We have all heard about dental support organizations (DSOs). At their simplest, DSOs provide business support services to dentists, ranging from practice consulting to total practice management. This means dentists maintain complete clinical autonomy and are responsible for patient care and patient records.

There are many benefits of being part of a DSO but, essentially, the DSO provides comprehensive support to the practitioner so they can focus on delivering great care to patients. DSOs create centers of expertise like real estate, marketing, learning and development, sourcing, and human resources

DSOs like TAG – The Aspen Group (TAG), helps streamline and consolidate administrative requirements of the practice to improve efficiency and productivity, making it easier for dentists to focus on what they do best: practice dentistry.

Today, TAG’s Dental brand - Aspen Dental - has more than 900 locations across 48 states, creating a unique offering that allows dentists to learn, connect, and celebrate with other dentists who often encounter similar successes and challenges.

Understanding the Aspen Dental Practice Model

Traditional dental practices commonly operate in silos when outsourcing billing, payroll, marketing, and human resources to third-party companies or consultants to manage aspects of the practice. TAG consolidates individually owned dental practices under a common brand, allowing them to share knowledge, infrastructure, and create benchmarks for measuring success. For this reason, Aspen Dental is the largest and fastest-growing network of branded dental care practices in the U.S.

Every Aspen Dental-branded practice is supported by TAG, therefore, allowing for greater buying power, partnerships with dental equipment and materials suppliers, and the ability to negotiate less expensive laboratory fees, better leases, and insurance contracts. This model also helps to retain revenue in-house by creating a specialist network, rather than referring patients out of the practice. But contrary to common misconceptions, TAG does not oversee and control all aspects of an Aspen Dental-branded practice. In fact, 100% of each office is owned by independent, licensed dentists. TAG's purpose is to care for the people who care for the patients. This DSO model provides dentists with the autonomy to treat patients as they see fit while developing additional opportunities for leadership and management within the organization.

As a dentist with Aspen Dental, you’ll have access to the following benefits:

Continued Education and Development

TAG has invested heavily in the development of the doctors in the Aspen Dental network. Offering ADA CERP-Recognized continuing education courses that you can take with the flexibility you need as well as building a team of licensed dentists that develop training programs for leadership development. These programs ensure you will continuously be a successful dentist at each stage of your career. Aspen Dental dentists also get hands-on all-on-4 implant training. These trainings take place in either Mexico or Alabama today. However, TAG will soon offer training at its new, state-of-the-art Oral Care Center for excellence near the company’s corporate headquarters in Chicago.

TAG’s learning and development program does not stop at dentists. TAG has a team of more than 40 people dedicated to supporting the advancement of hygienists from training to career pathing. Denture lab technicians are also supported by a team that helps to build their skills beyond analog and into the digital denture space, which allows lab techs to produce the best quality denture for patients quicker. TAG has also entered a partnership with the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) and its affiliate organization, the DALE Foundation, to invest in dental radiography training and credentials for dental assistants across the Aspen Dental network. When teams can continuously develop their skills, patients get the best care possible.

Access to State-of-the-art Technology

Each Aspen Dental practice is fully equipped with the latest technological advancements, including fully digital labs that include 3D printing technology, cone-beam computed tomography systems, voice activated periodontal charting, and intraoral scanners – a wireless scanning technology that enables streamlined digital workflows. Why? The best technology helps to support offices in providing the best patient care.

TAG also partners with many of the leading organizations developing these new technologies and gets to inform their development. As a part of Aspen Dental, you will be helping to lead the way to the digital transformation within dentistry.

Path to Ownership

As a dentist at Aspen Dental, there are three distinct positions you can hold, one of which is a practice owner. Dentists at Aspen Dental range from those who have been practicing for many years to those freshly out of dental school. TAG developed positions to meet you where you are in your journey. You start off as an associate but can grow into a managing clinical director (MCD). MCD's learn how to efficiently and effectively run a practice so that they can become a practice owner through the company’s Practice Ownership Program.

With a network of more than 1,000 dentists, it allows for every new dentist joining Aspen Dental to be connected with a mentor that can provide career guidance and help further growth.

Above Average Compensation 

Dentists who work at an Aspen Dental practice often earn more than their counterparts in traditional private practice because they can spend more time on patient care rather than business tasks. The compensation model for dentists is set up to ensure that, if ownership is the path you’d like to pursue, you will have the necessary skills and understanding of a practice that is needed. This extends to Aspen Dental hygienists as well, who are empowered to own their hygiene practice and have the potential to earn more because of it.  

Alignment on Patient Care

Dentists at Aspen Dental continuously know what is going on with their patients at every step of their care plan. This happens by having an on-site lab, which allows the denture lab technician to work closely with the doctor to ensure the patient is getting the best dentures possible. Aspen Dental also has a network of specialists that includes endodontists and oral surgeons who support regions where multiple Aspen Dental offices sit. These specialists’ partner with the general dentists to ensure they are up to date on the patient’s history and the work they need done, so that patients get the care they need in a timely manner and at the same practice they are used to visiting.

Work-Life Balance

Modern employment trends are evolving, and lifestyle preferences such as regular hours, mobility, and flexible work schedules are becoming increasingly important. A successful dental career isn’t all about money, and dual profession families require a lifestyle that practice ownership doesn’t always allow. Some Aspen Dental practices are currently operating on a model where offices are open longer hours during the work week, making it accessible for patients to get treated before and after the standard nine to five workday. In addition to making dentistry more accessible, this model also creates a better work/life balance for dentists and team members

Benefits

TAG knows that supporting the teams of Aspen Dental means supporting them in every aspect of their life. That is why they offer benefits to qualifying Aspen Dental employees, from a 401k package to paid-time-off. They even have programs in place like student loan refinancing because they know that the average dentist has about $260,000 in student loan debt.

There is also relocation assistance for certain dentist opportunities around the country.

Shared Community and Values

The landscape of healthcare is changing dramatically and has shifted from practitioner-driven to patient-driven. Consumers want change and convenience. TAG encourages dentists to focus on the values that brought them into the profession and their commitment to the communities they live and work in. Dentists who value providing care with a purpose, helping patients who need the most help, and upholding a commitment to giving back every day can benefit from working with Aspen Dental.

Working for a DSO-supported practice varies from organization to organization but if this new understanding of how the Aspen Dental model works has got you wanting more information, we encourage you to reach out to a recruiter or explore our career site further.