Aspen Dental

Aspen Dental is a prominent American dental support organization (DSO) that provides comprehensive business, administrative, and marketing support services to a vast network of independently owned and operated dental practices across the United States. Founded in 1998 by Bob Fontana in New York, the company's core mission has always been to break down barriers to dental care, making it more accessible, affordable, and transparent for patients. Aspen Dental's business model centers on empowering independent dentists by handling the non-clinical aspects of their practices, such as accounting, human resources, payroll, marketing, and real estate management. This allows dentists to focus primarily on patient care and clinical excellence. While Aspen Dental provides the brand and support, each Aspen Dental-branded practice is independently owned and operated by a licensed dentist. Over the past two decades, Aspen Dental has grown significantly, establishing over 1,100 locations nationwide. It is recognized for its commitment to serving communities, particularly those in "dental deserts" or areas with a high need for dental providers. The services offered by Aspen Dental practices are extensive and include preventive care, general dentistry, emergency dental care, dentures, dental implants, and orthodontics (including their own clear aligner product, Motto). They aim to provide a comprehensive range of treatments under one roof, often with flexible payment options and financing to improve affordability. Aspen Dental is a key brand under The Aspen Group (TAG), which rebranded from Aspen Dental Management, Inc. in 2021 to reflect its expansion beyond dental into other healthcare categories such as urgent care (WellNow Urgent Care), dental implants (ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers), and medical aesthetics (Chapter Aesthetic Studio). Beyond its core business, Aspen Dental is dedicated to corporate social responsibility. Through initiatives like the "Healthy Mouth Movement" and "Day of Service," the company and its network of practices provide free dental care to U.S. veterans and underserved communities. They also invest heavily in clinician development, offering extensive training programs, mentorship, and state-of-the-art facilities like the TAG Oral Care Center for Excellence. This commitment to both patient care and professional growth for dentists has positioned Aspen Dental as a leader in the retail healthcare sector.