Kellie Nock is the assistant editor for Dental Products Report. She graduated from Kent State University in 2018 with a Bachelor's in Journalism. Kellie enjoys multimedia content creation with a focus on audio and video storytelling. 

Weave Launches Healthcare Heroes Program to Recognize Community Contributions. Image credit: © Weave


Weave has announced the launch of Healthcare Heroes, a new grant program to honor healthcare practitioners making significant community contributions. This initiative aims to support local healthcare practices that go the extra mile as they serve their communities, per a press release from Weave.

The program's first grant recipient, who has been awarded $5000, is Sonya Dunbar, MPH, RDH, also known as the Geriatric Toothfairy. Dunbar, a dental hygienist, speaker, author, and entrepreneur, is being recognized for providing essential oral health care to senior citizens and military veterans in long-term care facilities around Jacksonville, Florida, and southeast Georgia. With over 30 years of experience, she co-owns Mobile Dental Xpress, a company she founded to address the lack of dental services for these underserved populations.

"Sonya's commitment and dedication to her community is truly inspiring, and we’re thrilled to recognize her as Weave’s first Healthcare Hero,” said Chris Baird, Chief Marketing Officer at Weave, in the press release. "It’s remarkable how one healthcare provider can profoundly impact their community by identifying a gap in care and inspire industry-wide innovation in caring for local, underserved populations.”

Dunbar expressed her gratitude in the press release.

"I am truly honored and humbled to be named Weave’s first Healthcare Hero," said Dunbar. "As the Geriatric Toothfairy, I have the privilege of restoring dignity and confidence to marginalized communities whose oral health has been ignored for extended lengths of time. Many individuals I serve haven’t had their teeth brushed or cared for in months. My purpose is to be the voice for those whose voices have become a whisper, and I am immensely grateful to be able to make a lasting impact in these individuals’ lives–one smile at a time.”

For more information on Dunbar's fundraising efforts and mission, visit the 

Those interested can also check out Sonya’s discussion on elder oral health care with the Sanders sisters 

Articles

Weave has launched Healthcare Heroes, a grant program to recognize and support health care practitioners making significant community contributions, with dental hygienist Sonya Dunbar, known as the Geriatric Toothfairy, as its first grant recipient.

Weave Launches Healthcare Heroes Program to Recognize Community Contributions

Developed by OraCare, Ortho Protect is a new rinse specifically formulated to meet the specific needs of orthodontic patients regardless of whether they are being treated with clear aligners or traditional brackets and wires.

While orthodontics provides necessary clinical care for patients with malocclusions, the appliances often hamper a patient's ability to manage their oral care routine. Ortho Protect is a 2-part rinse featuring 4 key ingredients.

The rinse include chlorine dioxide that can kill decay causing bacteria and breaks up biofilm; poloxamer 407 which helps create a smooth tooth surface that  is more difficult for plaque to adhere to; calcium lactate which makes calcium available to the patient's teeth; and xylitol to assist with remineralization and elimination of bacteria.

This new rinse is formulated to meet the needs of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with traditional brackets or clear aligners.

OraCare Launches Ortho Protect Rinse for Orthodontic Patients

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.  

Dentsply Sirona’s DS Core Open Cloud Platform Adds New Lab-Focused Features for Efﬁcient Collaboration and Smart Workﬂows | Image Credit: © Dentsply Sirona

Dentsply Sirona is introducing new functionalities for dental labs on its DS Core platform designed to enable labs to collaborate efficiently with the dental practices they serve, resulting in smarter workflows.

DS Core is an open platform solution to unlock the power of digital dentistry for dental labs and practices alike. Last fall, Dentsply Sirona’s cloud-based platform received 

, further boosting digital workflows and communication between dental labs and practices

Today, thousands of labs globally are using DS Core, Dentsply Sirona states.

Easy order acceptance, communication of design proposals with the clinician in real-time, and seamless integration of data into the lab's preferred software are some of the many benefits users of DS Core experience.

Enhanced Dashboard, Improved Collaboration

The order management process has received a major boost with DS Core’s enhanced dashboard. Orders and media are listed under client and patient names for quick and easy access to the relevant information.

