Dental Assistant

Aspen Dental has opened its first practice in Shelby County, Alabama, located in Alabaster's District 31 development. The practice, at 725 1st Street SE, is led by managing clinical director Ahmad El Estwani, DMD, a University of Alabama at Birmingham graduate. The office offers comprehensive dental services including preventive care, emergency dentistry, dentures, implants, and clear aligners. It features early weekday hours, Saturday availability, and walk-in access. Alabaster's population grew from 33,284 in 2020 to 34,748 in 2025. The practice is amongst the first tenants at Shoppes at District 31, part of a development expected to bring over 600,000 square feet of new retail and hospitality space. Alabama ranks 45th nationally for adults visiting a dentist annually, with uneven provider distribution between urban and rural areas.

Aspen Dental opens its first Shelby County practice in Alabaster's District 31 development. The new location expands access to oral healthcare in Alabaster with early weekday hours, Saturday availability and walk-in access ALABASTER, Ala., Aug. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Today Aspen Dental(R) opened its newest supported practice at 725 1st Street SE, Suite 3305, in Alabaster, bringing comprehensive dental care to patients across Shelby County and the greater Birmingham metro area. The office is the first Aspen Dental practice in Shelby County and is led by managing clinical director Ahmad El Estwani, DMD, a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The Alabaster office offers a full range of dental services under one roof, including preventive care, emergency dentistry, dentures, implants, crowns, bridges, oral surgery and Motto(TM) Clear Aligners, a discreet option for adults looking to straighten their smile. The practice also provides clear, upfront cost estimates, flexible financing options and walk-in availability. "Alabaster is a place where families are busy, schedules are full and people need care that is close by and straightforward," said Dr. El Estwani. "Our team is looking forward to building a practice where patients can come in for everything from a routine checkup to an urgent dental need to a smile they've been wanting to improve, and leave with a clear plan they understand." The Alabaster office is positioned to make routine, urgent and restorative dental care easier to access along one of Shelby County's growing commercial corridors. Alabaster's population grew from 33,284 at the 2020 Census to 34,748 in 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The new office is one of the first tenants at the Shoppes at District 31, part of a larger mixed-use development taking shape at the intersection of Interstate 65 and U.S. 31. The development is expected to bring more than 600,000 square feet of new retail, restaurant and hotel space to the city, according to the City of Alabaster. The opening comes as Alabama continues to face oral health access challenges. Alabama is ranked 45th in the nation of adults who visited a dentist within the past year, and dentist-to-population rates in the state's urban counties are more than twice those in its rural counties, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. "When communities grow, dental access has to grow with them," said Dr. Arwinder Judge, chief clinical officer at Aspen Dental. "This new Alabaster office pairs modern technology with a convenient, affordable option for preventive, restorative and urgent care, helping patients address small issues before they become bigger health concerns. That is especially important in a state where access to dental providers remains uneven." The Alabaster office is part of Aspen Dental's continued expansion into communities where patients need more convenient ways to get quality, affordable care. The practice's early weekday hours and Saturday availability are intended to make it easier for patients to fit dental visits around work, school and family responsibilities. "Independent doctors across the Aspen Dental network share the same goal: make quality care easier to find and easier to afford close to home," said Lori D'Anna, president, field operations at Aspen Dental. "By pairing Dr. El Estwani's clinical leadership with the technology and operating support he needs to run a successful practice, we're helping expand access to modern, dependable dental care in communities like Alabaster." The Alabaster office offers flexible financing options. New patients can schedule online, call the office directly or walk in, and same-day appointments are available for dental emergencies, including toothaches, broken teeth and other urgent needs. Office Hours and Scheduling The Alabaster office is accepting new patients at 725 1st Street SE, Suite 3305, Alabaster, AL 35007. Office hours are: * Monday - Thursday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. * Friday: 7 a.m. - noon * Saturday: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. To schedule an appointment, patients can visit aspendental.com or call (205) 894-9183. Walk-ins are welcome. About Aspen Dental Aspen Dental, part of The Aspen Group (TAG), is committed to breaking down barriers to oral healthcare and helping patients put themselves first, starting with a healthy mouth. With nearly 1,100 Aspen Dental-branded offices across the United States, Aspen Dental practices offer comprehensive care and are supported by dedicated teams focused on making dental care more accessible and affordable. Through initiatives such as the Healthy Mouth Movement and Day of Service, Aspen Dental and its network continue to expand access to care for those who need it most. Aspen Dental-branded practices are independently owned and operated by licensed dentists. Aspen Dental Management, Inc. provides business support services to these practices. For more information, visit aspendental.com, and follow Aspen Dental on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. SOURCE Aspen Dental For further information: Aspen Dental Public Relations, Email: [email protected]

