Dental Advisory Board
Leading the Future of Dental Excellence
Lightwave Dental brings together top clinicians and industry leaders to guide local practices and help improve patient care. By combining clinical insight with strategic vision, our Dental Advisory Board empowers dental leaders to scale success on their own terms.
8
Practicing Doctors on the Board
4
regional Brands in va, nc, sc
7+
Specialties & Treatment Areas
VA · NC
Markets Represented
Meet Our Dental Leaders
Every member of the Lightwave Advisory Board is rigorously vetted for proven performance, specialty expertise, and a steadfast dedication to clinical excellence. Representing diverse specialties, our board delivers high-impact mentorship and strategic connections that drive transformational results for every practice in our network.
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Dr. Bruce Hutchison
Smiles for Centreville · Northern Virginia
- General
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Dr. Brent Rusnak
River Run Dental Spa · Central Virginia
- General
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Dr. Damon Thompson
Real Life Dental · Southwestern Virginia
- Invisalign
- Sedation
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Dr. Valerie Woo
NOVA Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics · Northern Virginia
- Pediatric
- Ortho
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Dr. Shreyesh Ruparelia
CascadesONE Dental · Northern Virginia
- Implants
- Laser
- Sedation
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Dr. Clifton Cameron
CarolinasDentist · North Carolina
- General
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Dr. Hesham Baky
Triangle Family Dentistry · North Carolina
- Pediatric
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Dr. Jason Gladwell
Gladwell Orthodontics · North Carolina
- Invisalign
- Ortho
Dr. Bruce Hutchison
Dr. Bruce Hutchison graduated with honors from Georgetown University School of Dentistry in 1981, after completing a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Rochester. He believes that “approaching dentistry with an engineering background is a great fit.” Dr. Hutchison opened his dental practice in Centreville in August 1982 and it has continued to grow to now include four dentists and an amazing staff. “My philosophy has always been to do the right thing for the right reason every single day. That philosophy has allowed the practice to grow and to attract the very best people. We have an excellent staff who, together, allow us to treat our patients with integrity, great dental care, and the compassion they deserve. We want patients to feel welcome and relaxed, like they are part of our family.”
Dr. Hutchison lives in Centreville with his wife Nancy. Their three grown children and three grandchildren all live in Northern Virginia. He is very involved with his professional organization, the American Dental Association, having served as Speaker of the House and then President of the Virginia Dental Association, Delegate or Alternate Delegate to the ADA House of Delegates for over 25 years, the ADA Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs, and the American Dental Political Action Committee, serving as it’s Chair 2015-2016. Dr. Hutchison remains involved in the political process of advocating for the future of the dental profession. “I chose to get involved and make a difference for myself, my patients, and the future of this great profession for those who follow me. Like it or not, our legislators make all the rules, and if you aren’t involved, you simply get what they hand out. I want to make a difference.”
Dr. Hutchison believes strongly in continuing his education to keep up with current technology and advances in dentistry. He has attained the level of Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, and is the recipient of the VDA Emanuel Michaels Award, the highest award given to a member of the Virginia Dental Association. He volunteers his time to give back to his community by working at the Northern Virginia Dental Clinic, the VDA Missions of Mercy Projects, and treating a group of American Indians from Virginia (the Mattapponi) on a pro bono basis. For those to whom much is given, much is expected. “I feel so blessed in my life and feel the need to help whenever I can.”
In his time away from the office, Dr. Hutchison enjoys golfing, skiing, fishing, traveling, and cooking. All enjoyed best with a nice glass of good wine.
Dr. Brent Rusnak
Founder of River Run Dental, Dr. Rusnak is an award winning dentist in Richmond, VA who is well trained in the latest dental techniques. He places a strong emphasis on keeping up with dental technology advancements in order to consistently enhance his patient experience. As someone who is passionate about providing his community with healthy smiles, Dr. Rusnak regularly volunteers with the Mechanicsville Free Dental Clinic. He also works as an adjunct faculty member at the VCU School of Dentistry. Dr. Rusnak was named Top 40 Under 40 by Style Weekly in 2014 and has been named one of Richmond’s Top Dentists for the past 6 years by Richmond Magazine.
