DPR Managing Editor Stan Goff and Midmark's Holly Weaver, marketing manager, dental instrument processing, discuss the features of Midmark's new M11 steam sterilizer at the Greater New York Dental Meeting 2024. [3 minutes]

DPR Managing Editor Stan Goff and Midmark's Holly Weaver, marketing manager, dental instrument processing, discuss the features of Midmark's M11 steam sterilizer.

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DPR Managing Editor Stan Goff and Midmark's Holly Weaver discuss the features of Midmark's new M11 steam sterilizer at the Greater New York Dental Meeting 2024. [3 minutes]

DPR Interviews Midmark Marketing Manager Holly Weaver about the new M11 steam sterilizer

BISCO's Rolando Nunez, DDS, MSc, gives a presentation on zirconia bonding at the Greater New York Dental Meeting. He explained the benefits of using ZirClean and Z-Prime to achieve optimal bonds.

GNYDM24 Product Focus: Rolando Nunez, DDS, MSc, gives a presentation on zirconia bonding that includes using BISCO products ZirClean and Z-Prime

Hi. My name is Rolando Nunez. I just gave a short presentation on zirconia bonding here at the Greater New York Dental Meeting.

A few takeaways and a few products that I mentioned talked about the mechanical retention and chemical interaction that needs to be done to zirconia in order to properly bond, and we can achieve that by using an MDP containing primer such as Z-Prime. But also, interestingly enough, you need to understand that zirconia can be contaminated by saliva during the try-in process. So, it is important to remove that saliva that hinders the ability of the primer to chemically bond to the zirconia. So, I talked about a zirconia cleaner that we make called ZirClean. So those 2 elements actually provide an optimized process in order to achieve the best bond possible. Again, Z-Prime, an MDP containing primer, and ZirClean, a surface cleaner after try-in, both from BISCO. Thank you.

BISCO's Rolando Nunez, DDS, MSc, gives a presentation on zirconia bonding at the Greater New York Dental Meeting. He explains the benefits of using ZirClean and Z-Prime to achieve optimal bonds.

At the Greater New York Dental Meeting, Josh Gosnell, Vice President, Business Development at Adit, explains how cloud-based analytics and patient communication software can enable practices to run more efficiently. [1 minute]

GNYDM24 Product Focus: Josh Gosnell, Vice President, Business Development at Adit, explains how cloud-based analytics and patient communication software can enable practices to run more efficiently

At the Greater New York Dental Meeting, Josh Gosnell, Vice President, Business Development at Adit, stopped by the Dental Products Report booth to explain how Adit's cloud-based analytics and patient communication software can enable dental practices to run more efficiently and to retain patients. [1 minute]

In this video at the Dental Products Report booth at the Greater New York Dental Meeting, Ankur Gupta, DDS, talks about why he likes SDI's Stela dental restorative and what makes the material special. [1.5 minutes]

GNYDM24 Product Focus: Ankur Gupta, DDS, talks about why he likes SDI's Stela dental restorative and what makes the material special

Hi, my name is Ankur Gupta. I'm a general dentist. I've been practicing for 20 years, and even though I feel like you get better over time, which is [the case] with just certain levels of hand skills. [But] they're still like soul crushers in clinical dentistry. Like, let's say I do a filling and I really like how it looked. It looks good in the x-ray. And that patient comes back and says, ‘I can't chew on this side’ or ‘it's sensitive’. It just kills me, because I don't know what I did different. I don't know what I did wrong. And actually, that's what I really like to lecture about.

I like to lecture about what is the technology that exists today that makes it so that we are minimizing the chances of this type of soul crusher happening to us. Now, the product that I talked about at my lecture today is called Stela. It's from SDI, and it's the only restorative product that it's a chemical cure. So, you're not curing it. It's curing at the level of the primer. That means that the cure, the actual pull of energy and the pull of polymers, is towards the margin of your prep, creating the most gap free interfaces possible. There might be other products out there that do this, but I just don't know what they are. This is the one. This is like, where, if I have a deep filling, if I'm worried about being too close to the pulp, this is the stuff that I have to use.

