Dental Office Manager

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.

Aspen Dental opens its newest practice in Travelers Rest, expanding dental access as the Upstate community grows. New office at 569 Roe Center Ct. is led by practice owner Dr. Jebediah Christy, with Dr. Trevor Haas serving as managing clinical director TRAVELERS REST, S.C., July 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Today Aspen Dental(R) opened a new supported practice at 569 Roe Center Ct., Suite 100, in Travelers Rest, extending access to comprehensive dental care for patients across northern Greenville County and the surrounding Upstate region. The office is led by practice owner Jebediah Christy, DMD, who has been part of the Aspen Dental network since 2007 and also owns practices in several other states. Trevor Haas, DMD, a graduate of Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, serves as the practice's managing clinical director. The office offers a range of dental services under one roof, including preventive care, emergency dentistry, dentures, implants, crowns, bridges, oral surgery and Motto(TM) Clear Aligners, along with walk-in availability and clear, upfront cost estimates. "Travelers Rest is a community where people want a dental provider they can get to know and trust over time," said Dr. Christy. "Whether a patient is here for a routine cleaning, an urgent toothache or finally ready to address a bigger concern, our goal is to make that first visit easy to understand, easy to afford and easy to schedule again." Travelers Rest has grown quickly. The city's population rose from 4,570 residents at the 2010 Census to 7,788 at the 2020 Census, an increase of about 70 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Neighboring Greenville County is now the most populous county in South Carolina, with an estimated 583,100 residents as of 2025, according to the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program. That growth continues to reach communities like Travelers Rest, home to Furman University's campus, the northern trailhead of the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail and Trailblazer Park, which hosts the Travelers Rest Farmers Market and other community events downtown, according to the City of Travelers Rest. That growth is adding pressure to a dental care system that already has too few providers to meet demand. South Carolina has about 52 practicing dentists per 100,000 residents, according to the South Carolina Office for Healthcare Workforce's 2024 Health Professions Data Book. More than a third of South Carolina adults, 35 percent, had not visited a dentist within the past year, according to the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. "Access to dental care starts with proximity, whether a patient can get an appointment somewhere near where they live and work," said Dr. Arwinder Judge, chief clinical officer at Aspen Dental. "In growing communities like Travelers Rest, that access hasn't always kept pace with population growth. Opening here means patients spend less time traveling and more time getting the preventive and restorative care that keeps small problems from becoming bigger ones." The Travelers Rest office is part of Aspen Dental's continued investment in high-growth communities across the country, supporting independent practice owners like Dr. Christy as they expand access to care close to home. "Independent doctors across the Aspen Dental network share the same goal: make quality care easier to find and easier to afford," said Lori D'Anna, president field operations at Aspen Dental. "By pairing innovative technology with the support doctors need to build successful practices, we're helping expand access to modern, high-quality dental care in communities like Travelers Rest." The Travelers Rest office accepts most major insurance plans and 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. The office's weekday hours, including a later Monday close at 6 p.m., are designed to help patients fit dental visits around work, school and family schedules. Office Hours and Scheduling The Travelers Rest office is now accepting new patients at 569 Roe Center Ct., Suite 100, Travelers Rest, S.C. 29690. Office hours are: * Monday: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. * Tuesday - Thursday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. * Friday: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. To schedule an appointment, patients can visit aspendental.com or call (864) 920-4599. 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. For more information, visit aspendental.com, and follow Aspen Dental on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. SOURCE Aspen Dental(R) For further information: Aspen Dental Public Relations, Email: [email protected]

