Congratulations to Chris Bentson, who received the 2022 AAO Outstanding Contribution Award. This award honors non-orthodontists with an exceptional record of service to the specialty. 

Founder and partner of North Carolina-based, Bentson Copple & Associates, LLC.  He has devoted over 30+ years to the industry and has contributed to the orthodontic community by performing practice valuations, providing recruiting services, and negotiating transactions with both buyers and sellers. He has vast experience in practice sales and purchase negotiations, and in guiding practice transitions at all career stages.

A native of Overland Park, Kansas, he graduated from Baylor University and within four years, became part owner of the OPMS orthodontic practice management company. His best friend and mentor, Brett Smith, helped him become a consultant.  

Chris spends much of his time working within the orthodontic industry and currently serves as the President of the AAOF (American Association of Orthodontists Foundation), shares his insights with the AAO Future Think Tank, and was the co-chair of the 2022 AAO Winter Conference.

A perennial speaker at AAO Annual Sessions, he has also been a presenter for constituent meetings, dozens of orthodontic residency programs, orthodontic podcasts, study clubs, and AAO webinars. Chris has authored dozens of articles published on the business of orthodontics in numerous trade publications. 

He was honored at the 2022 Excellence in Orthodontics Awards Program in Miami on May 22, 2022, as part of the AAO Annual Session.