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Dentistry Top 50 2025

June 26, 2025

Introducing the Dentistry Top 50 2025 – a celebration of the individuals actively shaping the future of UK dentistry in a time of challenge and change.

The Dentistry Top 50 is back for another year.

This list highlights the people who are actively shaping the profession – in clinics, classrooms, policy meetings, startup boardrooms and community campaigns. Whether they’re fighting for better access, mentoring the next generation, innovating in clinical care or pushing boundaries in business, these 50 are making things happen.

Because dentistry needs these people more than ever.

It’s been another tough year: NHS access remains in crisis. Costs are rising. The private sector is adapting in real time to shifting patient expectations – and the profession is still grappling with how to stay resilient, motivated and adaptable. But as always, the profession has done more than cope – it’s responded, with creativity, compassion and conviction.

The names on this list exemplify that, setting the tone for what the next chapter of dentistry in the UK should look like.

Pushing dentistry forward

There’s no one formula for making the Dentistry Top 50. You’ll find educators and innovators, mentors and media figures, researchers, entrepreneurs, campaigners and frontline clinicians. What they share is a clear and tangible contribution to dentistry.

This year, we’re putting even more weight on recent impact: this isn’t about legacy. It’s about momentum, impact, and the voices pushing dentistry forward.

Yes, there are familiar names. But there are also rising stars, unsung heroes and quiet leaders. And we’ve worked hard – through weeks of editorial discussion and careful debate – to ensure each entry has earned its place for what they’ve done, not just who they are.

We don’t expect everyone to agree with every choice – and that’s part of the point. The Top 50 is here to spark conversation, shine a spotlight, and most of all, celebrate progress.

Welcome to the Dentistry Top 50 2025.

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Andrea Johnson

Dental technician and founder, Den-Tech

An award-winning dental technician and educator, Andrea Johnson serves as the orthodontic and maxillofacial laboratory manager at an NHS Foundation Trust and lends her voice to multiple advisory boards on the future of dental care. She also acts as chair and CEO of Den-Tech – a charity providing dental appliances to vulnerable people. For the past two years, Andrea has led volunteer trips to Uganda, transforming the lives of those with limited access to dental care.
Andy Evans

CEO, Dentaid The Dental Charity

Under Andy’s leadership, Dentaid has gone from strength to strength in its mission to deliver transformative dental care to vulnerable people accross the UK and overseas. In 2024, the charity launched an innovative partnership with NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight – the first of its kind – in a move that provided more than 20,000 dental treatments in its first 12 months alone.
Anushika Brogan

Founder, Damira Dental Studios and director, Association of Dental Groups

Starting from a single practice in 2003, Anushika has expanded her business into a network of 42 practices across the south of England. Her leadership has established the group as a major player in UK dentistry, underpinned by a commitment to diversity and a supportive workplace culture. As a director of the Association of Dental Groups, she has been a driving force in ensuring that the association’s work is both practical and positively received by clinical teams.
Arnold Gangaidzo

Principal dentist

As media lead for the Black Dental Network, Arnold’s work has been pivotal in supporting and empowering Black dental professionals in the UK through education and community-driven initiatives. A clinician dedicated to giving back, he is also a mentor in the clear aligner field, helping clinicians build confidence and skills.
Avijit Banerjee

Professor of cariology and operative dentistry, King’s College London

One of the UK’s most respected voices in dental academia and beyond, Avijit has been at the forefront of minimally invasive dentistry (MID) throughout much of his career. His most recent book of many – a textbook offering the whole team a clear practical guide to MID – is one of the definitive works on the subject. In 2025 he was appointed editor-in-chief of the British Dental Journal.
Ben Atkins

Oral health ambassador, Oral Health Foundation

A past president of the Oral Health Foundation, Ben’s work as a campaiging voice on prevention and oral health inequalities has only accelerated since stepping away from clinical practice. He advises on dental policy at local and national level, and as chairman of the Dental Industry Awards, champions innovation and excellence across the profession.
Bill Sharpling

Director, Londec

Bill is driving new pathways for professional education and development in dentistry, expanding access to high-quality training and support across the profession in his numerous roles. He is associate dean (CPD) and director of Londec at King’s College London, and sits as chair of the faculty of clinical dental technology and dental technology at the College of General Dentistry. Earlier this year, he was appointed to a leadership position in the Dental Artificial Intelligence Association.
Cat Edney

Dental therapist

A fierce advocate for the full utilisation of dental therapy, Cat’s work as an educator and speaker is reshaping how it is understood and integrated in modern practice. Through her own training course, Cat empowers dental therapists to work to their full scope of practice and supports practices in seamlessly implementing dental therapy into its workflow.
Chris Barrow

Business consultant and coach

Chris’ voice has been synonymous with thought leadership and strategic business insight in dentistry for more than 20 years. With his finger firmly on the pulse of the profession, he continues to influence and guide practice teams through education and expert advice.
Claire Stevens CBE

Consultant in paediatric dentistry

One of the leading voices championing children’s oral health on a national scale, Claire has historically served as both past president and media spokesperson at the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD). She currently influences policy and public health through senior advisory roles, including with the Department of Health and Social Care as senior clinical adviser.
Clare Faulkner

President, Society of British Dental Nurses (SBDN)

When not working as a dental matron at Birmingham Dental Hospital, Clare leads the SBDN’s efforts to raise the profile of dental nursing and strengthen the profession’s voice. Under her presidency, the society is driving recognition, representation and professional development for dental nurses across the UK.

