By Alison Cooley
Nick Kim (MDS '20), an orthodontist, entrepreneur and technology innovator, won the 2026 Orthotank Innovators Competition for his artificial intelligence (AI) orthodontic consultant company, NexaDental, at the American Association of Orthodontists Annual Session in May. The award recognizes entrepreneurs and orthodontists who develop innovative technology or software for orthodontic practices.
Wellington Rody Jr., chair of the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, called the honor well deserved. "It is a well-deserved recognition, and one that reflects the outstanding work he has been doing since his time with us at Pitt," he said.
Kim completed his orthodontic residency and earned a Master of Dental Science degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. He owns NK Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics of Forsyth in Georgia, where he practices as an orthodontist. He also founded DentalDocsPro and NexaDental, software companies designed to help orthodontists deliver a more efficient, patient-centered experience through AI and digital tools.
Kim credits much of his success to the mentors he had at Pitt Dental Medicine. "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for them," he said, naming John F. Buzzatto, the late Richard Doerfler, Varun Kalra, Robert R. Mortimer and Paul Shok as key influences, each of whom shaped him in different ways. Doerfler and Mortimer, in particular, sparked his interest in the business side of orthodontics and inspired him to open his own practice shortly after graduation.
Most orthodontists, however, receive little to no training in business ownership, and hiring outside consultants can cost upward of $100,000 a year. Wanting to help new practice owners avoid costly missteps, Kim created NexaDental. "If we can avoid the mistakes and get to the end goal faster, it will be a better world for all of us in orthodontics," he said.
"NexaDental is the first product like it in the market, and it can impact every practice," Kim said. The platform has three components: an AI consultant trained on the specifics of an orthodontist's own practice, a financial-metrics tool powered by InsideIQ, and an AI-driven front desk that books new patients and can mimic the voice of the orthodontist or front-desk receptionist, so callers hear a familiar voice.
Kim hopes NexaDental will help reshape practice-management systems in the years ahead, and that AI and similar technologies will simplify the business of running an orthodontic practice—allowing him and his colleagues to focus more fully on patient care.
"I'm driven by the belief that the intersection of technology and orthodontics will redefine how we deliver care, and I'm committed to leading that change," Kim said.
For orthodontists who have yet to open their own practice, Kim's advice is simple: bet on yourself. "If your goal is to be an entrepreneur, don't be afraid of taking some calculated risks," he said.
It's a philosophy that has defined Kim's own path—from resident to practice owner to founder of two companies reshaping his field. For him, the greatest investment isn't in equipment or software, but in one's own vision and willingness to act on it.
Invest and believe in yourself, take the leap of faith, and the rest will follow.