Another new feature is the ability to outsource jobs to other labs or even DS Core Create, while retaining all the original job details and files. This comes in handy when working with production partners or managing temporary staff bottlenecks.

"For me, DS Core is an efficiency gain because I can find everything I'm looking for in one place. From intraoral scans and x-rays to my orders and correspondence," Devaughn Fraser, Director of Highland Dental Lab in Canada, says in a press release. "The potential is vast: with this digital step forward, practices and labs are now digital neighbors—no longer limited by distance, time or file types. All information and communication is centralized—no need to check seemingly endless portals, emails, text messages and file transfer services. All information now cohabitates happily under one roof.”

With DS Core Light*, the company is also launching a new subscription option that provides 2 key additional functions. It provides users with 1 TB of storage space and enables labs to store order and design files. Additionally, labs can take their more conventional partner dentists with them on their digital journey. Digitized models of physical impressions and design proposals can be shared back to a dentist via DS Core, even if the dentist is not yet a DS Core user, Dentsply Sirona says. Once dentists start using intraoral scanners to take impressions, they can send their orders via the DS Core platform that they are already familiar with.

As an open ordering and collaboration solution, DS Core connects dentists and dental technicians in a broad network for efficient collaboration. It is open for numerous data formats (dxd, .stl, .ply and .obj as well as dcm x-ray images), enabling nearly every clinician to send data to the lab, regardless of the digital devices they use. The data input can be easily viewed by the laboratory partner via a web browser—without the need to install special software so dental technicians are free to choose which lab software they use to design or fabricate their applications.

With DS Core, all information and communication is centralized—no need to check seemingly endless portals, emails, text messages and file transfer services. | Image Credit: © Dentsply Sirona

“Dentistry is a team sport, and dental labs are an essential part of the dental care team. That’s why we are continuously developing DS Core to enable the dental care team to advance with confidence and play together effectively. The latest updates are specifically made for dental labs” adds Max Milz, group vice president connected technology solutions at Dentsply Sirona. “With DS Core, dental labs can efficiently work together with practices using digital impressions, designs and even x-ray data, supported by real-time chat functionalities. DS Core is a single channel for exchanging many types of data securely, which is a huge improvement compared to the usual fragmented communication channels used today and a significant step towards a new era of connected dentistry.”

Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer at Dentsply Sirona Andreas Frank adds in the press release, “At Dentsply Sirona, we partner with dental professionals to advance our shared vision of transforming dentistry. We are committed to enhancing patient outcomes and supporting practice success. DS Core positions our customers to advance with confidence on all fronts."

With DS Core, dental labs now can get closer to their customers in dental offices and enjoy access to the same easy-to-use ordering and collaboration tools as their dentists. 


Dentsply Sirona’s DS Core Open Cloud Platform Adds New Lab-Focused Features for Efﬁcient Collaboration and Smart Workﬂows

A new integration between Weave and Patterson Dental makes makes it possible for dental practices to sync data between Weave's platform and Patterson's practice management applications; Fuse, Eaglesoft, and Dolphin Management.

The Data exchange between the platforms allows each application to read and write data including patient data, appointment data, and confirmations. The data syncing also includes the ability for both applications to read and write to the ledger, allowing for streamlined payment collection.

“We are committed to providing cutting-edge solutions and delivering exceptional support to our customers,” Branden Neish, chief product and technology officer at Weave says in a press release. “By further integrating our Weave experience platform with Patterson Dental practice management software, we can equip dental practices with the tools they need to enhance their patient experience and ultimately grow their business.”

This new partnership enhances Fuse with online scheduling capabilities via the provider's website, digital forms for enhanced patient intake, and automated payment writebacks. Eaglesoft users benefit from the automated writebacks feature, while practices using Dolphin Management can access digital forms and online scheduling capabilities.

“We have consistently heard great feedback from our practice management software customers who have experienced Weave and are excited to offer even more to customers through deeper integrations,” Patterson Dental vice president of software product management Brad Joseph says in the press release. “Now with Weave, our practice management software customers are able to further streamline processes for everything from phones to online scheduling, missed call texts, online payments and more.”

New integrations make syncing data between Weave's patient communications platform and Patterson Dental's Fuse, Eaglesoft, and Dolphin Management dental practice management applications easier. 