Dr. Damon Thompson
Dr. Damon Thompson is the Founder and CEO of Real Life Dental, which opened in March of 2010 in Blacksburg, Virginia. Dr. Thompson’s Real Life Dental has been named as one of the “Best of the New River Valley” dental offices for several years running, as voted by the readers of The Roanoke Times. His passion is to provide the community with the absolute best dental experience available, by delivering the ultimate in technology, customer service, office environment, and dental services. He has been a Premier Provider for Invisalign and a member of the Doctors for Oral Conscious Sedation organization (DOCS) since 2010. His investment in the CEREC technology allows patients to receive necessary dental crowns in the same day, saving time and hassle for the patient. Dr. Thompson has partnered with the Dentistry From The Heart organization to provide an annual day of free dental services for those in the community who have limited financial access to dental care.
Dr. Thompson is from the Town of Blacksburg, and is the son of Dr. Dan Thompson (retired). Upon graduating from Virginia Tech (1992), Dr. Thompson attended Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medical College of Virginia dental school, finishing magna cum laude in his Class of 1996. Damon accepted a commission in the United States Navy after graduation and completed a General Practice Residency at the Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton (USMC), CA. He served aboard the USS ARCTIC AOE-8 supply ship for two years as the ship’s only dentist. Once his military service was complete, Dr. Thompson returned to Blacksburg in 1999 to join the dental practice of Drs. Thompson and Schnecker. Real Life Dental was formed in 2010 with four employees; the company has now grown to five locations in Southwest Virginia (Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Roanoke, Salem, and Westlake), with more expansion planned in the future to serve the community.
Dr. Thompson has been married to his wonderful wife, Andi, for over 25 years. They have five wonderful boys: Ethan, Seth, Isaac, Luke, and Micah.
Dr. Valerie Woo
Dr. Woo absolutely loves what she does! She couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Her daughter, Olivia, calls her a “mommy dentist.” Building relationships with her patients and their families, watching them grow, and seeing how their personalities and smiles unfold over time is what she enjoys most. For Dr. Woo, it is a true pleasure to serve her community.
Dr. Woo was born and raised in the metropolitan Washington, DC area and received her undergraduate biology degree with honors from the University of Maryland, College Park. Being the youngest of three and very close with her family, she never thought she would leave the area. However, she decided to venture off and move to Boston for dental school when she was given the opportunity to attend Harvard School of Dental Medicine. She received her Doctorate of Dental Medicine, cum laude, in 2003 and completed her pediatric dental residency at Children’s Hospital, Boston in 2005. She loved her time in Boston with her husband, Mike, and found it an amazing experience to live in a city so rich in history, as well as a great sports town. She was there to witness the Patriots win three Super Bowls and saw the Boston Red Sox finally “break the curse” by winning the World Series in 2004!
When it was time to settle down, start a family, and build her practice, She was ready to return to the nest. Her parents had moved to Loudoun County while she was in Boston to be closer to her brother and his growing family and they encouraged her to do the same. She found it refreshing to be in an area that was new and developing but still close to the city. She finally found the space to build the practice in Ashburn and to establish roots in Leesburg.
Dr. Shreyesh Ruparelia
Dr. Shreyesh Ruparelia is one of the top dental implant surgeons in the country. His passion for his profession and care for his patients have led him to become a leader in the field of modern dentistry. Dr. Ruparelia has a fellowship with the International Congress of Oral Implantology and the Academy of General Dentistry.
Dr. Ruparelia received his bachelor of science in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Maryland and doctor of dental surgery from the University of Maryland Dental School. During his final year, he went on to complete a competitive prosthodontic clerkship program, where he received advanced training in dental implants, full-mouth reconstruction, and cosmetic dentistry.
Skilled and trained in all areas of dentistry, Dr. Ruparelia is certified in sedation dentistry, Invisalign braces, and laser dentistry. He has devoted himself to perfecting the art of restorative dentistry and full-mouth dental implants. To date, he has performed hundreds of full-mouth implant procedures and has placed thousands of individual and partial implants.
Dedicated to providing the best possible dental care, Dr. Ruparelia has committed himself to continued study and advanced trainings in the field of modern dentistry. He has studied with the esteemed Seattle Institute of Advanced Dental Education, has completed extensive work with leading experts on dental implants at the Misch Institute, and has received additional training on advanced bone and soft tissue grafting at the renowned Pikos Implant Institute.
An active member in the dental community, Dr. Ruparelia holds memberships with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the International Congress of Oral Implantology, the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation, the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Dental Association, the Northern Virginia Dental Association, and the Virginia Dental Association.
Dr. Ruparelia lives in Leesburg, Virginia with his lovely wife and two children.
