Dr. Ann Bynum – 2026 Kumar Patel Prize Recipient

My journey with laser dentistry began in 2012, when I first incorporated a diode laser into my pediatric dental practice. At the time, it represented a meaningful step forward in how I approached soft tissue procedures, particularly for infants with tongue and lip ties. While outcomes were acceptable, I could not ignore that many babies appeared uncomfortable for a prolonged period following diode releases.

In 2016, a colleague introduced me to the CO₂ laser after purchasing a LightScalpel system. He shared something that immediately caught my attention: most infants stopped crying almost immediately after the procedure. He also showed me photographs documenting post-operative healing at various stages. Compared to diode releases, the CO₂ laser sites appeared calm and non-inflamed — tissue that simply did not look “angry.” That visual and clinical contrast stayed with me.

In 2017, I finally made the decision to invest in my own CO₂ laser. My tipping point? Wanting Santa to bring it for Christmas — and, admittedly, appreciating the tax write-off. Humor aside, it was a decision grounded in wanting better comfort and outcomes for my patients.

The learning curve was surprisingly short. Having already performed releases for several years, the procedure itself was familiar; adapting to a new tool was the primary adjustment. The hands-on training provided to both my team and me was invaluable, and we were able to integrate the technology quickly and confidently. Just as important has been the support of a trusted local “tribe” of therapists, including Autumn Henning and Meredith Wentzel, whose pre- and post-release feedback continues to help me refine my technique and improve outcomes to this day.

Initially, I limited my treatment of tongue and lip ties to infants. As my understanding of airway health and the broader systemic implications of tethered oral tissues deepened, my comfort level expanded to treating children and adults as well. Today, treating patients with ties has become mainstream within my practice and the most fulfilling aspect of my clinical work.

As a seasoned pediatric dentist, I have intentionally reduced my clinical schedule to two days per week. I still enjoy traditional pediatric dentistry, but helping patients with tethered oral tissues — and seeing the life-changing impact it can have — is what truly lights me up. Walking into a treatment and consult room set up specifically for this work reminds me how fortunate I am to continue practicing in a way that feels both purposeful and energizing.

One of my proudest accomplishments is the team we have built at The TOT Spot of South Carolina, along with the broader collaborative network of therapists and providers who support our patients. This interdisciplinary approach builds trust, enhances comfort, ensures comprehensive education, and promotes compliance — all of which are essential to successful outcomes.

Many people are surprised to learn that while I have been speaking nationally for nearly 30 years on topics such as practice management, leadership, customer service, and teamwork, I did not begin teaching laser-assisted frenectomy until 2019. That opportunity came unexpectedly when LightScalpel asked me to step in as a last-minute speaker due to a family emergency affecting the scheduled presenter. I immediately said yes, not wanting colleagues who had invested their time and travel to miss out on the education.

Although I had no prior experience formally teaching this specific material, I prepared, stepped up, and delivered. To this day, it remains one of my favorite courses to be part of. I quickly realized I had a deep passion for sharing practical, real-world clinical knowledge with providers serving babies and families in their own communities. I believe my voice is unique because I was truly “in the trenches” before formal courses, online videos, or standardized protocols existed — during what often felt like the wild west of early adoption. I am proud to have stayed the course and grown alongside the science.

Looking ahead, my hope is that evidence-based research continues to expand and that CO₂ laser education becomes part of standard dental school and residency curricula one day. My mission remains twofold: to help tongue-tied patients in my community and surrounding areas, and to be the pebble in someone else’s pond. Few things bring me greater joy than hearing from young, motivated pediatric dentists who once shadowed in our practice and later reach out to share how they are changing feeding and airway health in their own communities.

While receiving the Kumar Patel Laser Surgery Award is an incredible honor — especially knowing the esteemed colleagues who have received it before me — the true reward belongs to the next generation of dentists coming up behind us. The ultimate reward will be the day when CO₂ lasers are a standard tool in dental practices across the country, improving comfort, outcomes, and quality of life.

Dr. Bynum’s Biographical Highlights

Dr. Ann Bynum is a board-certified pediatric dentist, mom of three grown boys, and founder of The TOT Spot of South Carolina and Holly Tree Pediatric Dentistry. She’s been caring for children in Simpsonville, SC, since 1997 and is a national speaker known for blending real-world experience with practical education on CO₂ laser dentistry and tongue-tie treatment, as well as teamwork, marketing, and all things practice management. Dr. Bynum loves helping dentists and teams bring these skills into their practices while staying sane and making it FUN.