5 famous dental hygienists who influenced dentistry

THE PAGES AHEAD mark the third consecutive year that Incisal Edge has flexed its mental and reportorial muscles to undertake a ranking of the 32 most influential people who are currently leaving their imprint on the profession that matters so much to all of us. Dollars matter, for better or worse.

Dr Esther M. Wilkins, RDH, DMD · Irene Newman, RDH · Susan Cotten, BSDH, RDH, OMT · Juliette A. Southard, RDH.

Shocking news, we know. Stunned or irritated that we left someone off? We want this list to spark a discussion every year, because only through the airing of ideas in vigorous debate can dentistry continue to evolve. The profession has seen enormous changes in the last decade-plus. Align Technology has obtained something close to the holy grail of brand recognition.

It has paid off. That location is significant: Before Ho-gan arrived, Align sometimes struggled with international growth. Hogan has streamlined its international strategy while maintaining its focus on distributing through orthodontists and dentists. In , it trained 20, doctors on how to prescribe and use Invisalign—more than half of them overseas, primarily in Europe and Asia.

The market has certainly rendered its verdict.

2.

Revenues have tripled over the same period. The company proudly notes it has patents worldwide, many introduced in just the last decade. Its 3D printing production for its clear aligners, it says, is the largest such operation in the world, with more than 1.