Dr. Jacob Barton, DMD, of Barton Esthetic and Family Dentistry of Middlesboro, has been selected by Incisal Edge as one of the magazine’s 40 Under 40 Top Dentists in America for 2024.
“I’m humbled simply to have been nominated, let alone selected, as one of the 40 Under 40 young dentists in America,” said Dr. Barton. “I owe so much of my continued success to my educators and mentors as well as my dedicated team for all they do. This is an incredible recognition, and I plan to build on it as I serve my patients throughout our community for years to come.”
This prestigious honor, now in its fourteenth year, is based on nominations from dentists’ colleagues and peers. They are then carefully evaluated by an independent panel of judges including three doctors, who are also former honorees, to select the finalists.
“Considering there are approximately 200,000 licensed dentists in America, being selected as one of our 40 Under 40 doesn’t merely put honorees in the top 1% of their profession. It puts them at the very top echelon within that 1%,” said Incisal Edge magazine’s editor, Edward Kobesky. “Each year’s 40 Under 40 are always among the most ambitious, caring, innovative and clinically gifted doctors working today, and this year’s group is arguably our most diverse and impactful yet.”
Dr. Barton and his fiancee and business partner, Dr. Baylee Blackburn, met and had their first child while attending dental school at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry. By May of 2022 they had both graduated and purchased a dental practice on Cumberland Avenue in Middlesboro.
He was nominated, in part, because the couple has contributed over $60,000 in free dental care to underserved communities and offer pro bono services for veterans on Veterans Day.
As part of his profile in Incisal Edge, Dr. Barton shared why he became a dentist.
“In high school, I worked on a farm owned by a dentist. Something about the hands-on work resonated with me, and when I entered college, I decided to shadow that dentist. That was eye-opening: I realized that dentistry was the perfect fit for me. It allowed me to work with my hands while also making a positive impact on people’s lives,” Barton said.
The digital magazine with Barton’s full profile can be viewed by visiting IncisalEdgeMagazine.com and clicking on the link to the 40 Under 40 issue.
As with all of Incisal Edge magazine’s lists, rankings and awards, people and companies pay no fee to nominate, participate or be selected.
“Being chosen as one of Incisal Edge’s 40 Under 40 is a highly coveted honor that requires an enormous amount of dedication to all aspects of dentistry, as well as a relentless commitment to ever-higher levels of clinical achievement,” said Jennifer Hannon, VP, Brand Marketing & Digital Transformation for Benco Dental, the publisher of Incisal Edge. “There’s no question that each and every honoree has earned their status, particularly since all nominations are carefully scrutinized by a panel of similarly high-achieving dentists and dental experts.”
Incisal Edge magazine is distributed in print to over 136,000 intellectually curious, business- minded and clinically driven dentists and dental professionals. The multiple award-winning print and digital media property is considered dentistry’s premier destination for peer-to-peer insights, strategies and thought leadership, as well as the leading authority on ranking dentistry’s most successful and influential individuals.

About Barton Esthetic and Family Dentistry of Middlesboro, KY

Dr. Barton and his wife, Dr. Baylee Barton, bought their practice in 2022 from Dr. Joe Boster, who had practiced at this location for over 40 years. Dr. Barton has proudly served his community and his patients since. He feels that his patients are family and treats them as such. The main goals at his office are to get his patients back to health and help them feel comfortable with smiling again. Dr. Barton and Dr. Baylee offer free dental days to their community 3-4 times a year for those who cannot afford the growing costs of dental work.
Dr. Barton has cutting edge technology that allows him to place implants, perform guided surgeries, aligners, and many more procedures. Dr. Barton’s practice is undergoing major renovations at this moment as they modernize the office but they are still running at full force. He welcomes anyone that needs a dental home to come be a patient and check out their facility, staff, and docs — we don’t think you will be disappointed!