‘An Angel in Somebody’s Life’
Dr. Christopher Walinski strives to improve outcomes for patients, peers, and people fighting serious disease. Plus: Top Dentists 2026.
by Bill Donahue

As a young boy growing up in Hope, New Jersey, Christopher J. Walinski got into the habit of wetting his toothbrush at night, in an attempt to fool his parents into thinking he had brushed his teeth. The natural result: dental checkups resulting in having to go back for a filling or two. “Hatred” of trips to the dentist followed.
 
Over time he developed good oral health habits. More so, his interest in the profession began to flower. 
 
“For a report in fourth grade, everyone else wanted to be a fireman or policeman, but I said I wanted to be a dentist,” he says. “My path never wavered.”
 
After earning his D.D.S. from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Dr. Walinski became an early adopter of laser dentistry—the shaping of soft tissue, oral surgery, treatment for periodontal disease—and developed his own laser techniques and protocols. His expertise led to a career as a globetrotting lecturer, sharing his learnings with fellow clinicians in Europe, Asia, and other distant points.
 
“At this point I think I’ve been to 50 different countries,” says Dr. Walinski, who practices with Advanced Dentistry of Phoenixville. “Up until COVID, that was my life. Just now, over the past year or so, I’ve been starting back up.” 
 
Dr. Walinski founded the Dental Institute for Continuing Education (DICE) to provide his peers with independent, unbiased, and evidence-based education in laser dentistry, among other topics. DICE courses, which are taught primarily at The Inn at Villanova on the Main Line, qualify for the Academy of General Dentistry’s Program Approval for Continuing Education. 
 
His interests go far beyond dentistry. The son of a chef, Dr. Walinski has cultivated considerable skills in the culinary arts. He even competed on Season 14 of the FOX series MasterChef
 
“This was a Gordon Ramsay show, but not one where he yells and screams,” he says. “At the end of an episode I was watching with my wife [Veronica], they said they were casting for the next season. My wife said, ‘You should apply.’”
 
So he did. A week after he submitted his application, which included a video of him making bananas foster, someone from the show’s casting department reached out. He flew out to Los Angeles to begin taping a few months later.
 
“The whole time they tell you, ‘Make sure you can be away from your activities for six weeks,’” he says. “I was teaching at a dental school at the time, and I told them I needed a few weeks off. At this point I know I can’t be away from work for six weeks, but I really want to meet [Ramsay]. … Three and a half weeks into it, [someone from the school] texted me and said, ‘We need you back.’”
 
To expedite matters, Dr. Walinski essentially threw the competition, finishing in the top 15. He learned a lot from the experience, which he describes as “tough but transformative.”
 
Besides cooking, Dr. Walinski is devoted to spreading awareness about prostate cancer. Since his own 2022 diagnosis, he has been producing a weekly digital newsletter to share his research about living with hormone-driven cancers.  
 
“It’s all about legacy now—how can I help people?” he says. “I know my timeline is shorter, but not as short as I thought it was going to be four years ago. Once I realized I was going to be around awhile, I started making some changes. … My diet has changed considerably, driven by research about nutrition and prostate cancer. I’m doing amazing.”
 
Life goes on for Dr. Walinski: treating patients at his Phoenixville practice; educating his peers to help them better serve their own patients; using his expertise in laser dentistry to revolutionize treatment; teaching others how to live cleaner, healthier lives. On the last front, he recently led an event hosted by DiFabio’s in Media in which he showed attendees “how to have delicious food that’s going to help you get healthy and stay healthy.”  
 
“I still enjoy dentistry and am happy I can still help people,” he says. “I’m a spiritual person, and I do pray. Every morning as I drive to work, one of the things I pray for is to be an angel in somebody’s life.” 

Top Dentists 2026
These world-class clinicians strive to create smiles rooted in aesthetics, functionality, and overall health.
 
Each of us asks a lot of our smile. Simply put, it plays a huge part in how we present ourselves to the rest of the world. That’s why we need to entrust its care to someone with specialized expertise.
 
The Philadelphia area hosts an array of skilled general dentists, as well as endodontists, pediatric dentists, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons, among other specialists. Whether your smile is in need of a routine cleaning, treatment for periodontal diseases, or dental implants to restore ailing dentition, the area’s finest dentists strive to deliver the best possible result in terms of aesthetics, functionality, and overall health.
 
