Every autumn we learn something new from each class of 40 Under 40 honorees. This year’s group embodies a generation focused not just on personal success but on professional stewardship as well.

By Rick Cohen and Chuck Cohen

WHAT DOES IT TAKE to be chosen as one of Incisal Edge’s 40 Under 40 top dentists in America each year? Honestly, we’re not the ones to ask. That responsibility has always fallen to a rotating panel of independent judges, many of whom are former honorees themselves. Their collective judgment and firsthand understanding of what distinguishes exceptional young clinicians, leaders and entrepreneurs are what shape every year’s class.

But the question persists. So we asked Dr. David Rice, one of Incisal Edge’s 32 Most Influential People in Dentistry for 2026, to weigh in. The founder of IgniteDDS and a longtime practicing dentist, Dr. Rice has spent years mentoring students and early-career practitioners. In his guest column, “Built Different”, he outlines why dentists who stand out are often driven by a singular set of motivations. “If your goal is recognition, you’ll always be chasing a byproduct and missing the point,” he says. “The dentists who earn recognition are focused somewhere else entirely.”

That insight echoes throughout our 40 Under 40 profiles and is truly borne out in “The New Radicals”, which distills extensive interviews with this year’s group. Clinical excellence remains essential, of course. But as honoree Dr. Aditya Bhawsar told us, “That’s the price of entry, not the differentiator.” What emerged from those chats was something deeper: a generation focused not just on personal success, but on professional stewardship. Behind practice growth, social media visibility and entrepreneurial ambition lies a deeper commitment to mentoring, community service, patient advocacy and strengthening dentistry’s future.

No wonder why, 16 years into 40 Under 40, we’re still finding reasons to be inspired. This year’s class is our most diverse yet, geographically, professionally and philo­sophically, but united by a shared commitment to leadership and impact. We celebrated their spirit at Manhattan’s stunning Ned NoMad hotel, where they gathered for two unforgettable days of networking, photography and fun. Check out behind-the-scenes highlights here, and get a closer look at the venue.

Elsewhere in this issue, we explore several building blocks behind long-term success. CPA Scott Clynch examines the financial decisions young dentists should make now to position themselves for practice ownership. Jeff Barsotti, CEO of MaxAssist, shows how workflow intelligence can help owners eliminate operational friction and unlock greater practice performance. We also sit down with Dr. Jin Hwang, whose Maine Dental Group has become one of New England’s most successful dental organizations, to discuss scaling responsibly in an increasingly consolidated industry. And in Utah, we tour Mesa View Dental, where Dr. Ashton Prince and his hygienist-partner, Dani Prince, have built upon years of challenges to create a practice as distinctive as it is successful.

Each 40 Under 40 class teaches us something new. As dentists navigate rising educational costs, consolidation pressures and other challenges, it’s heartening to see so many young leaders determined to be part of the solution. Their message is clear: The future of dentistry will not be built by choosing between traditional values and innovation, but by embracing both. Sixteen years in, one thing has become clear: Excellence may be the price of entry, but impact is the true differentiator. Judging by this year’s honorees, the future of dentistry is in capable hands—and those hands are already hard at work.