Patterson Dental Integrates Weave Patient Engagement Platform Into Practice Management Solutions

Designed to provide users with a complete oral health solution, VRx MyBiotics Toothpaste & Gel from Viome uses data gathered from the company’s Oral Health Intelligence™ Test to create a customized toothpaste formulation to address each user’s unique oral microbiome and nutrition needs.

“It kind of reinvents this idea of how should you be thinking about caring for your oral health,” Sarah Dorsett, president of Viome’s Consumer Division says in an interview with 

. “Oral health care can be a lot better, and we believe that it starts with that understanding of the oral microbiome, the second largest microbiome in your body. And the oral microbiome is connected to chronic disease, so we see this as a part of preventative care, kind of taking health into your own hands, and really helping to prevent these chronic illnesses.”

Described in a press release as a “dual-action deep cleanser and supplement” the toothpaste formula uses ingredients that are safe to ingest and cleans and protects the teeth and gums while benefiting the entire body. Beginning with a simple, at-home saliva test, Viome then uses the information from that test to create a specialized combination of prebiotics, postbiotics, polyphenols, and other beneficial ingredients in the custom toothpaste formula. All of the VRx MyBiotics formulations are free of harsh abrasives, sugar, dioxides, SLS, saccharin, triclosan, sulfates, BPA, phthalates, parabens, and artificial sweeteners or colors.

“We realized the formula actually needed to be a bit more robust to really take care of your oral microbiome and to also be personalized, so there's two formulas. It's brushing your teeth with one toothpaste in the morning, and then brushing your teeth with another one at night. And they're intended to do very specific things,” Dorsett says.

Sunrise Cleanse & Restore Gel is designed for use in the mornings while Nightly Nourish & Protect Toothpaste is designed for use at the end of the day. The morning formula features patented Livfresh Technology and includes Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and Sodium Tripolyphosphate (STPP) which reportedly shields teeth from plaque-forming microbes and stains. Studies on the gel formula show it removes plaque 250% better than other toothpastes while also reducing gum puffiness by 250%. The nighttime formula is designed with ingredients that are beneficial to both oral and systemic health. It is designed to help remineralize teeth while whitening them without the use of harsh abrasives.

The custom toothpaste is delivered to users in individual unit dosed packages so they are easily able to use the exact right amount of gel and paste each morning and night. This helps eliminate mess and waste while ensuring each user is getting the exact right dose of their customized formula.

“We're kind of giving you this dual-action system that doesn't change your daily routine in any way,” Dorsett says. “It's just personalized specifically for you.”

Getting this new and unique approach to toothpaste out into the world is a big project, Dorsett continues, noting that it’s equally important for Viome to educate dental professionals as well as consumers about this new solution. Consumers need to get a sense that this is something that can work more effectively than what they are using, and dental professionals need to be ready to answer questions their patients ask about VRx MyBiotics Toothpaste & Gel. One of the bigger challenges is getting dental practices to look at the oral microbiome as a part of the standard treatment protocols, and Viome is actively working with practices on pilot projects to help them integrate testing and customized oral care approaches for their patients. Dorsett also highlights a seed program Viome is working on with hygienists to allow them to try the new formulas on their own teeth so they are better prepared to engage with patients about these new, customized toothpaste options.

“This is really a new systemic biology type approach to oral health, and we hope that we can make it really easy for both dentists and consumers to embrace,” Dorsett says.

Based on an oral microbiome analysis, the custom toothpaste features prebiotics, probiotics, and other ingredients designed to optimize the individual user’s oral health.

Viome Introduces the First Toothpaste Customized to Each User with VRx MyBiotics Toothpaste & Gel

Pearl and Archy Announce Integration Partnership for Dental Artificial Intelligence. Image credit: © Archy


Dental artificial intelligence (AI) company Pearl and practice management software Archy have partnered to integrate Pearl’s Second Opinion® into Archy’s imaging platform to provide tools and technologies that can offer dental practices optimized care workflows. Archy’s software combines multiple functions, such as payroll, charting, and patient engagement, into 1 system. This reportedly reduces costs and eliminates the need for additional software packages. Archy CEO Jon Rat expressed his enthusiasm for this partnership in a press release from the companies.