We asked readers to tell us which dentists they consider the area’s best and brightest. Their selections are listed on the following pages, along with the names of dental professionals profiled recently in the pages of this magazine. It’s worth noting that some of the professional listed on the following pages do advertise in Suburban Life, but their inclusion was not based on their willingness to advertise. We also acknowledge that the Philadelphia area has many world-class dentists, not all of whom are featured here.  
 
Meet Suburban Life’s “Top Dentists,” Class of 2026.
 
GENERAL AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY
The evaluation, diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment (nonsurgical, surgical or related procedures) of diseases, disorders, and/or conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area, and/or the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body.
 
Dr. Nicole M. Armour
Nicole M. Armour, D.M.D.
Newtown
armourdentistry.com
 
Dr. Pallavi Batra
Batra Dental Group
Multiple locations
batradental.group
 
Dr. Jeffrey A. Bellisario
Ardmore Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
Ardmore
drbellisario.com
 
Dr. Mindy Benjamini
MB Dentist Inc.
Narberth
mindybenjaminidmd.com
 
Dr. Ron Briglia
Briglia Dental Group
West Chester
brigliadentalgroup.com
 
Dr. Steven C. Bunting
Designer of Smiles
Huntingdon Valley
designerofsmiles.com
 
Dr. Nicole Deakins
Dr. Jeremy D. Kay
The Dental Spa
Bryn Mawr and Philadelphia
phillydentalspa.com
 
Dr. David A. Dobbins
Dr. William A. Rivera
Dr. Angela M. Stout
Chesheim Dental Associates
Erdenheim
chesheim-dental.com
 
Dr. Robert J. Dollfus III
Dr. John B. Fitzgerald III
Chesterbrook Dental Associates
Berwyn
chesterbrookdental.com
 
Dr. Dilip N. Dudhat
Dudhat Dental Group
Multiple locations
philadelphiaeaglesdentist.com
 
Dr. Ryan C. Dunn
Dr. David J. Montgomery
Chester County Family Dentistry
West Chester
chestercountyfamilydentistry.com
 
Dr. Richard Eidelson
Main Street Dental Center City
Premier Dentist Philadelphia
Philadelphia
openyourmouth.com
dentistphiladelphia.com
 
Dr. Christopher B. Ernst
Ernst Family Dentistry
Newtown
ernstfamilydentistry.com
 
Dr. Peter Flaherty
Main Line Smile
Devon
mainlinesmile.com
 
Dr. Irina Frolov
Dr. Alex Tyurin
Miracle Dental Center
Feasterville-Trevose
miracle.dental
 
Dr. Rebekka Gerson
Dr. Rande Kaminsky
Dr. Lauren Wolf
Dr. Richard Titlebaum
Kaminsky Dental Associates
Philadelphia
ruflossing.com
 
Dr. Jay Gohel
Dr. Ryan Watson
Media Dental Associates
Media
media.dental
 
Dr. Brent D. Guenthner
Dr. Kailin Guttman
Dr. Murphy Ziesel
Westtown Dental Associates
West Chester
westtowndentalassociates.com
 
Dr. Sindhu Gundabathula
Dr. Catherine West
Chalfont Dentistry
Chalfont
chalfontdentistry.com
 
Dr. Jared Harris
Harris Family Dentistry
Malvern
harrisfamilydentist.com
 
Dr. Matthew Heine
Heine & Associates Family Dentistry
Newtown
heinefamilydental.com
 
Dr. Robert A. Lantzy
Robert A. Lantzy, D.M.D., LLC
Newtown
buckscountydental.com
 
Dr. Marc A. Levin
Marc A. Levin, D.M.D., FAGD
Philadelphia
drlevin.com
 
Dr. Andrew L. Lieberman
Bryn Mawr Dental Arts
Bryn Mawr
brynmawrdentalarts.com
 
Dr. Cary J. Limberakis
Dr. Jonathan C. Limberakis
Limberakis Family Dentistry
Abington
limberakisdental.com
 
Dr. Reefat Malhotra
Chadds Ford Family Dentistry
Chadds Ford
chaddsfordfamilydentistry.com
 
