Why She Was Nominated:

Dr. Lenahan joined her father’s dental practice and is carrying on their family legacy. Her experience runs the gamut: trauma call, oral sedation, dental care with general anesthesia, treating complex cases for medically compromised children and more. She’s an active member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Association of Forensic Odontology, the Missouri Dental Association, the Missouri Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the Greater St. Louis Dental Association.

Exciting New Trend:

“I’m seeing a paradigm shift for more conservative care with pediatric populations. We’re using glass ionomer, SDF, the Hall technique and other tools to manage care with minimal sedation and less cooperation needed. While sedation will always be a necessary tool in pediatrics, it’s wonderful to have other options to manage care or buy time until our young patients are more able to cooperate.”

Post-Pandemic Plans:

“Growth. We’re busier than ever. I believe dentistry was pretty prepared to adapt to this pandemic. I loved how my local dental organization and local dentists worked together to get the supplies we needed, donate what could spare and adapt. While we shut down temporarily, we were able to reopen and take care of our patients. The pandemic did highlight a few of our shortcomings as a profession, including [the need for] better masks for aerosolizing procedures, a larger focus on air quality and distancing of patients.”

Most Memorable Patient:

“This is unconventional, but my most memorable ‘patient’ was probably the first time I assisted with a forensic dental identification. For the first time, I was given a chance to help give grieving families closure, and it was a very powerful emotion.”