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Debbie Hemington

President, British Association of Dental Therapists (BADT)

As president of the BADT, Debbie is at the forefront of the organisation’s efforts to strengthen recognition, expand scope of practice, and integrate dental therapy more deeply into everyday care. A passionate advocate for education, Debbie has spent over 20 years teaching at Eastman Dental Hospital alongside her clinical work, shaping and inspiring the next generation of clinicians.
Eddie Crouch

Chair, British Dental Association (BDA)

Eddie has been representing the interests of UK dental professions at the highest level – often in the public eye – since his election as BDA chair in 2020. A vocal campaigner for dentistry, who famously challenged the government over NHS contract terms in 2008, he continues to drive national conversations on workforce, access and contract reform, ensuring dentists are heard and supported.
Fiona Sandom MBE

Dental therapist

Fiona has played a pivotal role in advancing the profession across the UK, notably through her 11-year commitment to securing prescription rights for dental therapists and hygienists – a milestone that has transformed clinical autonomy. Most recently, she was awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2025 for her outstanding services to dental therapy and the NHS in Wales.
Gauri Pradhan

Principal dentist

Gauri is co-founder and trustee of the International Dental Organisation, a charity providing guidance and support to overseas dental professionals. An outspoken champion of NHS dentistry, she works to address access challenges from her own Bristol practice – itself no stranger to the national news, thanks to the hordes of patients its regular NHS open days attract.
Helen Paisley

CEO of Community Dental Services (CDS) CIC

A committed advocate of special care and community dentistry, Helen has been at the helm of CDS since 2022 – a social enterprise delivering special care, paediatric and prison dentistry across the East of England and Midlands. Her leadership has rewritten the script on community dentistry – culminating in the launch of a state-of-the-art CDS training centre in 2025 that offers a valuable resource for the profession in general.
Professor Iain Chapple MBE

Head of research, University of Birmingham

A globally recognised expert in periodontal care, Professor Chapple lends his expertise as a consultant to organisations across dentistry. With more 240 scientific publications to his name, he has brought his extensive knowledge to bear in advancing the understanding of gum health in all its guises – including a key role in the 2025 EFP-backed paper on the adjunctive use of mouthwash.
James Goolnik

Principal dentist

Leading anti-sugar activist James is known for championing holistic approaches to oral health – to the extent that his newly opened London practice is dedicted to delivering this concept. A past chair of the British Dental Bleaching Society, he is chair of the Private Dentistry Awards judging panel, helping to set high standards and celebrate excellence in the profession.
Jason Wong MBE

Chief dental officer (CDO) for England

Jason has been instrumental in driving the national agenda on oral health improvement, workforce development, and access to care since 2020 – progressing from deputy and acting CDO before securing his place as the incumbent. He was awarded an MBE in 2020 for services to dentistry and oral health, recognising decades spent in local and regional leadership, working to improve patient outcomes and elevate the role of dentistry within the wider health system.
Jin Vaghela

CEO, Smile Clinic Group

As one of the Smile group’s instantly recognisable leaders, Jin’s focus on innovation, patient experience, and smart clinical systems is driving rapid growth for his practices and training business. While not focusing on blending high-quality care with the high-energy culture Smile has become known for, he is also a visiting lecturer at UCL Eastman Dental Institute.

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Karen Juggins

Consultant orthodontist

The driving force behind the #KeepBritainSmiling and #KeepStokeSmiling campaigns, Karen’s work has galvanised some of the UK’s biggest sporting names – including Manchester United Football Club – into promoting oral health and community wellbeing. Through her work, the Premier League Primary Stars initiative has added an oral health component to its work in schools across the UK.
Kevin Lewis

Consultant editor, Dentistry

Following a long career in practice and dental indemnity, Kevin is now an ambassador for the College of General Dentistry and remains as one of the UK’s most insightful voices on the topic of dentistry. He remains an in-demand public speaker and lecturer, and an honorary member of organisations across the profession.
Kish Patel

CEO and founder, Smile Clinic Group and Smile Dental Academy

One of the architects behind the Smile group’s meteoric rise, Kish – along with his equally recognisable business partner – has built a business known as much for its solid care as its unmistakable energy and community buzz.
Kunal Patel

Principal dentist

The entrepreneurial principal of multi-award-winning Love Teeth Dental group, Kunal is a leading voice in cosmetic and digital dentistry. A media commentator and key opinion leader who was the face for the national NHS 111 campaign, he helps shape the profession through innovation and mentorship.

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