Dr. Anjelika Marti
Main Street Dental Center
Collegeville
yourmainstreetdentist.com
 
Dr. Damian Milillo
Dr. Merle Saldivar
Water’s Edge Dental
West Chester
watersedgedg.com
 
Dr. Scott Nakamura
Integrated Dental Care
Exton
idcexton.com
 
Dr. Steven Ochsenreither
The Ocean Dental Center
Willow Grove
soceandental.com
 
Dr. Simon Oh
Smart Arches
Multiple locations
smartarchesdental.com
 
Dr. Murtaza Paghdiwala
Pearl Dental Monroe
Monroe, New Jersey
pearldentalmonroe.com
 
Dr. Jay Patel
Danta Dental
Philadelphia
dantadental.com
 
Dr. Peter P. Patellis
Kennett Center for Advanced Dentistry
Kennett Square
kennettsmiles.com
 
Dr. Jason Petkevis
Dental Distinction
Chester Springs
chesterspringsdentist.com
 
Dr. Radwa Saad
Dent Blanche Dental
Princeton, New Jersey
dentblanchedental.com
 
Dr. Jashank Sampat
Ambler Dental Care
Ambler
amblerdentalcare.com
 
Dr. Kiran Satashia
Dentistry by Design
Warminster
bucksdental.com
 
Dr. Jonathan Scharf
Exton Dental Health Group
Exton
extondental.com
 
Dr. Allen P. Shapiro
Dr. Brian S. Shapiro
Allen P. Shapiro D.D.S. Ltd.
Philadelphia
shapirodentists.com
 
Dr. Azalea Sharifi
Evansburg Family Dentistry
Collegeville
evansburgdental.com
 
Dr. Nelly Silva
Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville
Collegeville
collegevilledentistry.com
 
Dr. Mark Simeone
Chester County Dental Arts
Coatesville
chestercountydentalarts.com
 
Dr. Meredith Slone
Lakeview Dental
Horsham
mylakeviewsmile.com
 
Dr. Beth Snyder
Beth Snyder DMD & Associates
Doylestown
bethsnyderdmd.com
 
Dr. George A. Souliman
Haverford Smiles
Haverford
haverfordsmiles.com
 
Dr. Dvasha S. Stollman
Kids Grins
Havertown
kidsgrinspa.com
 
Dr. Kim C. Sykora
K.C. Sykora, DDS Family & Implant Dentistry
West Chester
yourwestchesterdentist.com
 
Dr. Aaron Ufberg
Ufberg Dental P.C. 
Berwyn
ufbergdental.com
 
Dr. Christopher J. Walinski
Advanced Dentistry of Phoenixville
Phoenixville
phoenixvilledentistry.com
 
Dr. Tatyana Zaborovsky
Bucks Mont Dental
North Wales
bucks-montdental.com
 
ENDODONTICS
The branch of dentistry concerned with the morphology, physiology and pathology of the human dental pulp and periradicular tissues
 
Dr. Allyson Abbott
Allyson A. Abbott, D.M.D., P.C.
Plymouth Meeting
allysonaabbott.com
 
Dr. Alexander Fuller
Jenkintown Endodontics LLC
Jenkintown
jenkintownendo.com
 
Dr. Sumin Lee
Penn Dental Family Practice
Multiple locations
mypenndentist.org
 
Dr. Scott Levy
Media Endodontics
Media
mediaendo.com
 
Dr. Ken Lin
TEC Endodontics
Philadelphia
tecendo.com
 
Dr. Bruce R. Terry
Endodontic Specialists P.C.
Phoenixville and Wayne
endodonticspecialists.com
 
ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY
A specialty of dentistry that includes the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and defects involving both the functional and aesthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region
 
Dr. Lee Carrasco
Dr. Steven Wang
Penn Dental Family Practice
Multiple locations
mypenndentist.org
 
Dr. Michael T. Dachowski
Dr. Therese DiFlorio Brennan
The Oral Surgery Group
Multiple locations
theoralsurgerygroup.com
 
Dr. Richard P. Deasy
Commonwealth Oral and Facial Surgery & Dental Implant Center
Multiple locations
implantoralsurgeons.com
 
Dr. Mohammed Erakat
Prestige Oral Surgery
Princeton, New Jersey
prestigeoralsurgery.com
 
