Dr Colette Bridgman, a consultant in Dental Public Health in Manchester, has been honoured with an MBE in the New Years' Honours List.
The only dentist to appear in this year's list, she received the honour in recognition of her services to dentistry and oral health.
She recently launched a 'Baby Teeth DO Matter’ in Rochdale, an initiative aiming to combat the high numbers of children with tooth decay throughout the region.
She explained: ‘This scheme is an opportunity for dentists to identify those people who do not understand the importance of good dental hygiene from a young age. Children who do not look after their teeth often experience difficulties and dental problems later in life.’