Dr. Joshua Friedman, Founder and President of AdDent, Inc., has built a career defined by innovation at the crossroads of dentistry and engineering. Trained as both an electrical engineer and a dentist, he began his career as an Assistant Research Scientist at NYU College of Dentistry. Long before that, his fascination with electronics started early—he was a self-taught HAM radio operator and electronics technician, skills that would one day shape his approach to product design.
Before founding AdDent, Dr. Friedman created Demetron Research Corporation, where he pioneered the first truly handheld curing light and developed the curing light radiometer—tools that quickly became industry standards. These breakthroughs helped dentists improve efficiency, accuracy, and consistency in restorative dentistry.
In the late 1990s, Dr. Friedman launched AdDent, Inc. with a clear mission: to design practical, high-quality dental products that anticipate clinical needs. Located in Danbury, CT, AdDent’s 6,500 sq. ft. facility houses both R&D and manufacturing, allowing the company to develop, test, and produce its innovations in-house. Under Dr. Friedman’s leadership, the company has introduced a range of products that improve diagnostic accuracy, streamline procedures, and enhance patient comfort.
With more than 30 U.S. and international patents (and more pending), Dr. Friedman’s work continues to shape the future of dental technology. His guiding principle is simple yet powerful: combine engineering excellence with clinical insight to create tools that truly make a difference in the operatory.
Learn more about Dr. Friedman’s journey in this episode of our Advancing Dentistry podcast.