Dr. Alex Geiger
Noble Oral Surgery & Dental Implants
Jenkintown
nobleoralsurgery.com
 
Dr. Matt Kosakowski
Dr. Bryan M. Nack
Dr. Michael B. Salin
Dr. Adam J. Semanoff
Dr. Jared S. Weiner
Innovative Oral Surgery & Dental Implants
Multiple locations
innovativeoralsurgery.com
 
Dr. Mansoor Madani
Bala Institute of Oral Surgery
Bala Cynwyd
snorenet.com
 
ORTHODONTICS
A dental specialty that includes the diagnosis, prevention, interception, and correction of malocclusion, as well as neuromuscular and skeletal abnormalities of the developing or mature orofacial structures
 
Dr. Benjamin K. Azizi
Azizi Orthodontics
Ambler and Glenside
aziziorthodontics.com
 
Dr. Benjamin A. Cassalia
Cassalia Orthodontics
Chalfont and Ottsville
drcassalia.com
 
Dr. Daniel Cassarella
DCO Orthodontic Specialists
Worcester
dco-ortho.com
 
Dr. Jordan Cogan
Dr. Cathleen George
CG Orthodontics
Yardley and Richboro
teethstraight.com
 
Dr. Karen Kandel Conn
Dr. G. Ross Segal
Bryn Mawr Orthodontics
Bryn Mawr
brynmawrorthodontics.com
 
Dr. Anthony L. Cook 
Cook Orthodontics
Springfield
greatorthosmiles.com
 
Dr. Steve A. DelliGatti
Dr. Michael Milewski
DelliGatti and Milewski Orthodontic Group
Ambler and Northeast Philadelphia
dmorthogroup.com
 
Dr. Jake Dorfman
Dorfman Orthodontic Group
Bensalem and Southampton
dog-ortho.com
 
Dr. Marianna Evans
Infinity Dental Specialists
Glen Mills and Newtown Square
infinitydentalspecialists.com
 
Dr. Kellyn Hodges
Kellyn Hodges Orthodontics
Multiple locations
hodgesortho.com
 
Dr. LynAnn Mastaj
Mastaj Orthodontics
Bryn Mawr
lynannmastaj.com
 
Dr. Antonino G. Secchi
Devon Orthodontics
Devon
devonortho.com
 
Dr. Grace Wu Simco
Dr. Grace Orthodontics 
Yardley and Levittown
drgraceorthodontics.com
 
Dr. Tejjy Thomas
Center City Orthodontics
Philadelphia and Cherry Hill, New Jersey
centercityortho.com
 
Dr. Todd M. Welsh
Bucks County Orthodontics
Doylestown
buckscountyorthodontics.com
 
PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
An age-defined specialty that provides both primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special healthcare needs
 
Dr. Jason M. Bresler
Dr. Jill Bresler
Dr. Joshua A. Bresler
Dr. Rachel L. Bresler
Dr. Tracey Bresler
Dr. Theodore P. Croll
Doc Bresler’s Cavity Busters
Multiple locations
cavitybusters.com
 
Dr. Megann Abedini
Dr. Dana Al Baroudi
Dr. Jowhar Brown
Dr. Stephanie Calora
Dr. Matt Cassera
Dr. Jaytron Charles
Dr. Edward Garjarian
Dr. Leila Hazavei
Dr. David Iglewicz
Dr. Silpa Kadiyala
Dr. Rob Kerns
Dr. Paul Kolman
Dr. Anthony Monteiro
Dr. Lisa Myrum
Dr. Kay Myrum
Dr. Chandni Patel
Dr. Debbie Pisarcik
Dr. Sonika Shah
Dr. Evelyn Sulaiman
Children’s Dental Health
Multiple locations
childrensdentalhealth.com
 
Dr. Paul Bahn
Dr. Maria Bender
Dr. Nancy Bien
Dr. Dana Chianese
Dr. Alegria D’Agostino
Dr. Holly Do Nguyen
Dr. Sara D. Dworkin
Dr. Ashley Lebak
Dr. Erin McGrath
Dr. Anagha Pathak
Dr. Noah Quinn
Dr. Kim Thomas
Dr. Winona Wu
Pediatric Dental Associates
Multiple locations
pediatricdentalassociates.com
 