Aspen Dental earns TIME private company honor. * July 27, 2026 * 3 minutes read * 6 hours ago Aspen Dental named to the list's first-ever class of honorees, reflecting the network's investment in team member growth through The Aspen Group University (TAG U) Aspen Dental(R) today announced it has been named to TIME's inaugural list of America's Best Private Companies 2026. The company ranked No. 195 out of 500 companies nationwide, standing as the only dental services organization included on the list. Developed in partnership with Statista, an industry ranking provider, the list recognizes the nation's top private companies based on two key dimensions: employee satisfaction and company impact. The evaluation included independent survey data from approximately 217,000 employees of U.S. companies collected over the past three years, alongside an assessment of each company's broader societal impact. The full list is available on TIME.com. "This recognition reflects our belief that exceptional patient care starts with exceptional people," said Jacob Allen, chief human resources officer at The Aspen Group. "Our mission is to bring better care to more people, and that starts with creating an environment where our people can grow and succeed. By investing in real training and clear paths for advancement, we're building careers instead of just filling roles, and that shows up in the experience that patients have every day." That commitment to people begins with training at The Aspen Group University (TAG U), based at TAG's Chicago headquarters, which offers comprehensive onboarding, clinical development, leadership coaching, and hands-on education to team members throughout their careers. The TAG Oral Care Center for Excellence builds on that foundation with advanced clinical training while expanding access to care for underserved patients. Aspen Dental also offers a unique path to practice ownership through its Practice Ownership Program (POP). Every Aspen Dental practice within the network is owned by a licensed dentist, a distinction that reinforces the organization's commitment to clinical autonomy while providing doctors with the business support, technology, and operational resources they need to focus on delivering high-quality patient care. "Patients deserve care they can trust," said Dr. Arwinder Judge, chief clinical officer of Aspen Dental. "When doctors are empowered to keep learning and make clinical decisions based on what's best for each patient, they're able to provide the high-quality, compassionate care every patient deserves. That's why every investment made in our clinicians is ultimately an investment in better patient outcomes." That same focus on people carries over to the patients and communities served through initiatives like the Healthy Mouth Movement, which has provided free dental care to veterans and other patients in need since 2014. Aspen Dental's Day of Service events have treated more than 30,000 veterans and delivered more than $28 million in donated care to date, and the next Day of Service is planned for this November. The TAG Oral Care Center for Excellence, in addition to training clinicians, provides free, comprehensive dental care to people in Illinois who need it and might otherwise go without care. In 2026, Aspen Dental built on that work with a new five-year pledge to give up to $100 million in donated care and community service nationwide. That combination of investing in people while giving back to the community is exactly what TIME's new ranking set out to measure. The recognition underscores Aspen Dental's commitment to creating an exceptional experience for both its team members and the patients they serve. By investing in its people and supporting clinical excellence, Aspen Dental continues to advance its mission of bringing better care to more communities nationwide. Individuals who want to learn more about career opportunities at Aspen Dental are encouraged to visit careers.aspendental.com. About Aspen Dental Aspen Dental, part of The Aspen Group (TAG), is committed to breaking down barriers to oral healthcare and helping patients put themselves first, starting with a healthy mouth. With nearly 1,100 Aspen Dental-branded offices across the United States, Aspen Dental practices offer comprehensive care and are supported by dedicated teams focused on making dental care more accessible and affordable. Through initiatives such as the Healthy Mouth Movement and Day of Service, Aspen Dental and its network continue to expand access to care for those who need it most. Aspen Dental-branded practices are independently owned and operated by licensed dentists. Aspen Dental Management, Inc. provides business support services to these practices. For more information, visit aspendental.com. About The Aspen Group (TAG) The Aspen Group (TAG) was built on the idea of bringing better healthcare to more people. TAG supports independent healthcare practices operating more than 1,400 locations in 46 states through five consumer healthcare brands: Aspen Dental(R), ClearChoice Dental Implant Center(R), WellNow Urgent Care(R), Chapter Aesthetic Studio(SM), and Lovet Pet Health Care. TAG invests in its team members through The Aspen Group University (TAG U), providing clinical training, leadership development, and career advancement opportunities across its network. For more information, visit teamtag.com.