A few weeks ago, I was at a meeting of dentist from the tristate area. We usually meet quarterly, but this was the first meeting since 2019.

I was horrified. Many of my colleagues had sold to corporate entities. Usually at this meeting, we discuss improving clinical outcomes and how to better serve our patients. These guys spoke only about how to meet the production goals that the company had set for them. Most disturbing, many of the dentists did not change the name of the practice and gave their patients no indication that anything had changed. They gave their patients no indication that they are being controlled by a corporation.

Their patients were no longer the focus of their attention, but a means to an end. Their professional lives were now focused on meeting corporate goals and filling their contractual obligations. I am both incensed and disappointed in my colleagues.

We will always be independent. We don’t work towards financial goals, corporate minimums or any other objective. We only work to provide great dentistry for our community and keep the dental health of our community at a high standard. If my name is on the door, I am doing the dentistry and working toward that goal. If my name is on the door, we will never be corporate owned and ALWAYS focused on improving the dental health of our patients.