Dr. Roshni Dhruva
Heine & Associates Family Dentistry
Newtown
heinefamilydental.com
 
Dr. Gregory Gagliardi
Children First Dental
Richboro
childrenfirstdental.com
 
Dr. Michael Koumaras
Best Dentist for Kids
Multiple locations
bestdentist4kids.com
 
Dr. Christine Landes
Newtown Dentistry
Newtown
homefordentalcare.com
 
Dr. Marina Kanakos
Dr. Sheedeh Madani
Dr. Dustin Root
Bala Kids Dentistry
Bala Cynwyd
balakidsdentistry.com
 
Dr. Rachel A. Maher
Dentistry for Children
Wilmington, Delaware
dentistryforchildrende.com
 
Dr. Jennifer L. Udis
Dentistry for Children
Jenkintown
dfcjenkintown.com
 
Dr. Katie Lapps Wert
Dr. Michael Wong
North Penn Pediatric Dental Associates LLC
Multiple locations
nppda.com
 
PERIODONTICS
A specialty of dentistry that encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth or their substitutes and the maintenance of the health, function, and aesthetics of these structures and tissues
 
Dr. I. Stephen Brown
The Perio Group
Philadelphia
theperiogroup.com
 
Dr. Caleb Cross
Dr. Howard P. Fraiman
Dr. Jeffrey Ingber
Dr. Brian M. Kasten
Dr. Michelle Ordway
Dr. Thomas H. Yoo
Amsterdam Dental Group
Multiple locations
amsterdamdentalgroup.com
 
Dr. Richard H. Cutler
Dr. Philip L. Fava II
Dr. Eric F. Schoenebeck
Pennsylvania Center for Dental Implants and Periodontics
Ambler and Philadelphia
padentalimplants.com
 
Dr. Andrew B. Diamond
Diamond Periodontics
Willow Grove
diamondperiodontics.com
 
Dr. Joshua Evensky
Evensky Periodontics & Dental Implants
Radnor
evenskyperio.com
 
Dr. Scott Garrison
Scott Garrison DDS, MSD, PC
Media
scottgarrisondds.com
 
Dr. Hanh Bui Keating
Dr. Edward L. Woehling
Bryn Mawr Periodontal Associates
Bryn Mawr
brynmawrperio.com
 
Dr. Jonathan M. Korostoff
Penn Dental Family Practice
Multiple locations
mypenndentist.org
 
Dr. Jay B. Laudenbach
Laudenbach Periodontics & Dental Implants
Philadelphia
laudenbach.com
 
Dr. Edward A. Marcus
Floral Vale Periodontics and Implants P.C.
Yardley
712fvpi.com
 
Dr. Scott K. Smith
Dr. Peter B. Susanin
SK Smith & Associates
King of Prussia
drsksmith.com
 
Dr. Miriam Ting
Think Oral Implants & Periodontics
Multiple locations
thebestdentaloralcare.com
 
Dr. M. Ilhan Uzel
Mercer Center for Implants and Periodontics at Princeton
Princeton, New Jersey
mercerimplantperio.com
 
Dr. James A. Vito
James A. Vito, D.M.D.
Wayne
jamesvito.com
 
Dr. John Whytosek
Main Line Periodontics and Dental Implants, P.C.
Bryn Mawr
mainlinedentalimplants.com
 
PROSTHODONTICS
The dental specialty pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation, and maintenance of the oral function, comfort, appearance, and health of patients with clinical conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth and/or oral and maxillofacial tissues using biocompatible substitutes
 
Dr. Caleb Cross
Dr. Howard P. Fraiman
Dr. Jeffrey Ingber
Dr. Brian M. Kasten
Dr. Michelle Ordway
Dr. Thomas H. Yoo
Amsterdam Dental Group
Multiple locations
amsterdamdentalgroup.com
 
Dr. David DiGiallorenzo
The LANAP and Implant Center
Collegeville
perioimplants.us
 
Dr. Ernesto A. Lee
Advanced Esthetic & Implant Dentistry
Bryn Mawr
drernestolee.com
 
Dr. James A. Vito
James A. Vito, D.M.D.
Wayne
jamesvito.com
 
Photo courtesy of Dr. Walinski
 
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life, June 2026.