As part of Dentistry Today’s Women in Dentistry: CEOs & Founders podcast series, Dr. Paul Feuerstein sat down with Dr. Rania Saleh, founder and CEO of Oryx Dental, to discuss entrepreneurship, innovation, and the future of dentistry.
Founder and CEO Dr. Rania Saleh
A practicing dentist turned technology entrepreneur, Dr. Saleh founded Oryx Dental after experiencing firsthand the operational challenges that can prevent dentists from delivering the level of patient care they envision. Today, Oryx Dental has become one of the fastest-growing dental practice management platforms, helping practices streamline workflows, improve efficiency, and enhance the patient experience.
Below, Dr. Saleh shares additional insights on leadership, artificial intelligence, and why she believes technology should empower—not replace—the dentist.
From Clinical Practice to Software Innovation
Before founding Oryx Dental, Dr. Saleh owned and operated a successful multi-site dental practice in the Washington, DC area. The idea for Oryx emerged during an unexpected chapter of her life when a difficult twin pregnancy required extended bed rest.
As her practice began experiencing inconsistencies in patient care, she realized that the comprehensive clinical protocols she had established were difficult to standardize across multiple providers. Working alongside her husband, a software engineer, she transformed those clinical workflows into software—creating what would eventually become the foundation of Oryx Dental.
Unlike many technology founders, Dr. Saleh didn’t come from Silicon Valley, didn’t have a background in programming, and chose not to pursue venture capital funding. Instead, she built the company around solving a real-world problem she faced every day as a practicing dentist.
Why Software Matters More Than Ever
For Dr. Saleh, practice management software is no longer simply an administrative tool—it’s the operating system of the modern dental practice.
She believes cloud-based technology allows practices to improve communication, standardize clinical workflows, reduce administrative burdens, and ultimately create a better experience for both patients and team members.
“As dentists, our time should be spent caring for patients—not managing inefficient systems,” she explains. “The right technology helps practices operate more smoothly so clinicians can focus on what they do best.”
AI Is Here to Support Dentists—Not Replace Them
Artificial intelligence continues to dominate conversations throughout healthcare, but Dr. Saleh believes its greatest impact in dentistry will come through improving efficiency rather than replacing clinical expertise.
She sees AI taking over repetitive, time-consuming administrative tasks that often contribute to burnout, staffing challenges, and lost productivity.
Rather than replacing dentists, AI can help practices:
- Automate repetitive administrative work
- Improve scheduling and workflow efficiency
- Reduce the impact of staffing shortages
- Increase practice productivity
- Give clinicians more time with patients
According to Dr. Saleh, technology should remove obstacles—not replace relationships.
Looking Beyond Oral Health Alone
One of the philosophies that shaped Oryx Dental from its earliest days is the belief that oral health cannot be separated from overall health.
Dentists frequently identify signs of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep disorders, and other systemic conditions during routine examinations. That broader healthcare perspective influenced Oryx’s original clinical examination module, inspired by the Kois Center’s comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment planning.
Although Oryx has evolved into a complete cloud-based dental practice management system, Dr. Saleh says that commitment to comprehensive patient care remains at the center of the company’s mission.
Investing in Yourself and Your Practice
Dr. Saleh encourages dentists at every stage of their careers to embrace innovation rather than fear it.
Whether that investment involves adopting new technology, improving workflows, or learning new skills, she believes continual growth benefits both practitioners and their patients.
“The best practices aren’t necessarily the busiest,” she says. “They’re the ones that continuously evolve.”
The Future of Dentistry
Looking ahead, Dr. Saleh expects dentistry’s transition to cloud-based systems to accelerate rapidly.
As more experienced dentists retire and younger generations enter practice, she believes expectations around technology, automation, and seamless workflows will continue to rise.
She also predicts practices will begin moving away from managing numerous disconnected software products toward integrated platforms that combine clinical workflows, operations, communication, and AI into one unified system.
A Trend She Believes Is Overhyped
While many companies continue introducing standalone software tools that solve individual problems, Dr. Saleh believes the future belongs to comprehensive platforms.
Managing multiple disconnected applications often creates additional complexity for dental teams. As AI capabilities become increasingly integrated into complete practice management systems, she expects many standalone solutions to become less necessary.
Success Means Better Patient Care
Despite leading one of dentistry’s fastest-growing technology companies, Dr. Saleh defines success simply.
For her, success is measured by healthier patients, happier dental teams, and giving dentists the tools they need to practice at the highest level.
By removing barriers through thoughtful technology, she hopes to help clinicians spend less time navigating systems—and more time delivering exceptional care.