Bruce Bryen is a certified public accountant with over 45 years of experience and is a part of Baratz & Associates CPAs. He specializes in deferred compensation, such as retirement planning design; income and estate tax planning; determination of the proper organizational business structure; asset protection and structuring loan packages for presentation to financial institutions. He is experienced in providing litigation support services to dentists with Valuation and Expert Witness testimony in matrimonial and partnership dispute cases. He is also a financial writer for several dental journals. You may contact him at 609-502-0691 or at 

The Power of Employer Sponsored Qualified Retirement Plans | Image Credit: © Kirsten Davis/peopleimages.com / stock.adobe.com

Many dental practice owners offer some type of employer sponsored qualified retirement plan for the dental practice staff and himself or herself. They range from the popular 401k profit sharing plan to the more sophisticated cash balance or defined benefit plan.

Depending on the dental CPA employed by the dental practice and his or her knowledge and experience with these types of plans, a good acceptable legally discriminatory plan can be adopted where most of the benefits are allocated to the owner and the participants that he or she want to have the most benefits. Discrimination is not allowed so a real expert in the design and implementation of these plans is the critical point.

There may be thousands of dollars at stake for the owner with a sophisticated plan design that is legally discriminatory in favor of the owner. Over the number of years that the dental practice is operating, this type of plan design may be one of the smartest financial decisions that the dentist can make. Spending some time with the dental practice CPA—if that person understands what these types of plans can accomplish—may change the dentist’s life at retirement. It may be the difference between a high standard of living at retirement and an amount that is much less and may cause some struggling at retirement.

The following paragraphs will describe the current and long term benefits of these employer sponsored qualified retirement plans in a detailed format so that some new ideas about their use may be learned.

The current benefits for the owners of the dental practice when adopting an employer sponsored qualified retirement plan for the dental practice:

When thinking of the short term benefits afforded to the owners of the dental practice, the first thing that should come to mind are the instant tax benefits that will be accrued. In today’s dollars, the owners of the dental practice will see tax deferrals in the thousands of dollars. There will be an accumulation of assets in the retirement plan of untold amounts of investment dollars allocated in such a way as to create diversity along with good short term and long term investments. These funds will grow on a tax deferred basis faster than the same investments that were made outside of the protective shell of the retirement plan.

An example is a personal investment yielding 4% in one’s own name. If a federal and state tax rate combined was 35% and using $100,000 as an example, what would the net return be when added to the $100,000? At 4% a $100,000 investment would return $4,000. Subtract 35% for federal and state taxes, and the individual investor is left with ($4,000 x 65%= $2,600. (tax is 35%).

Using an employer sponsored qualified retirement plan as a comparison, the same $100,000 investment at 4% would offer $4,000 as a return but it would be tax deferred. At the end of the year, there would be $104,000 in the account using a simple interest format. At the end of year two, 4% earned on the money in the retirement account would be ($104,000 x 4%) = $108,160. On an individual investment at the end of year two, the $102,600 [this figure comes from the first year’s earnings of $4,000 x 65% (net of 35% tax)= $2,600 plus the $100,000]plus an additional $4,000 at 4% net of the 35% tax would be equal to $104,290. It is easy to see in this example comparing the same data that the investment in the retirement account is worth $108,160, or $3,870 more after 2 years, than the $104,290 Think about how the difference progresses over the years. As the funds are withdrawn from the retirement plan, a tax is due. The main point is that the tax will be paid from funds coming from the earnings that would not be available on an individual basis. 

An analysis of the earnings but not the tax deferrals from expensing those funds as a deduction to the dental practice every year

Since an analysis was just completed on the earnings comparison within the retirement plan compared to what an individual would have (above), let’s look at the tax deferral to the owner and the dental practice. If the dental tax deduction was the $100,000 that we used to illustrate the funds available in the retirement plan for investment purposes, what does that mean to the dental practice and owner? Assuming a 35% tax rate for the owner and dental practice, which is probably on the low side, that would equate to another $35,000 for the owner to be able to understand where some of the funds would be coming from to make the $100,000 retirement contribution. The higher the tax rate, the more money would be available from the write-off. If the retirement plan contribution were not made, a great deal of those funds would be used to pay taxes so it would not be in the owner’s pocket anyway. We’ve just looked at the tax deductions and deferred taxes for the owner and the dental practice.

Another option for the dental practice owner for his or her use in the adoption of an employer sponsored qualified retirement plan within the dental practice.

There comes a time when the owner feels it is time to move on from dentistry or at least from his or her own practice. Working full time may not be an optimum choice for dentists at this stage of their careers. Many dental practice CPAs understand the power that retirement plans offer to dentists while practicing as a clinician as well as when heading towards retirement. Just as the prior paragraphs gave some insight as to the short term benefits and if continued, how the same approach becomes a long term benefit, a similar understanding can offer an unconventional method to sell the dental practice with a minimal amount of tax being incurred by the buyer and the seller.