"At Archy, we empower dental practices with cutting-edge technology, providing a true one-stop-shop for everything they need to run their practice efficiently," Rat said in the press release. "Partnering with Pearl to integrate their advanced AI capabilities into our all-in-one practice management software was a natural step, as we believe AI is the future of dentistry.”

Pearl's Second Opinion is designed to improve patient communication by highlighting dental conditions like cavities, bone loss, abscesses, and more, using advanced computer vision technology. Second Opinion is available for patients 12 and older.

“Archy is changing practice management by blending its unique technical expertise with real-world dental experience, equipping dental practices across the U.S. with a centralized solution that checks all the boxes of running an effective practice,” Pearl founder and CEO, Ophir Tanz said in the press release. “We look forward to working with Archy on our shared mission to empower dental providers with the AI-powered insights they need to deliver better oral health outcomes to patients.”

Second Opinion will be included in Archy's Platinum plans and available as an upgrade to the Gold plan, per the press release. Existing Archy customers can contact Archy to add Pearl to their account while new customers can learn

Pearl and Archy have partnered to integrate Pearl’s AI tool, Second Opinion®, into Archy’s practice management software, enhancing patient care and streamlining dental practice operations.

Pearl and Archy Announce Integration Partnership for Dental Artificial Intelligence

Optivida Unveils Nano-Silver Whitening Toothpaste. Image credit: © Optivida Health


Health solutions group Optivida has announced a new toothpaste offering–the Optivida Nano-Silver Whitening Toothpaste. This SilverSentinel™ toothpaste is formulated without the use of hydrogen peroxide, which sets it apart from standard whitening toothpastes that typically incorporate this ingredient. It also utilizes hydroxyapatite in the formula, which aids in remineralization.

Optivida’s SilverSentinel is also free of fluoride, relying instead on the nano-silver formulation to reportedly kill germs, prevent gum disease, and eliminate bad breath. It is said to be able to not only repair dentinal tubules, but also to protect those same tubules, preventing future sensitivity. The silver is also designed to prevent plaque, aiding further in its antibacterial capabilities.

The formulation is supported by a variety of research as referenced in a press release from Optivida. To learn more about SilverSentinel, which is available now, visit the 

This new fluoride- and hydrogen peroxide-free toothpaste from Optivida aims for gentle, effective whitening that repairs and protects enamel. 

Optivida Unveils Nano-Silver Whitening Toothpaste

Leading with a Mentor’s Mindset | Image Credit: © EtiAmmos - stock.adobe.com

Running a business these days is a demanding job with ever-changing obstacles. Dental practice owners are not immune to these challenges.

Today, more than ever, it is critical that the dental team works well together, is efficient, and that practices can train and retain talented team members. With that it mind, we asked Heartland Dental and Planet DDS to provide thoughts on mentoring and to provide advice on how best to run a dental practice and provide the best care for their patients.

Ashley Housley, DMD, practices at Dental Care of Spring Hill in Spring Hill, Tennessee, a Heartland Dental supported practice. She shares her thoughts on leadership and how Heartland Dental helps clinicians with education, growth and improved care for their patients.

Dental Practice Management (DPM): Why is leadership more important than ever when it comes to running a dental practice?

 Good leadership sets the tone for the culture within a dental office. At my office, Dental Care of Spring Hill, we have cultivated a great team culture, which translates to excellent patient care for our community. My partner doctor and I lead by example. If rooms are backed up or sterilization is delayed, we step in to clean and flip rooms ourselves. Our team sees this, respects it, and is inspired to work hard and maintain high standards.

DPM: How can clinicians set themselves apart in terms of running a practice that can train and maintain a great team?

 Strong leadership and clear communication of expectations and accountability are key. We emphasize kindness and ensure that our team members understand the reasons behind our protocols. When team members know the "why," they are more committed to the practice's goals. Laying out clear expectations also prevents surprises and fosters a positive culture, leading to happy employees and satisfied patients. Patients can sense a positive atmosphere in the office, and we strive to make everyone happy.

DPM: What steps should dental practices take to ensure smooth operations across all areas, including patient communication, accounts receivable, and clinical operations?

 At Heartland Dental, we are set up for success with a Practice Manager of Operations (PMO) who acts as the bridge between the front office and clinical teams. They handle insurance verification, accounts receivable, treatment estimates, and efficient collections, ensuring everything runs like clockwork.

