Bumann named one of ADA's 10 under 10

Aaron Bumann, DDS ‘13, was named one of the 2023 10 under 10 dentists by the American Dental Association.

The ADA 10 under 10 recognizes “10 amazing dentists who graduated from a dental school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation less than 10 years ago,” according to the ADA’s website. “We're celebrating dentists who demonstrate excellence and inspire others in science, research & education, practice excellence, philanthropy, leadership and advocacy.”

The ten winners were selected after a review of more than 165 submissions.

Today, Bumann is a pediatric dentist in Kansas City, Missouri. He enjoys working with children because he is changing health over the course of a lifetime. “I have always understood where kids are coming from,” he said. “If they are afraid, I can understand it and work with the family to build confidence and improve their health.”

Bumann makes it a priority to make his patients comfortable and loved while providing excellent care and knowledge. “Our real goal as a practice is to take care of our whole community,” he said. That means providing care to low-income families and children on Medicaid, which make up a large portion of his practice. “We’ve always felt very strongly that that’s a part of what we want to be doing.”

In addition to his dental work, Bumann is involved in advocacy with various oral health organizations. “As a dentist we help people on an interpersonal level, but I see value in making the lives of our patients better at a higher level through advocacy as well,” he said. “I want to be as impactful as I can, for as many people as I can.” Bumann makes that difference by working with the American Dental Association, the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry and the Missouri Dental Association.

Bumann’s advocacy work began during his time at the School of Dentistry, when he was involved with the American Student Dental Association. “ASDA was always a big part of my experience,” he said. “I felt the most at home doing work with ASDA. I got to see dentistry from 30,000 feet, to expand my view of what we do in a way I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish otherwise.”

Bumann is grateful for his time at the school and for those who supported him on his journey. “I would not be a pediatric dentist, helping the people I’m helping, advocating for those without a voice, or living the life that I’m living, without the education I received at the U of M,” he said. Bumann has always seen his education and his career as “something I worked hard to attain, but not something I achieved alone.”

Bumann was surprised and excited to find out that he had received a 10 under 10 recognition.

“It’s by far the most competitive thing I’ve ever won!” he said. And most importantly, he sees it as recognition of his professional and organizational commitments.

“I’ve really focused most of my career around advocacy related to my patients,” he said. “It really excites me that the dental community and the American Dental Association are seeing the value in that work.”