The dental CPA should be the first person to speak with regarding how the retirement plan can assist in creating an exit strategy for the dentist that is a win-win situation for the buyer and the seller. This method will provide an abundance of buyers if the advisors to the dentists understand its significance.

Articles

Dental practice owners should understand how different retirement plans can assist in creating an exit strategy that benefits the buyer and the seller.

The Power of Employer Sponsored Qualified Retirement Plans

Howard Glazer, DDS, FAGD, shares his thoughts on the benefits provided from a variety of Shofu dental products after his presentation at the Greater New York Dental Meeting. [2 minutes] 

GNYDM24 Product Focus: Howard Glazer, DDS, FAGD, shares his thoughts on the benefits provided from a variety of Shofu dental products

Hi, I'm Dr Howard Glaser. I'm a real, live, practicing dentist, and I'm here on the floor of the Greater New York Dental Meeting—the 100th year of the Greater New York Dental Meeting. [I’m] pleased to be here, and one of the things I just did is a presentation on Shofu’s latest products.

I want to mention some of those [products] to you. They've been known for great flowables. Well, now they have a Beautifil Flow Extreme, which is even stronger and much better. They've been known for a great bonding agent, BeautiBond, which had 2 monomers in it. Take a look at the BeautiBond Xtreme now that has 4 monomers in it, which is excellent.

[Also] They have probably one of the best instruments you could have on your counter that you're going to use every day, because my mantra is you can only restore what you see. And that is the DentaLaze, a soft tissue, handheld pencil grip diode laser that is in practice every day in my office, and a must-have in my mind that you should have.

And documentation is key, not only in maintaining your records, but in explaining and educating to your patients. And we do that with photography. I used to have all those fancy cameras with the big lenses and the wing lights and the ring lights. Now I simply have one camera, the EyeSpecial C-V by Shofu. It is designed not for you doctors, it's designed for your assistants to use. It's single-handed operation. Weighs about a pound, has wing lights and ring lights built in. They know when to turn on. There is no aperture setting. You can't take a picture that's out of focus, it won't expose.

You get perfect pictures every time. Make sure to take a look at Shofu’s products, probably some of the most economical products you can buy in terms of restoratives today in dentistry, probably 30% less than competitors. They deserve a good, hard look. They will enhance your ability to do fabulous dentistry.

GNYDM24 Product Focus: Michele Gabriel of DDSmatch stops by the DPR booth at the Javits Center in New York to talk about how her company helps dental practices with transition strategies. [2 minutes]

GNYDM24 Product Focus: Michele Gabriel of DDSmatch stops by the DPR booth at the Javits Center in New York. 

My name is Michele Gabriel. I am the owner of DDSmatch New York City and Long Island. We just did a presentation on transition planning and how to talk to buyers and sellers and steps in the process to find a smooth transition strategy. Our organization is a nationwide company. There are 53 franchise owners with DDSmatch across the country.

So, we represent sellers in the transition planning process when they're thinking about or considering the eventual sale of their practice. Our goal is really to create a road map for your success and to talk to potential buyers, to make sure that they're pre-qualified, that we're working with them to make sure that they're connected to the right people, and also to think about what your transition plan looks like as an individualized approach—whether that's 3, 5 or 7 years out. If we have a longer runway to talk about your transition planning, we're certainly going to take a look at things in your financials. Maybe you want to take an extra day off. We do associate placement, where we can help you find an associate dentist. We help doctors in reference to buy in and buy out opportunities, and we also help to make sure that your personal plan, whether that's estate planning or real estate or your lease, are intact. Our counterparts cast a wide net across the United States, and we also partner with a company called Blue & Company to help you with your third party business valuations.

So, if I can explain anything to anyone, it's get started early. Advice is free, and let's start a conversation with DDSmatch. If you'd like to reach out to me in particular, again, Michele Gabriel, I'm responsible for the 5 boroughs of New York City and Long Island. I can be reached at 862-409-9925, or find us at www.ddsmatch.com.

You can create a buyer opportunity, or you can reach out to us about possibly selling and thinking about transitioning your practice. Thank you.

GNYDM24 Product Focus: Michele Gabriel of DDSmatch stops by the DPR booth at the Javits Center in New York.

