Dr. Gayle Glenn accepting the 2026 DCDS Dentist of the Year Award from Dr. Drew Vanderbrook

Dentist of the Year: Dr. Gayle Glenn

Jun 16, 2026
Few honors carry the weight and meaning of the Dallas County Dental Society’s Dentist of the Year Award. As the Society’s highest recognition, the award celebrates a member whose career reflects excellence in patient care, professional achievement, community service and an unwavering commitment to continuing education. At the 2026 DCDS Installation Ceremony and Dinner in May, that honor was presented to Dr. Gayle Glenn, a leader whose impact on orthodontics and professional leadership has shaped dentistry at the local, state and national levels for decades.

For nearly 40 years, Dr. Glenn built a respected orthodontic practice in Dallas while simultaneously dedicating herself to leadership, education and mentorship. A graduate of Texas Tech University and The University of Texas Dental School at San Antonio, she completed her orthodontic specialty training at Baylor College of Dentistry and quickly became a trailblazer within organized orthodontics.

Over the course of her career, she has held leadership positions at every level of the profession. She served as President of both the Texas Association of Orthodontists and the Southwestern Society of Orthodontists.

Most notably, she became the first woman ever elected President of the American Association of Orthodontists. That achievement alone would define many careers.

Yet she continued to give back through teaching, mentorship and national leadership. Students and residents at Texas A&M College of Dentistry know her as an outstanding educator and mentor, while peers across the country recognize her as a thoughtful and respected voice for the profession.

Her contributions have not only advanced orthodontics and organized dentistry, but have also helped shape a more inclusive and forward-looking profession for those who follow behind her. Her passion and quiet determination shine through in the example she has set for others — particularly for women in dentistry.

Her long list of honors reflects both excellence and impact, including the Lucy Hobbs Taylor Award, the Martin Dewey Memorial Award and recognition in the Congressional Record of the United States House of Representatives.

Dr. Glenn previously received the DCDS Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. Even after a remarkable career of service and leadership, she continues to give back to the profession through teaching, mentorship and leadership in organized dentistry. Fittingly, she will continue her service to DCDS as the 2026–2028 Secretary/Treasurer.

Dr. Glenn demonstrates what it means to lead with excellence, humility and purpose — making her a truly deserving recipient of the 2026 DCDS Dentist of the Year Award.