards. ABOUT THIS ENTRY: For the ninth consecutive year, Incisal Edge magazine has released its definitive ranking of dentistry’s most impactful thought leaders, bold disruptors and powerhouse executives in the summer print issue and digital edition. WHY IT MATTERS: The 32 Most Influential for 2025—one entry for every tooth—reflects several key shifts. Public companies, once buoyed by high market caps and rapid industry growth, are being eclipsed by privately owned enterprises. As valuations dip, outside investors are seizing the opportunity to buy into public dental companies, betting big on dentistry’s seemingly endless ability to rebound. Meanwhile, large corporate practices are facing headwinds, while smaller and mid-sized DSOs are proving more agile and drawing interest from private equity thanks in part to their tighter operational control and adaptability. “For 2025, we’re seeing a continued loosening of the dental establishment’s grip—not just on industry norms, but also on its traditional corporate hierarchy,” said Edward Kobesky, head of content for Benco Dental, publisher of Incisal Edge. “There will always be those who view establishment figures as out of touch or overly entrenched by default, and therefore ripe for replacement. But this current shift could have real consequences, including fewer choices for dentists when it comes to where to work and how to source technology and supplies. At the same time, emerging leaders and the trends they’re driving, like midmarket practice models and AI, could offset those risks by driving greater efficiency. That’s why our 32 Most Influential list matters: it helps readers understand where dentistry is headed so they can make smarter decisions.” ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: In addition to the 32 Most Influential, feature stories in the Summer 2025 issue include: • The War on Fluoride: Award-winning author and New York Times contributor Mark Caro explains how we got here and investigates where the fluoridation debate might lead. • Waiting For Liftoff: Novid Parsi digs into why dentistry has seen stagnant growth since the pandemic—and what can be done to reignite the dental boom of 2000-2020. • When The Levies Break: A closeup look at how much—if at all—President Trump’s tariffs may impact dentists, by longtime dental industry insider and former executive Lisa Randazzo. • Incisal Edge’s 2025 Hygienist of the Year: Meet Brittany Cox, RDH, who our editorial team believes is an emerging leader in the charge for eco-minded dentistry.