Stan Goff is a Managing Editor with MJH Life Sciences, which includes Dental Products Report, Dental Practice Management, Dental Lab Products, Modern Hygienist, and Dentist's Money Digest. He has covered the dental industry since 1999 and can be reached at sgoff@mjhlifesciences.com.  

ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow Marks Pulpdent’s First Major Product Release in 4 Years | Image Credit: © Pulpdent Corporation

Pulpdent Corporation has expanded its flagship ACTIVA line of groundbreaking dental restorative materials with the introduction of ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow. The new product is designed to raise the standard of care for bulk-fill procedures by supporting the natural remineralization process,

 providing defense against secondary caries,

 and offering optimal esthetics through its ShadeFusion™ universal shade matching technology.

Pulpdent adds that ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow also gives dentists a powerful new tool to perform Class II restorations, one of the most common treatments in dentistry.

As a next-generation product, the new material not only raises treatment standards, but also overcomes efficiency limitations of traditional bulk-fill materials. For example, ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow offers unique protection against shrinkage stress and wear through its patented stress-reducing monomer, MODULUS™.

For practitioners, it provides a true self-leveling and 1-step bulk-fill solution thanks to its unlimited depth of cure and ability to be used without a capping layer, according to Pulpdent. When taken together, ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow’s unique properties empower providers to improve patient care while boosting chair-time efficiency and practice production.

“ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow is an exciting step forward, both for dentistry and our company,” Michael Jeffery, Pulpdent Director of Product and Strategy, says in a press release. “We believe ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow ushers in a new, higher standard of care for dental patients worldwide. The product also provides immediate cost-saving efficiencies for today’s business of dentistry. This is particularly true of ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow’s ability to simplify Class II procedures, one of the most common yet challenging treatments in general dental practices, pediatric dental practices, and DSOs [dental service organizations] today.”

In recent years, bulk filling has become a mainstay procedure for the treatment of dental caries and other restorative needs. However, in some cases confidence in existing bulk-fill materials is often compromised due to challenges with photopolymerization and shrinkage stress, as well as bulk-filled restorations’ susceptibility to microleakage, bacterial incursion, and restorative failure. Pulpdent states traditional limitations were squarely in mind with the development of ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow, which is formulated to address each of these shortcomings head-on.

ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow self-levels easily, flows naturally, and exhibits elevated chroma and translucency matching. Independent testing demonstrates ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow provides superior protection against microleakage,

—all at thresholds that meet or exceed existing standards for top-tier restorative materials.

The viscosity of ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow is ideal for various clinical situations. For example, in cases requiring restoration of deep boxes and cavernous lesions, the material ensures proper treatment thanks to its flowability and dual-cure properties. With its unlimited depth of cure and no layering/capping requirement, dentists can be confident that the risk of voids is minimized, according to the manufacturer. Furthermore, ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow provides an option for dentists who appreciate ACTIVA’s bioactive properties, but desire working without a dispenser. ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow simplifies inventory thanks to ShadeFusion universal color matching, while the material is sufficiently radiopaque so dentists can be confident that it will be visible for any clinician evaluating their patient for years to come.

For pediatric dentistry, ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow is available in a special formulation for primary dentition, ACTIVA KIDS BioACTIVE Bulk Flow. This version of the product has all same properties as ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow, but offers 2 esthetic options optimized for children’s teeth, states Pulpdent. ACTIVA KIDS BioACTIVE Bulk Flow’s universal shade matches primary dentition, while an opaque white shade is available for when visible restoration margins are desired. As with all members of the ACTIVA family of restoratives, ACTIVA KIDS BioACTIVE Bulk Flow contains no BPA, no bis-GMA, and no BPA derivatives.

ACTIVA KIDS BioACTIVE Bulk Flow is a new next-generation bulk-fill material optimized for pediatric dentistry. 

“ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow is a natural expansion of our ACTIVA research that relieves critical pain points for dentists,” adds Lew Berk, Pulpdent managing director. “The product is a perfect complement to our existing ACTIVA line, while offering new users a novel material choice for their practice style. ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow reflects our longstanding mission—first espoused in 1947 by Pulpdent founder Dr. Harold Berk—to save teeth and help patients live in comfort and smile with confidence. It also meets our vision to empower dentists with higher standards of care and new practice efficiencies. From our R&D scientists to our manufacturing specialists, I’m very proud of our team and pleased to introduce ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow to dentists around the world.”

