Dental Assistant

Sage Dental's growth in 2026: 5 moves. By: Ariana Portalatin Here are five updates on Boca Raton, Fla.-based Sage Dental from this year: 1. Sage Dental opened a practice location in Clermont, Fla. 2. Sage Dental acquired nine practices in Florida from Monticciolo Family and Sedation Dentistry. 3. In May, the company opened a practice in Orlando, Fla. 4. The DSO partnered with Curaechoice to expand access to dental care to employees and their families. 5. Sage Dental opened offices in Tennessee and Florida in April. At the Becker's 5th Annual Future of Dentistry Roundtable, taking place September 14-15 in Chicago, dental leaders and executives will gain insights into emerging technologies, practice growth strategies and the evolving landscape of dental care delivery, with a focus on innovation, patient experience and operational excellence. Apply for complimentary registration now. Wednesday, September 2 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CDT Presenters: Jennifer Krupp, Infor|Vicki Dardenne, Baptist Health|Melissa Amell, Symmetric Health Solutions Next up in DSO + dpms. * 6 DSOs making headlines Here are six DSOs that have made headlines in the last week: 1. Chicago-based Aspen Dental opened a new location... By: Ariana Portalatin * Specialty1 Partners' growth in 2026: 7 moves Houston-based Specialty1 Partners has prioritized joint venture partnerships this year as one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S. Seven... By: Ariana Portalatin * Aspen Dental opens implant-focused practice in Florida Chicago-based Aspen Dental has opened a new location in Punta Gorda, Fla. Raymond Dixon, DMD, independently owns and operates the... By: Cameron Cortigiano

Aspen Dental opens a second Punta Gorda office as local demand grows for tooth replacement and emergency dental care. Aug 27, 2026, 08:00 ET The new practice plans to host its first Day of Service for local veterans on Nov. 7 as part of a broader Aspen Dental commitment to provide $100 million in donated care and community service nationwide PUNTA GORDA, Fla., Aug. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Today Aspen Dental(R) opened a new supported practice at 26280 Jones Loop Road, Unit B, in Punta Gorda, its second office in the city and a new dental care option for patients on the south side of town and across Charlotte County. The practice is independently owned and operated by Raymond D. Dixon, DMD, who owns and operates several Aspen Dental practices across Southwest Florida. Marc Rabideau, DMD, a graduate of Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, serves as the practice's managing clinical director. Reflecting the needs of the surrounding community, the office places particular emphasis on dentures, implant dentures, crowns and bridges, alongside preventive checkups, emergency visits, oral surgery and Motto(TM) Clear Aligners, each with a clear cost estimate provided before treatment begins. The Jones Loop Road office will also mark its first Day of Service on Nov. 7, 2026, joining Aspen Dental-branded offices nationwide in providing free dental care to veterans in need that day. The event is part of a five-year, up to $100 million commitment to donated care and community service that Aspen Dental announced this year through its Healthy Mouth Movement. Since Day of Service began in 2014, Aspen Dental-branded practices have treated more than 30,000 veterans and delivered more than $28 million in donated dentistry nationwide. "Giving back to this community is important to us," said Dr. Dixon. "That starts with free care for local veterans at our first Day of Service on November 7, and it's part of why we opened a second Punta Gorda office, so patients on the south side of town have an easier place to get the care they need." More than half of Punta Gorda's residents, 56.8 percent, are 65 or older, and the city's median age is 67.6, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Charlotte County reflects the same pattern: 40.4 percent of residents are 65 or older, the highest share of any large U.S. county, according to the Census Bureau. That population is fueling demand for restorative dentistry, dentures and dental implants alongside routine preventive care, particularly along the Jones Loop Road corridor south of downtown. Florida is not immune to the dental workforce shortage affecting much of the country. The state has 283 areas designated as dental Health Professional Shortage Areas, covering nearly 6 million residents, and would need 1,271 more dentists to eliminate those shortage designations, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration. Roughly 4 in 10 Florida adults did not visit a dentist in the past year, according to the Florida Department of Health. "A community with a large share of retirees needs a dentist nearby just as much as a fast-growing one does, maybe more," said Dr. Arwinder Judge, chief clinical officer at Aspen Dental. "Many patients 65 and older are managing dentures, implants or restorative work that requires ongoing care, and a shortage of providers means longer waits and longer drives. Opening a second Punta Gorda office puts that care closer to home for patients on the south side of the city." "When an independently owned practice is ready to open a second location in the same city, that usually means patients are already asking for it," said Lori D'Anna, president, field operations at Aspen Dental. "Our role is to make sure Dr. Dixon and Dr. Rabideau can hit the ground running from day one, with the latest technology, staffing and operational support already in place, so their focus can stay on the patients walking through the door." Patients can book online, call the office directly or simply walk in. Same-day care is available for dental emergencies such as a broken tooth, an infection or sudden pain, and the practice works with many major dental insurance plans and offers flexible financing options to make care affordable. Office Hours and Scheduling The office at 26280 Jones Loop Road, Unit B, Punta Gorda, FL 33950, is now open to new patients. Office hours: * Monday - Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. * Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Appointments can be booked at aspendental.com, by phone at (941) 209-1355, or by walking in. 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

