Ortho Innovator Award Past Winners
In 2018, the AAO created the Ortho Innovator Award. This award recognizes ideas that could revolutionize orthodontic treatment or practice management.
Created: June 17, 2019
Updated: March 17, 2024
* Awarded posthumously
| YEAR | AWARD RECIPIENT(S) | INNOVATION |
| 2025 | Nourah Abdul Kader Karthik Vinayagamoorthi | Founders of OrthoBerry the first AI-driven new patient intake platform designed specifically for orthodontic practices |
| 2024 | Geoff Sudit Liz Sudit | Founders of Bright Referral a technology solution to improve how an orthodontist (or any specialist), receives, tracks and follows up with referred patients |
| 2023 | Cosmo Haralambidis | The inventor of the Dental Pain Eraser, the world’s first pen-shaped, portable electronic dental anesthesia solution; Synapse Dental, LLC |
| 2022 | Alfred Griffin | Founder of LightForce, a digital platform providing orthodontists with fully customized, 3D printed tooth-moving tools, including brackets which are manufactured via a proprietary ceramic 3D printing process |
| 2021 | Adam Schulhof | Grin technology enables remote monitoring of orthodontic patients’ progress between in-person visits |
| 2020 | Todd Blankenbecler | State-of-the-art tools to streamline and centralize digital workflow, EasyRx |
| 2019 | Brandon Owen | In-office custom bracket system, KLOwen Braces |