Clear communication extends beyond the team. Our queuing system lets patients text us with questions after treatment. We also follow up with TLC calls to ensure patient well-being, demonstrating our commitment to their care.

DPM: Please explain some of the benefits of Heartland Dental and how they’re designed to help practices of all sizes.

 No matter the size of your office, Heartland Dental offers significant benefits. I have been supported by Heartland Dental since I started practicing, and their support allows me to focus on dentistry and patient care by handling administrative tasks such as billing and insurance. They also provide support with hiring by managing ads, interviews, and sending candidates to us for working interviews.

Heartland Dental provides excellent pricing on labs and supply orders through diamond-trusted labs and suppliers, and we have a centralized ordering site called Dentira. We can choose the materials and labs that work best for us.

There’s also a true community of mentorship. New doctors are paired with seasoned practitioners, receiving invaluable support, hands-on assistance, and extensive continuing education opportunities. It's a fantastic way to learn and grow!

But the support doesn't stop there. There is a strong focus on education and growing skills. For example, Heartland Dental University offers comprehensive continuing education courses which help hone technical, leadership, and personal skills. Additionally, there's a dedicated all-doctor email thread for real-time support from colleagues.

If you're looking for a supportive partner to help your practice thrive, Heartland Dental is definitely worth considering.

Mike Huffaker, Chief Revenue Officer at Planet DDS

DPM: Why is leadership more important than ever when it comes to running a dental practice?

 Leadership in a dental practice is more than just a title; it's a responsibility to inspire, guide, and empower every member of the team to provide exceptional care to each and every patient. Effective leaders cultivate an environment where big goals are set, accountability is held, and camaraderie thrives. This sets the foundation for a motivated team dedicated to delivering better patient care.

A strong leader ensures that a team evolves and excels together. By embracing mentorship and feedback, individuals are empowered to reach their full potential, fostering a culture of learning and development within the practice – which will also dramatically lower your attrition rate. When a team sticks together with a strong leader at the helm, they're set up for long-term success. The leader keeps everyone on track and working toward their goals, which helps the business grow and last. It's like having glue that holds everything together, making sure everyone's on the same page and working together smoothly.

In essence, leadership is more important than ever when it comes to running a dental practice because it creates a roadmap for success. With a strong leader driving the team forward, the practice can navigate through the complexities of modern healthcare, adapt to changes, and thrive in a competitive landscape. Effective leadership also means that everyone has the tools they need to achieve the goals you set.

 Clinicians can focus on several key strategies. First, they should prioritize proactive recruiting efforts, positioning their practice as an attractive workplace through factors like competitive compensation, benefits packages, and opportunities for career advancement. But it’s not just about compensation and benefits. You have to build a reputation for being a great place to work with a positive and collaborative culture, and prioritize hiring people who not only have the required skills but align with your culture.

Second, investing in innovative technology solutions, such as cloud-based dental practice management software, can significantly enhance operational efficiency and aid in onboarding new employees. In addition to being intuitive, these solutions offer learning management solutions to equip new team members with the knowledge they need to successfully use the practice management platform.

With a focus on cultivating a strong workplace environment and leveraging cutting-edge technology to train your team, clinicians can set themselves apart and keep both their team happy and their business running smoothly.

DPM: What steps should dental practices take to make sure they’re operating as smoothly as possible in terms of all areas including patient communication, accounts receivable and clinical operations?

 In each area, ongoing training and check-ins are helpful and needed to drive efficiency and accountability. Here are a few tips:

Effective patient communication is the cornerstone of a successful practice. It’s essential to hire the right people and train your staff to be efficient, empathetic, and proactive in their interactions. Regular staff training in customer service can significantly enhance the patient experience.

Best-in-class software solutions can also be used judiciously to complement human interactions. Practice management technology can allow for seamless scheduling and follow-ups, simplifying the process for patients to book appointments and stay engaged with their dental care. With features like automated appointment reminders via email, text messages, or even automated phone calls, patients can easily stay on track with their appointments. By implementing these solutions, your team can redirect their focus toward delivering patient care rather than getting bogged down by manual tasks.

