Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1387940
22 BECKER'S DENTAL + DSO REVIEW - VOL. 2021 NO. 3 DENTAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS Why a recent dental grad chose to join a DSO: 3 notes By Gabrielle Masson A s dental school costs rise, many younger dentists are joining DSOs instead of opening their own private prac- tices. Yonathan Nigatu, DDS, told Becker's why he chose to join Aspen Dental after graduating from Nashville, Tenn.-based Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in 2018. Editor's note: Responses have been lightly edited for clar- ity and length. Question: Why, as a new graduate, did you decide to join a DSO? Dr. Yonathan Nigatu: I graduated from dental school in 2018, and as a young dentist, ADMI's model made owning my practice easy and more affordable than purchasing a traditional private practice. It's actually about half the cost of purchasing a practice because I'm partnering with ADMI and operating under the As- pen Dental brand. Leveraging the nonclinical business services allows me to focus on what I do best — taking care of patients — instead of HR and payroll. The support continues after becom- ing an owner with ongoing education, leadership retreats and practice support in areas including marketing, finance, legal and recruiting. The support services were really attractive to me. Joining a DSO also helps ensure my practice benefits from the latest industry innovations. The scale of a DSO allows for wide- spread rollout of new future-focused technology, in many cas- es much earlier than a private practice would be able to afford. This allows myself and other doctors to have the most advanced dental materials and continue to improve patient care quality. DSOs typically offer comprehensive benefit packages that pri- vate practices can't match. Aspen Dental offers higher salaries, signing bonuses, relocation assistance, student loan repay- ment programs (up to $200,000 per dentist) and a clear ca- reer trajectory. Q: How did you determine which DSO to join? YN: I chose Aspen Dental because of the volume of patients I get to see, along with the organization's dedication to making dentistry accessible to everyone. My practice is located in Rock- ingham, N.C., which has a huge dental need, and my team and I can make a significant impact on the health of our community. I also really enjoy the team environment at Aspen, and that I have a network of colleagues across the country who I can turn to for advice and support. Additionally, the compensation package was very competitive, including options for profit-sharing, relo- cation assistance and signing bonuses. Q: What should DSOs keep in mind when trying to attract new dental graduates? YN: The DSO model is very attractive to new dental graduates who may be trying to pay off school debt and learn more about practice management. It gives young dentists a network of dental professionals to turn to with clinical questions as well as the nonclinical services supporting areas. One of the benefits of being part of the Aspen Dental team is the clear trajectory for those who want to own a practice — or multiple practices. There is a lot of guidance provided on ownership opportunities, such as partnering with another new owner, and the company provides ownership training and preparation. In short, the DSO model removes many of the obstacles young practice owners face and makes one's career path smoother and career goals more attainable. n 10 numbers showing the dominance of Heartland Dental By Laura Dyrda E ffingham, Ill.-based Heartland Dental is among the largest dental service organizations in the U.S. based on the number of supported dental practices. Ten numbers reflecting how big the company is: 1. Heartland Dental supports more than 1,800 dentists. 2. The DSO has 1,150-plus dental offices within its network. 3. Heartland's network spans 38 states. 4. Fifteen percent of Heartland's practices report 15 per- cent revenue growth in the first year of partnership. 5. Eighty-two percent of Heartland dentists are satisfied with the company. 6. In 2020, Heartland added more than 100 dentists to its network. 7. The company reported more than 50 single-practice affiliations last year. 8. Heartland expects to add more than 150 new offices and 100 dentists this year. 9. In 2020, Heartland grew pre-COVID earnings by 30 percent, excluding March and April, and completed a large capital raise. 10. Through its Free Dentistry Day program, the company provided 5,500 patients with $3 million worth of free den- tistry last year. n