Aspen Dental opens new Selma practice. * August 20, 2026 * 3 minutes read * 1 day ago Led by implant specialist Dr. Mohammad Spouh, the new practice along the Interstate 95 corridor near Eastfield Crossing gives Selma and Smithfield patients closer access to preventive, restorative, and emergency care. Today Aspen Dental(R) opened a new supported practice at 240 Saint Mark Ave., Suite 101, in Selma, giving patients across Johnston County a closer option for routine and urgent dental care. The office is led by practice owner Mohammad Spouh, DDS, a graduate of the Indiana University School of Dentistry who has practiced with Aspen Dental since 2018. The office offers a full range of dental services under one roof, including preventive care, emergency dentistry with same-day appointments, dentures, implants, crowns, bridges, oral surgery, and Motto(TM) Clear Aligners, backed by onsite labs and advanced technology that allow many procedures to be completed in fewer visits with clear, upfront cost estimates. "New rooftops, new retail, and new neighbors are showing up along this corridor every year, and a lot of them still have to drive out of town for dental care," said Dr. Spouh. "I've built my other practices around getting people out of pain quickly and giving them accessible options, whether that's a same-day repair or a full set of implants. I want Selma patients to have that same option close to home." Dr. Spouh is a member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, giving Selma patients access to advanced implant expertise close to home. Selma's population has grown roughly 17 percent since the 2020 Census, from 6,317 residents to an estimated 7,406, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Johnston County, home to Selma, was the fastest-growing county in North Carolina between the 2010 and 2020 Censuses. The office sits at the crossroads of Interstate 95 and U.S. 70, putting it within reach of a broader trade area that includes Smithfield, Clayton, Four Oaks, and other growing pockets of the county. New retail investment, including Target's recent opening at Eastfield Crossing, reflects that same growth. The new Aspen Dental office gives that expanding population a dental practice close to home instead of traveling elsewhere for care. That growth is unfolding against a broader shortage of dental providers across North Carolina. Ninety-three of the state's 100 counties are wholly or partially designated as Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas, according to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, underscoring the need for additional access points as communities like Selma continue to grow. "A shortage designation means real waiting lists and real patients driving 30 or 40 minutes for treatment," said Dr. Arwinder Judge, chief clinical officer at Aspen Dental. "Opening in a place like Selma, right along a growing corridor, gives patients a nearby option for preventive, restorative, and emergency care before a small problem becomes a bigger one." Dr. Spouh's decision to open in Selma reflects Aspen Dental's model of pairing independent practice owners with the operational support to bring comprehensive, affordable care to growing communities. "When a doctor like Dr. Spouh is ready to open an additional location, our job is to make sure the technology, staffing, and back-office support are already in place so he can focus on giving patients complete, affordable care from day one," said Lori D'Anna, president, field operations at Aspen Dental. "That kind of trust, where an independent owner keeps choosing to grow with us, is how we help more communities like Selma get the care they need close to home." The Selma office accepts many major insurance plans and offers flexible financing options to reduce barriers to care. New patients can schedule online, call the office directly, or walk in. Office Hours and Scheduling The Selma office is now accepting new patients at 240 Saint Mark Ave., Suite 101, Selma, NC 27576. Office hours are: * Monday: 8 AM - 6 PM * Tuesday - Thursday: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM * Friday: 7:30 AM - 2:30 PM To schedule an appointment, patients can visit aspendental.com or call (984) 866-4804. 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.