CHICAGO, October 24, 2025 — The American Dental Association (ADA) will recognize Bill Claytor Jr., D.D.S., as the recipient of the ADA Distinguished Service Award at SmileCon™ in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 24 during the Changemakers Celebration. The Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor given by the ADA Board of Trustees.
Dr. Claytor, who is affectionately nicknamed “Dr. Violin” for his musical passion, is the executive director of North Carolina Caring Dental Professionals in Shelby, N.C., a nonprofit organization committed to helping dentists and dental hygienists who struggle with substance use disorders, mental health issues, depression and burnout. He earned his dental degree from the University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry, after which he worked in private practice for more than 39 years. It was his own experience within the dental profession that led to Dr. Claytor’s involvement with the North Carolina Caring Dental Professionals.
“He has had a huge impact on our profession—and on me,” said Dr. Brett Kessler, President of the ADA for the 2024-2025 term. “He’s a mentor, a friend and one of the strongest advocates we have for dentists’ mental health and well-being. Dr. Claytor has worked hard to break down the stigma around addiction and mental health, and he’s built a strong community of support for those who are struggling. I have been lucky to do this work alongside him.”
During his mid-career while working in private practice, Dr. Claytor began to experience the pressure of finding balance supporting his dental practice and family’s needs. In his early 40s, he began to ask for support to deal with stress, conflict, disgruntled patients and setting boundaries; he then realized that no one inherently knows how to deal with these obstacles, and they must be taught and learned. Through his own experiences and growth with mental health, Dr. Claytor decided to be that teacher for others in the dental industry.
Initially, Dr. Claytor volunteered with the North Carolina Caring Dental Professionals, where he coordinated conferences and connected dentists with helpful resources. That led to presenting educational lectures on substance abuse and well-being. He rose to associate executive director and was later named the organization’s executive director in 2022.
Dr. Claytor also co-founded the National Council on Dentist Health Programs, an organization focused on encouraging best practices in peer assistance, professional monitoring, education and advocacy. The council works with dental societies and licensing boards to create effective wellness resources for dental professionals.
“This award is an incredible honor and a humbling accolade,” said Dr. Claytor. “I want dental professionals to know that they don’t have to be left behind in this profession, and I plan to encourage professionals to remove stigmas, empower ourselves and do what we need to do personally to remain engaged with our dental community.”
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