The new product was unveiled recently at the 2024 Greater New York Dental Meeting and is available for pre-market ordering at 

. It will begin rolling out to Pulpdent’s global network of distribution partners for sale and shipping on January 1, 2025. The product comes in a 5g syringe and includes 10 Automix tips. As with all Pulpdent products, ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow is made in the USA to the highest quality assurance standards in Pulpdent’s manufacturing facilities in Watertown, Massachusetts.

For more information, including background on the science of bioactivity and related clinical research, visit the product page at 

https://www.pulpdent.com/pulpdent-products/activa-bioactive-bulk-flow/

1. The remineralization process is a natural repair mechanism to restore the minerals again, in ionic forms, to the hydroxyapatite (HAP) crystal lattice. Source: Arifa MK, Ephraim R, Rajamani T. Recent advances in dental hard tissue remineralization: a review of literature. 

International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry

2. ACTIVA™ BioACTIVE physically seals the margin of the material and tooth interface through mineral apatite formation, subsequently protecting against microleakage, the leading cause of secondary caries and recurrent decay.

3. Source: Marginal bacterial leakage in Class I cavities filled with two bioactive restorative materials: An ex vivo study. Zmener O, Odont, Pamejer CH, Della Porta R. Pending publication: 

, 2025. In the study, Activa Bioactive Bulk flow exhibited 92% experimental survival/success rate when compared to Predicta Bioactive Bulk (66%) and Omnichroma Flow Bulk (0%). See Activa Bioactive Bulk Flow product page on pulpdent.com for additional details.

4. ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow demonstrates volume wear of 2mm

 after five years. Comparison made to Omnichroma Flow Bulk. Source: Independent third-party testing by SD Mechantronik. See Activa Bioactive Bulk Flow product page on pulpdent.com for details.

5.ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow demonstrates maximum stress rate of less than 0.01 MPa/s. Comparison made to Dentsply Sirona SDR Flow+, 3M Filtek One Bulk Fill Restorative, and Omnichroma Flow Bulk. ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow shrinkage stress rate testing within lowest statistical grouping along with SDR Flow+. Independent university testing, publication pending: American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research, 2025. Disclaimer: See Activa Bioactive Bulk Flow product page on pulpdent.com for full details.

Next-generation bulk-fill dental restorative raises the standard of care for bulk-fill procedures by providing natural remineralization support, while also overcoming current bulk-fill limitations.

 ACTIVA BioACTIVE Bulk Flow Marks Pulpdent’s First Major Product Release in 4 Years

Matt Muscolo is senior vice president and general manager of dental practices at CareCredit.

Whether planning for significant milestones or simply trying to go about one’s day, the possibility of a sudden chipped tooth or a cumbersome toothache isn’t something that’s anticipated. Unexpected, and sometimes time- sensitive, dental issues can bring pain and discomfort, as well as the looming stress of unplanned costs to consider. In fact, many patients may not be prepared to address the costs associated with unforeseen dental needs that go beyond routine dentistry.

More can be done to help patients financially prepare for dental services, and providers need to equip them with proactive financial education and tools to access timely, quality care without any financial stress. Partnering with a third-party financing company helps dental teams have proactive financial conversations with patients and ease their cost-related anxiety about unexpected dental care. Financial hurdles can be a significant barrier to patients seeking necessary oral care. According to Synchrony’s 2023 “Dental Lifetime of Care” study, 83% of people would consider delaying unanticipated dental care due to its cost.

 Further, 17% of survey respondents reported ignoring professionally recommended procedures, nearly half of whom experienced additional oral health issues. When patients postpone necessary treatment due to financial concerns, there is a chance existing conditions may worsen, or new ones may arise.

With oral health and oral germs being directly associated with overall health, it’s no surprise that it they can be linked to severe conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, pneumonia, and pregnancy complications when left untreated. For example, periodontal diseases have been proven to have a strong association with strokes, related to atherosclerosis, while untreated dental abscesses have the potential to spread to other parts of the body.

Untreated dental issues may also have financial ramifications. What can initially be a simple procedural fix can cause additional issues and expenses that may impact patients long term. The financial pressure, coupled with the dental pain and discomfort, may create stress and anxiety for patients, which can lead to them feeling overwhelmed and contribute to the avoidance of needed care.

