Aspen Dental

Aspen Dental is a prominent American dental support organization (DSO) that was founded in 1998 in Syracuse, NY, and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It operates as a subsidiary of The Aspen Group (TAG) and supports a vast network of over 1,100 independently owned and branded Aspen Dental locations across the United States. The core business model of Aspen Dental revolves around providing comprehensive non-clinical support services to dental practices. This includes managing administrative tasks such as marketing, staffing, patient billing, insurance negotiations, and technology infrastructure. This allows the dentists who own and operate the individual Aspen Dental practices to focus primarily on delivering patient care, unburdened by the complexities of running a small business. While the individual practices are independently owned by licensed dentists, they operate under the unified Aspen Dental brand and benefit from the organization's scale, resources, and established systems. Aspen Dental aims to increase access to dental care, particularly for individuals who may not have a regular dental provider or face financial and other barriers to receiving care. Many of their practices are strategically located in areas identified as "dental deserts" where there is a high need for dental services. Their services encompass a wide range of general and specialized dental treatments. These include routine check-ups, cleanings, X-rays, fillings, extractions, crowns, bridges, root canals, and periodontal disease treatment. Additionally, Aspen Dental practices offer specialized services such as dentures (including full, partial, and implant-supported options), dental implants, oral surgery, endodontics, and orthodontics (including Motto® clear aligners). They also provide emergency dental services for urgent needs like severe toothaches, broken teeth, and immediate care for dental abscesses. To make care more affordable, Aspen Dental accepts most major dental insurance providers and offers various flexible financing options through third-party lenders. They also have an "Aspen Dental Savings Plan" as an alternative for patients without insurance. A significant initiative is the "Healthy Mouth Movement," launched in 2014, which provides free dental care to veterans and underserved populations. Aspen Dental is known for its "Practice Ownership Program," which provides a structured path for dentists to become practice owners, fostering an entrepreneurial spirit within their network while still benefiting from the DSO's extensive support. This model is designed to attract and retain dental professionals by offering a blend of clinical autonomy and business support.