California Attorney General escalates Corporate Practice enforcement in medical and dental care. LinkedIn Facebook X California has long maintained one of the country's more developed prohibitions on the Corporate Practice of Medicine ("CPOM") and the Corporate Practice of Dentistry ("CPOD"). Recent activity from California Attorney General Rob Bonta suggests that these doctrines are increasingly used as enforcement tools in arrangements involving management services organizations ("MSOs"), dental service organizations ("DSOs"), professional corporations ("PCs"), and other health care businesses in California. In the span of roughly three months, Attorney General Bonta took three notable actions in this area: he filed an amicus brief in Art Center Holdings, Inc. v. WCE CA Art, LLC; announced a settlement with Aspen Dental Management, Inc. involving California's ban on the CPOD; and announced a "first-of-its-kind" settlement with Carbon Health Technologies, Inc., affiliated medical groups, and Carbon's co-founder and former CEO, Eren Bali, involving California's CPOM doctrine. This blog post provides a general overview of these recent California developments and what they may signal for regulated professional organizations operating in California. The Attorney General's Art Center amicus brief is a forceful restatement of California's CPOM doctrine as applied to "friendly PC" or "captive PC" structures. The brief identifies the relationship that "poses the greatest risk" as one in which an MSO has the sole authority to select a so-called "friendly" physician to serve as the PC's nominal owner, while the MSO retains contractual tools that allow it to control the friendly physician-owner and, by extension, the PC. The brief focuses on a common set of provisions often described as continuity agreements, succession agreements, assignable options, or stock transfer agreements. Under the arrangements described by the Attorney General, the physician-owner could not sell the physician's interest in the PC without first obtaining the MSO's approval. The MSO also retained the unilateral right to terminate its contract with the physician-owner. If the contract were terminated, the physician-owner's ownership interest would transfer to another licensed physician selected by the MSO. According to the Attorney General, these provisions run the risk of giving the MSO "near complete control" over the PC. The Attorney General's core argument is that agreements giving a nonprofessional corporation the right to replace a PC's physician-owner with a physician of its choosing violate California's CPOM prohibition by giving the corporation undue control over a medical practice. The brief reasons that the ability to replace the physician-owner gives the nonprofessional corporation direct control over physician hiring and firing, and indirect control over all other aspects of the practice. That concern is heightened where the physician-owner has no corresponding right to replace the MSO without losing ownership of the PC. Importantly, the brief does not state that every MSO-PC relationship is per se unlawful. It expressly notes that not all MSO-PC relationships give the MSO an impermissible degree of control and that, absent the problematic contractual terms at issue in this specific case, the legality of an MSO-PC relationship requires a totality-of-the-circumstances analysis. But the brief leaves little doubt that contractual rights allowing an MSO to replace a physician-owner are, in the Attorney General's view, among the highest-risk features in a California MSO-PC structure. On May 7, 2026, the California Attorney General announced a settlement with Aspen Dental Management, Inc. for alleged violations of California's ban on the CPOD and alleged false and misleading advertising. The settlement, which remained subject to court approval at the time of announcement, included $2 million in penalties and $300,000 in restitution funds for certain patients. The Attorney General alleged that Aspen Dental, a private equity-owned DSO, exceeded its role as a provider of business management and administrative services by interfering with and unlawfully directing the practice, ownership, and management of dentistry in California. The Attorney General's press release also noted that Aspen Dental entered California in 2019 and opened 19 offices in the state, and alleged that Aspen selected, purchased, staffed, and advertised offices without clearly identifying independent dentist-owners. The Aspen settlement is not Aspen Dental's first corporate practice-related enforcement matter. In 2015, the New York Attorney General announced a settlement requiring Aspen Dental Management to overhaul its New York business practices so that it would not dictate care provided by dentists and hygienists, split patient fees with clinics, or hold itself out to consumers as a provider of dental services. The California Aspen Dental settlement includes a broad set of injunctive terms. Among other things, Aspen Dental agreed to restrictions including: * Not replacing any practice owner with another dentist of its choosing. * Not requiring practice owners to effectively give up ownership of any dental practices if they decide to terminate their contractual relationship with Aspen Dental. * Not owning the property for any practice. * Not practicing dentistry, including but not limited to owning or managing any dental office. * Not basing service fees on revenue, sales, or profits. * Not suggesting, directing, or encouraging any licensed clinician, other than a practice owner, to sell or increase revenue for any service or product. * Not compensating any of its employees based on the sales or revenue of practices. * Not paying any practice employees incentives based on practice sales, revenue, or profit, including the sale of a particular service or product. * Discontinuing the use of and not enforcing any existing contractual provision that restricts where any licensed clinician may practice or be employed. * Providing a written fee schedule for products and laboratory services. * Registering with the Dental Board of California as a Dental Group Advertising and Referral Service. * Clearly and conspicuously identifying the practice owner's name when creating, publishing, or disseminating advertisements. On June 26, 2026, Attorney General Bonta announced a "first-of-its-kind" settlement with Carbon Health Technologies, Inc., affiliated medical groups, and Carbon's co-founder and former CEO, Eren Bali. The settlement, which remains subject to court approval, resolved allegations that Carbon Health violated California's prohibition on the CPOM, used unlawful consumer contracts, engaged in false advertising, and improperly billed patients and insurers. According to the Attorney General, Carbon Health used a "friendly PC" model in which Carbon Health Technologies, a MSO, controlled clinic operations by contract. The challenged contracts allegedly allowed the MSO to replace the physician-owner with a physician of its choosing, while preventing the physician-owner from replacing the management company without risking loss of ownership. The Attorney General also alleged that the structure allowed unlicensed officers to direct staffing, advertising, and insurance negotiations. The proposed Carbon judgment would permanently enjoin the defendants from engaging in CPOM, including through: * A management services agreement granting the MSO complete authority over advertising, payor negotiations, selection of medical equipment, and the hiring, firing, and compensation of licensed medical professionals; * Granting an MSO any ownership interest in a professional corporation, including through an assignable option agreement giving the MSO the right to acquire such ownership interests for its own account; and * A revolving credit agreement requiring affiliated professional corporations to seek financing exclusively from the MSO at an above-market rate, subject to certain conventional lender restrictions. The judgment also addresses significant billing and consumer-protection issues, including automatic payment disclosures, overcharges to patients with health maintenance organization coverage, collection of amounts not owed, incorrect billing codes, and misrepresentations about clinics' in-network status. The proposed judgment imposes a $4.4 million civil penalty claim against the Carbon Health entities in their bankruptcy cases and a separate $100,000 civil penalty against Mr. Bali. California's recent activity fits within a broader state-level trend toward increased scrutiny of private investment and lay-entity influence in clinical care, including recent developments in Oregon and Vermont. California's approach is notable because the Attorney General is using existing professional practice and consumer protection authorities to challenge MSO-PC arrangements, rather than relying only on newly enacted legislation. The takeaway is not that MSOs, DSOs, or private capital are categorically prohibited in California. Rather, California operators should assess whether their arrangements preserve genuine professional ownership and clinical independence, particularly where contract terms allow the management entity to influence who owns the practice, how the practice exits the relationship, or how clinical and patient-facing decisions are made. Summer Associate Shen Wang provided substantial assistance with the drafting of this blog post/article. DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations. Attorney Advertising. (C) Dorsey & Whitney LLP 2026