Aspen Dental

Aspen Dental

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Corporate dentistry Dental support organization
Founded	1998 (1998)
Founder	Robert Fontana
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Number of locations	Approx. 1,100+ (2025)
Area served	United States
Key people	Robert Fontana (Founder & CEO) Arwinder Judge (President & CCO)
Services	Management and support for branded dental practices
Owner	American Securities, Ares Management, Leonard Green & Partners
Number of employees	15,000+ (Group-wide)
Parent	The Aspen Group (TAG)
Website	aspendental.com
Footnotes / references [1]

Aspen Dental (official name: Aspen Dental Management, Inc.) is a prominent American dental support organization (DSO) that provides comprehensive non-clinical support services to independently owned and operated dental practices branded as Aspen Dental. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the company supports a network of approximately 1,100 dental offices across the United States.^[2]

The organization's business model is centered on managing the administrative, marketing, and operational aspects of dental practices, allowing dentists to focus solely on clinical care. Aspen Dental-branded locations are often established in areas with limited access to dental care, targeting individuals who may face financial, geographic, or other barriers to receiving regular treatment. While the company has seen significant growth and has engaged in extensive philanthropic efforts, it has also faced scrutiny and legal challenges regarding its business practices and patient care standards.

Aspen Dental's origins trace back to the 1997 merger of two separate dental management companies: East Coast Dental and Upstate Dental. Robert Fontana, the current CEO, founded East Coast Dental after leaving his management role at Upstate Dental, which had been established in 1981 by Richard Adolfi. In 1997, a group of investors acquired both companies, merged them, and brought Fontana back to lead the newly formed entity, which was rebranded as Aspen Dental Management, Inc. in 1998.^[3]

Initially based in East Syracuse, NY, the company rapidly expanded its footprint. By the year 2000, Aspen Dental managed 33 locations across New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, primarily located in accessible shopping centers.^[4]

The 2000s marked a period of significant growth fueled by private equity investment. In 2006, private equity firm Ares Management acquired the company, which by then had expanded to 87 locations in seven states.^[5]

In 2010, the company was sold again, this time to Leonard Green & Partners in a deal valued at approximately $500 million.^[6] This was followed by a major recapitalization in 2015 led by an affiliate of American Securities, which joined the existing ownership group of Ares Management and Leonard Green & Partners.^[7]

In October 2021, reflecting its national scale, Aspen Dental relocated its primary headquarters from New York to a modern office in Chicago's Fulton Market District.^[8]

Aspen Dental's rapid growth and business practices have attracted scrutiny from media and state authorities. Between 2010 and 2015, the company entered into settlements with consumer protection agencies in Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts regarding its advertising and sales practices. The company agreed to pay financial penalties and provide patient reimbursements without admitting fault or wrongdoing.^[9]

In June 2012, a PBS Frontline investigation titled Dollars and Dentists alleged that Aspen Dental's business model created pressure on dentists to upsell patients into unnecessary treatments and utilized aggressive sales tactics for third-party credit plans.^[10] A class-action lawsuit filed in 2012 accused the company of illegally owning dental practices, in violation of state laws that mandate only licensed dentists can own a practice. This lawsuit was ultimately dismissed by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York in 2015.^[11]

The company has also faced lawsuits related to employee conduct and patient safety, including a case in 2022 involving a patient death during anesthesia, which was settled out of court.^[12]

Aspen Dental Management Inc. operates under the Dental Support Organization (DSO) model. As a DSO, the company does not practice dentistry itself but provides a wide array of non-clinical, administrative, and operational support to the dental offices in its network. These services include marketing, patient scheduling, billing and collections, IT support, supply chain management, and staff training. This structure is designed to free dentists from administrative burdens, allowing them to focus exclusively on patient care.^[13] Each Aspen Dental practice is independently owned by a licensed dentist.

This model has become increasingly common in the U.S. dental industry. However, the high cost of dental care in the United States and the complexities of insurance have also fueled the growth of alternative models globally. One notable trend is the rise of dental tourism, where patients travel abroad for more affordable care. International destinations have developed sophisticated dental care ecosystems that often differ from the U.S. DSO system. For instance, hubs like Turkey have seen a rise in facilities such as the Antalya Dental Clinic, which frequently operate on a direct-to-consumer, all-inclusive package model combining treatment, travel, and accommodation.

Aspen Dental's stated target market includes the significant portion of the U.S. population that lacks a regular dentist. Many of its practices are strategically located in what are known as dental deserts—regions with a shortage of dental providers, thereby increasing access to care for underserved communities.^[14]

The Aspen Group (TAG) serves as the parent company for Aspen Dental and other healthcare brands. A central part of its operational model is ongoing professional development and training for both clinical and non-clinical staff across its network.

Aspen Dental has launched several philanthropic initiatives aimed at providing free dental care to underserved populations.

Healthy Mouth Movement: Initiated in 2014, this program leverages a nationwide network of volunteer dentists and staff to provide free dental care to U.S. veterans, who often lack access to comprehensive dental benefits outside the Department of Veterans Affairs system.^[15]

TAG Oral Care Center for Excellence: Opened in 2022 in Chicago, this state-of-the-art clinic provides comprehensive dental care—including routine check-ups, extractions, dentures, and implants—entirely free of charge to low-income Illinois residents who are uninsured or eligible for Medicaid. The center also functions as a training facility for dentists within the Aspen Dental network, who rotate through the clinic to hone their skills while serving the community.^[16]

• Kool Smiles
• Dental service organizations

• Official website