When it comes to A/R, maintaining a smooth-running revenue cycle management (RCM) process is key. Not surprisingly, the more convenient practices can make it for patients to pay their outstanding balances, the faster they can get paid. A few ways software can help practices make the payment process easier for patients include automated payment reminders, timely billing statements, and text-to-pay options. In fact, throughout the RCM process, technology can be used to reduce bottlenecks, such as real-time insurance verification, claims processing, and 835 auto-posting, ultimately reducing the amount of A/R on your books.

In clinical operations, it’s important to adopt new technologies and focus on growing the skills of your team. Harnessing the power of cutting-edge technology can help you create a more seamless experience for patients and staff, allowing them to offload manual duties and focus on more meaningful aspects of their roles. One example is AI-enabled imaging which can support dentists in making diagnoses and help build trust with patients. Ensuring that your team is proficient in the latest dental techniques and technologies improves the quality of care. To identify opportunities for mentorship and further skill enhancement, consider utilizing analytics platforms that integrate directly with your practice management system.

DPM: Explain some of the benefits of Planet DDS solutions and how they’re designed to help practices of all sizes.

 At Planet DDS, we understand the challenges faced by dental practitioners, whether they're solo practitioners or part of larger group practices. That's why we have a complete platform of dental software programs for the modern practice under the Planet DDS umbrella: Denticon, Cloud 9, Apteryx, and Legwork.

Denticon offers comprehensive scheduling, charting, billing, and communication tools, all in a cloud-based platform that enhances flexibility and efficiency. With Denticon, practices can streamline workflows, enhance patient experiences, and uncover hidden revenue opportunities.

Similarly, Cloud 9 is the browser-based practice management system for orthodontics, group practices, and Dental Service Organizations (DSOs)/Orthodontic Service Organizations (OSOs).

Additionally, our Apteryx Imaging software integrates seamlessly with Denticon, incorporating AI technology for more accurate diagnoses and improved patient care.

Our patient acquisition tool, Legwork, empowers practices to attract and retain patients through effective marketing strategies and communication channels.

We exist to empower dental practices to fulfill the promises they’ve made to their teams and their patients. With our solutions, dental practices can thrive in today's competitive landscape while focusing on what they do best—providing top-notch dental care.

For more articles on leadership and mentorship, as well as dental practice management and finance, visit 

www.dentalproductsreport.com/practice-management

The benefits of helping your dental team grow their skills and careers.

Leading with a Mentor’s Mindset

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 

Selling Or Merging with the DSO/OSO Can Create Positives and Maybe Some Negatives | Image Credit: © Екатерина Чумаченко - stock.adobe.com / Generated with AI

Having a terrific general dental practice or an orthodontic practice that is the envy of every orthodontist that you know may not be enough to allow these owners and their practices to continue as they are or with continued increases that they are accustomed to seeing.

They see a “pot of gold,” at the end of the next segment of the marketing effort posed to them by the representatives of the DSOs (Dental Service Organizations) or OSOs (Orthodontic Service Organizations) that are now knocking at their doors. Owners of solo dental practices and specialists may see steady growth in terms of gross revenue, net income and value increases in their dental practices but they can’t envision the timing of points when additional monies arrive that the DSO type of practice affords them the opportunity to achieve. The multiples of growth, value and income that are offered by the DSO model are many times considered out of reach for the individual owner because of the lack of their own numbers of employees who can treat the additional patient flow. They may not have the space for expansion of their office or the desire to borrow substantial monies to afford that increased space. Also, they may be afraid of the new marketing expense that will be needed for a while as the general public sees that the practice is ready for the expansion and that there are no 2- to 3-month waits for appointments.

The individual clinicians may see their values increasing by the 100 or more patients that may be added each month to their practices and the 10 to 15 patients they may lose each month. It may be that a DSO type of practice with 3 or 4 acquisitions already within their ownership group may have 3,000 or more patients to add upon the sale to the DSO so that the immediate growth makes up for about 3 years of growth under normal conditions achieved by the solo practice at a 1-at-a-time pace.