Based on insights from the Synchrony and Commonwealth Health Advisors’ “Patient Pay” survey conducted in 2020,

 patients are looking for payment products and plan options from their providers before receiving any care at all, suggesting that patients are willing to invest in the quality care they need, if the options are extended to them. Providers can help patients manage care costs and financially prepare for nonroutine dental care by expanding consumer payment offerings and working with a third-party financing partner. When considering the right financing partner, there are important aspects for dental practices to consider, including the following:

A seamless and accessible prequalification process:

 Prequalification helps providers and patients understand what resources are available to help patients manage costs. Solutions such as Synchrony’s CareCredit credit card allow patients to see in real-time if they prequalify for a financing solution they can use to pay for their treatments. If approved, patients can use their credit card immediately to receive timely care. Further, patients can use CareCredit to purchase daily dental care tools, from Waterpiks to floss and routine dental services.

Digital financing tools can help patients assess their financial resources anytime and anywhere,giving them a sense of control in the process. CareCredit offers digital solutions to help patients learn more about the credit card and apply from the privacy and security of their own device. This fosters consumer-driven financing, where patients are in control of their payments.

Integrated practice management software (PMS):

 Providers would benefit from an alternative financing solution that can be integrated across the revenue cycle into their PMS, alleviating the burden for care teams by creating an enhanced and simplified administrative workflow. CareCredit offers an integration in PMS that streamlines the process and makes it easier to process transactions, saves time, and reduces the number of manual errors.

Equipping patients with information about financing options prior to facing unexpected dental treatments and care helps providers and patients act quickly when necessary and to move forward with timely care, avoiding the risk of more costly and invasive procedures in the future, which can lead to better oral health outcomes.

1. SynchronyDental Lifetime of Care Study. October 2023. CareCredit is a Synchrony solution.

2. PatientPay. CareCredit and CWH Advisors. October 2020.

Practices must equip patients with treatment information and discuss potential financing options before unexpected dental treatments become too big of an obstacle and to help them avoid the risk of more costly and invasive procedures in the future.

How Dentists Can Help Patients Navigate Unforeseen Dental Care

St. Paul, Minnesota-based Patterson Companies will be sold to a health-focused private equity firm for $4.1 billion, according to several news reports today.

On Wednesday, Patient Square Capital, a healthcare investment firm, agreed to acquire Patterson Companies, a dental and animal health product distributor, for more than $4B according to a press release.

Under the terms of the agreement, Patterson shareholders will receive $31.35 in cash per share, representing an approximately 49% premium to Patterson’s 30 calendar-day volume-weighted average price (VWAP) ending December 4, 2024 (the last trading day before Patterson announcing the evaluation of strategic alternatives).

The company had announced it is exploring strategic options, including a sale or merger, to boost shareholder value, after it recently announced its second-quarter earnings dropped by one-third year over year.

“Today’s announcement marks an exciting next step in Patterson’s evolution and delivers immediate and certain value for our shareholders and positions us to continue to invest in serving our customers and driving growth,” Don Zurbay, president and chief executive officer of Patterson, says in a press release. “This transaction follows a review of strategic alternatives by our Board of Directors, with assistance from our independent advisors, maximizing our value and enabling Patterson to continue to execute our strategy well into the future.”

Earnings were mixed, “given the challenging end market environment,” adds Zurbay.

Patient Square Managing Partner Jim Momtazee adds: “I have closely followed Patterson for decades and long admired the value the company provides to partners and customers. Patient Square is excited to work closely with management on the next chapter of growth for the business building on its long and proud legacy.”

Patterson’s Board of Directors, excluding Zurbay given his position as a Management Director, has unanimously approved the transaction.

Consistent with the Patterson Companies’ commitment to strong governance practices, Zurbay has recused himself from participating in any deliberations or approvals related to the transaction, according to the press release.

The transaction will be financed through a combination of committed equity financing.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of Patterson’s fiscal 2025, subject to the receipt of shareholder approval, regulatory approvals, and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

Upon completion of the transaction, Patterson will become a privately held company, and its common stock will no longer be traded on the NASDAQ. Patterson will maintain its headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Patterson Companies connects dental and animal health customers in North America and the U.K. to the latest products, technologies, services and innovative business solutions that enable operational and professional success.

Patient Square Capital, meanwhile, is a dedicated health care investment firm with approximately $11 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2024. The firm aims to achieve strong investment returns by partnering with growth-oriented companies and top-tier management teams whose products, services, and technologies improve health.

The dental, animal health product distributor to go private in $4.1B deal announced today.