From DSO acquisitions to new school programs, here are 14 milestones reached by dental organizations this year:
- Dental technology company Sonendo announced that it has treated more than 700,000 patients with its GentleWave system.
- Irvine, Calif.-based DSO Pacific Dental Services opened its 850th supported dental practice. It also became the first DSO to offer staff full tuition for an undergraduate degree through its college advancement program.
- Dental insurance claims platform Zentist reached $100 million in annualized insurance collections.
- Chicago-based DSO Aspen Dental opened its 900th U.S. office.
- Dallas-based DSO MB2 Dental added its 300th affiliated practice and entered its 30th state.
- Waltham, Mass.-based DSO 42 North Dental surpassed 100 affiliated practices.
- The University of Texas Health San Antonio School of Dentistry appointed Micaela Gibbs, DDS, as its first chief dental officer.
- Tempe, Ariz.-based medical device company Align Technology earned $1 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time during the second quarter.
- Mounds View, Minn.-based Apple Tree Dental is launching the state's first rural general dentistry residency program in affiliation with New York University Langone Dental Medicine postdoctoral residency programs.
- Minnesota State University Mankato launched the fourth dental therapy program in the U.S.
- CMS appointed Natalia Chalmers, DDS, PhD, as its first chief dental officer.
- The Indiana University School of Dentistry in Indianapolis saw 61 percent female enrollment in its incoming class of dental students in August, the highest number of women enrolled in the school's 142-year history.
- Benco Dental released its inaugural "State of Dentistry" report to provide insight into what dentistry looks like amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The University at Buffalo (N.Y.) School of Dental Medicine welcomed the first cohort of students to its diversity pipeline program.