Some of the downsides to the above upside with the immediate growth of the solo dental practice:


The loss of tax deductible benefits to the owner become almost immediate because of IRS regulations that force benefits to be of similar proportions between owners and employees of the same dental practice. This means that the payments may still be made on behalf of the owners, but they will be taxable to them. Unlike when the solo owners can massage the payment and use tax benefit strategies for themselves, their family members and key employees, the DSO type of organization has too many people and restrictions to be able to continue to do so as the solo dental practice operated before the DSO merger. A material restriction as an example would be the use of a retirement plan benefit for the owner in a solo practice compared to the type of retirement plan in a DSO. With expert advice the solo practitioner can adopt a defined benefit plan in his or her practice while employing a 401k or lesser employer sponsored qualified retirement plan for certain employees who are not owners. This can cause a deductible contribution on behalf of the owner in an amount exceeding $150,000 annually. The rank and file employees would receive about $25,000 annually with expert individual tax planning.

When the solo owner has his or her dental practice join the DSO, all contributions would be limited to potentially $50,000 in total for all employees, including the owner, his or her family, and key employees. This change has to do with comparability testing, similar benefits for everyone and almost no tax planning for individuals but only for the dental practice itself. There can be no deviations from comparable testing or the dental practice may lose its deductions as well as being assessed penalties and interest. Other benefit changes invariably include medical insurance premiums as the ability to achieve tax deductible payments for the owner and family members will be gone almost immediately as well.

Weighing the upside and downside for the solo dentist and the DSO: Concentrating on the individual practitioner and what the net gain may be for him or her upon the merger of the 2 dental practices: But when accumulated become very material.


When delving into the material items that may change between the 2 types of organization, retirement plan adoptions and medical insurance premiums may be 2 of the largest types of benefits that will be compromised for the solo owner. There are other items that on an individual basis are not material but are being used as a tax deduction for the dental practice and therefore the owner.

Sometimes the individual owner may be able to deduct certain expenses for family members such as when the family member must drive to pick up or deliver dental products or packages to patients. Did the owner of the solo practice employ that individual and have him or her formally added to the payroll? If so, are retirement plan benefits and other acceptable tax deductible payments being paid through the dental practice on behalf of that individual? Are business related personal telephone calls, deliveries, picking up of items needed for the dental practice, etc., being paid through the practice for the owner and those on the payroll?

What is the age of the dentist who is considering joining the DSO? When was the dentist going to put his or her practice up for sale and have the understanding that he or she may have to wait up to a year for a buyer to come along who could satisfy the terms of the selling dentist? These are all questions to consider and discuss with a dental CPA and potentially with the attorney who may be knowledgeable in working with the dental profession.

Reductions in retirement plan adoptions and medical insurance premiums are some of the many things to consider when owners of solo practices look to switch to the DSO model.

Selling Or Merging with the DSO/OSO Can Create Positives and Maybe Some Negatives

Orthodontic technology company Alta Smiles is the lastest firm backed with a financial investment from the Dental Innovation Alliance (DIA).

Founded in 2019, Alta Smiles is developing novel approaches to hidden orthodontic treatment solutions that are comfortable for patients. The investment from DIA is the first institutional financing for the company, according to a press release.

"Our investment in Alta Smiles highlights DIA's commitment to identifying and supporting technologies that are transforming dental care,” DIA co-founder and managing director Doug Brown says in the press release. “Alta Smiles' novel orthodontic technology significantly benefits both patients and providers. We believe Alta Smiles is uniquely positioned to drive the continued consumerization of dentistry and meet growing patient demand for esthetically oriented orthodontic solutions.”

Alta Smiles C5 Hidden Orthodontics solution is designed with cutting-edge materials and offers patients a discreet solution for aligning teeth that does not require traditional metal brackets. The treatment process integrates remote monitoring and remote consultation solutions, which expands the convenience of the solution for both providers and patients.

"We are thrilled to welcome DIA as a strategic partner,” Alta Smiles founder and CEO Gary Giegerich says in the press release. “DIA's deep industry knowledge and vast network will be instrumental in accelerating our growth and expanding our market presence. Their investment is not just a vote of confidence in our vision but also a validation of the transformative impact we aim to make in orthodontic care."

Featuring an investor base that includes industry experts and executives from successful DSOs, among others, DIA provides early-stage dental companies with funding, advice, and guidance to propel future growth and success.

Dental venture capital firm makes an investment in company developing hidden orthodontic solutions.