Restoring Smiles, Restoring Hope
Like many college seniors, Randy Leander was eager to find an opportunity to start his career. On the verge of earning his chemistry degree, Randy’s professor connected him to a dental company in Chicago. During graduation week, he interviewed and received a job offer. Randy never could have imagined that a single connection and his first role would spark a lifelong career—and a chance to make a meaningful impact on others.
After several years of industry experience, Randy reached a crossroads in his career in 1988. He felt it was time to leave his current company, but the next step wasn’t yet clear. As a pastor’s son, Randy had accepted Christ as his savior at age seven and was raised with the conviction that ministry should be at the center of everything you do. His father taught him to seek opportunities for the Lord to use him. Though he had never considered starting his own business, he turned to prayer.
With a diverse background, strong industry connections, and a Godly, praying, encouraging wife, God led him to launch Dentonics—a dental manufacturing company grounded in purpose and faith. Dentonics restores smiles while being cemented in the truth and bonded in love through the love of Jesus Christ. With the Gospel as the company’s foundation, it was only fitting that when the time came to brand their first product, they named it Master-Dent—with “Master” representing Jesus in how everything they do is for the Lord.
In addition to serving the dental industry, Dentonics provides meaningful work for people and gives back to the local community and beyond. After establishing the company, Randy began exploring how to be a business in mission—a journey that shaped Dentonics’ commitment to outreach HERE, NEAR, and FAR. This vision includes actively involving employees in service, giving them purpose beyond the company walls.
Locally (HERE), Dentonics works with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and supports their scholarship fund for football camps. These camps, held at Wingate University, include presentations of the Gospel. Also, Randy’s son, Ryan, volunteers with FCA, helping lead meetings, coaching, and actively participating in the camps. Also, Dentonics partners with Safer Communities Ministry (NEAR) by sponsoring fundraising dinners and visiting inmates in jail to support them, their caregivers, and their children.
Having known Wayne for over 15 years through church, Randy is a faithful subscriber to the Atulado monthly newsletter. In one issue, Randy read a story describing how people in Cuba brought their own dental materials to the dentist—and underwent procedures without any anesthetic. Deeply moved, Randy connected with Wayne to explore how Dentonics could help Atulado send much-needed dental materials to Cuba, supporting their FAR outreach.
Atulado shipped the first dental materials in December 2024. It included 112 kits containing dental restorative essentials: a catalyst and a base paste, two resins, a bottle of etching material, and double-ended spatulas designed to prevent cross-contamination between pastes. Wayne had taken a few sample items on a previous mission trip, which resulted in the thoughtful curation of the items in the kits. A dentist can restore a tooth by just mixing the pastes and the resins in the kit—no light or additional chemicals are required. This single shipment can restore over 10,000 teeth.
Like previous projects, such as powdered milk and fortified rice, Atualdo distributed the dental kits through the church. Pastors and leaders find a local dentist and introduce them to the Gospel. Community members then visit the church to get on the list to receive dental care. In the process, they hear the Gospel and receive prayer, creating opportunities for spiritual transformation.
A WhatsApp group was created to support the project and encourage collaboration and feedback. Wayne’s initial concern—that dentists might encounter challenges using the materials—was quickly put to rest. Dentists found the materials easy to work with and praised their exceptional quality. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with the group chat filled with before-and-after photos and powerful stories of restored smiles, a testament to both the impact of the kits and the skill of the dentists using them. The biggest hurdle so far is the island’s frequent power outages. A patient will be in the dental chair when the power cuts out—sometimes for hours, even days—causing delays and disruption to care.
Before partnering with Atulado, Randy knew that Cuba was a large market where the government supposedly provides free healthcare. However, hearing firsthand stories revealed a deeper reality that resources are in dire need, and there’s an opportunity to help people. The key is shipping materials, and the export license Atulado secured makes it possible. Encouraged by the success of the initial shipment, Randy is open to exploring other outreach efforts in the future—whether through additional dental materials or even equipment.
The partnership with Atulado is profoundly active and engaging. Employees have the opportunity to participate in mission trips, allowing them to experience the impact firsthand. For example, Randy’s son, Trevor, joined Wayne on the initial mission trip, during which sample dental materials were first shared with local dentists. That experience and the people Trevor met were instrumental in his life. Though many he met had very few material things, they radiated joy and happiness.
One Bible verse that holds special meaning for Dentonics is Matthews 6:33. Its message of seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness resonates with their outreach efforts. With many unknown places like Cuba and other parts of the world, this verse serves as a reminder to remain faithful to the mission and priority of Christ’s Kingdom and to trust the Lord for the rest.