Dr. Clifton Cameron
CEO & Chief Clinical Officer
Dr. Clifton Cameron joined the Lightwave Dental family in 2019, with more than a decade of experience in clinical operations and growing successful dental practices. Clifton began his career in 2008 by joining a large dental service organization where he stayed for five years. An entrepreneur at heart, he experienced the difficulties of becoming an owner and lack of leadership dentists have in traditional corporate dentistry.
In 2014, he founded CarolinasDentist to create an improved group dentistry model focused on patient experience and dentist leadership development. Within five years, CarolinasDentist grew to seven locations and 30 doctors. Intrigued by the prospects of group dentistry, Clifton saw the opportunity for even further growth by joining forces with Lightwave. This partnership has resulted in the fastest-growing dental group in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Clifton is also a key leader with Align Technology and a member of the North American Align GP Faculty as well as the DSO Special Markets Team. He is an adjunct faculty member teaching orthodontics and occlusion at the East Carolina School of Dental Medicine. Clifton is a graduate of Duke University with his DDS from Virginia Commonwealth University and fellowship from the Academy of General Dentistry. He lives in Pinehurst, N.C., with his wife Shannon and three children, Keens, Lily Pearl, and Holden.
Dr. Hesham Baky
Chief De Novo Officer
Dr. Hesham A. Baky is a recognized leader in dentistry, business, and mentorship, overseeing some of the largest platforms within Lightwave Dental. He founded Triangle Family Dentistry and Carolina Orthodontics & Children’s Dentistry, which together comprise 21 offices across North Carolina. Since joining Lightwave Dental in 2019, Dr. Baky has played a key role in expanding and optimizing these practices while mentoring the next generation of dental leaders within the organization.
Beyond his contributions to dentistry, Dr. Baky is also the founder of ABB CRE, a property management firm that oversees all real estate operations for Triangle Family Dentistry and Carolina Orthodontics & Children’s Dentistry. His expertise in real estate development and management has been instrumental in supporting the growth and operational success of these practices. His dedication to clinical excellence and business leadership earned him national recognition as one of the Top 40 Dentists Under 40 by Incisal Edge, the leading lifestyle magazine for dental professionals.
Dr. Baky is also an adjunct professor at the UNC School of Dentistry and an active community leader. He serves on the board of directors for the Mariam Clinic, a free clinic providing care to underserved communities in Raleigh, and organizes an annual health fair for the historic Method community. When he’s not leading in dentistry or real estate, Dr. Baky enjoys spending time with his wife, Aya, and their four children. He is an avid sports enthusiast who enjoys playing basketball, volleyball, and football.
Dr. Jason Gladwell
Chief Orthodontics Officer
Dr. Jason Gladwell is an entrepreneur who founded a successful, fast-growing regional orthodontics practice. He is one of the top 10 Invisalign providers nationwide. Passionate about educating others and giving back to the profession, Jason is a nationally recognized Invisalign speaker, the top Invisalign teen provider on the east coast, and the top Invisalign provider in North Carolina.
He received his bachelor’s degree in business management from N.C. State University and his doctorate of dental surgery from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry. His orthodontic training was completed at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he received a master of science degree in dentistry. He is also a member of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society. Jason enjoys spending time with his wife, Anna, and their children, Olivia and Jason. You can also find him out on the golf course, fishing or rooting on the Wolfpack.
What the Board Does
Our Dental Advisory Board actively guides Lightwave practices by setting clinical benchmarks, evaluating emerging technologies, and supporting doctor growth.
Clinical Standards
Establishing evidence-based clinical protocols to ensure the highest quality of patient care across all practices.
Technology & Innovation
Evaluating and implementing cutting-edge dental technologies and workflows that streamline practice operations.
Education & Mentorship
Delivering continuous learning opportunities, leadership training, and peer mentorship for clinicians at every career stage.
Voice of the Practices
Serving as a voice for our practices to help them feel supported and able to do their best work.
Hear it From Them
We take pride in investing in our people. We want them to feel heard and supported. At Lightwave, we value every connection we make.
Dr. Valerie Woo
NOVA Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
“We felt that we could really align their core values with ours. We love that we’re able to still stay us.”
Dr. Clifton Cameron
CarolinasDentist
“This partnership has really allowed me to be more free with my time and more free with my purpose.”
Dr. Shreyesh Ruparelia
CascadesOne
“First and foremost, Lightwave really cares about their employees.”