Several dental practices have closed in recent years for various reasons, including staffing shortages and financial constraints.
Here are 25 practice closures Becker's has reported on since 2020, starting with the most recent:
2023
- Lake Placid, N.Y.-based Adirondack Health Dental Care received official approval from the state to close its dental clinic.
- The office of Scott Martin, DDS, in Williamsport, Pa., closed temporarily after a fire caused about $20,000 worth of damages.
- The Dental Center of Northwest Ohio shut down after experiencing staffing and financial challenges during the last two years.
- Summerbrook Dental Group in Aurora, Colo., shut down after its owner, James Craig, DDS, was arrested in March and charged with first degree murder in the death of his wife.
- White Smiles Family Dentistry, which has three locations in Maine, is closing one of its offices after being unable to fill a vacant dentist position.
- An Affordable Dentures & Implants office in South Burlington, Vt., closed suddenly in March, leaving patients unable to receive treatment.
- Patients of Gutierrez Orthodontics in Tampa, Fla., claimed their dentist was not responding to requests to complete outstanding procedures after closing for several weeks.
- Baton Rouge, La.-based Esthetic Associates closed without notice in February. CBS affiliate WAFB later reported that the practice had reopened, with Tyler Lasseigne, DDS, telling the news station that he had minor surgery at the end of December and was out recovering.
2022
- A dental practice owned by John Paul Piccolo, DMD, in Sewickley, Pa., closed after a boiler in the building exploded Dec. 14.
- Khuong Nguyen, DDS, a pediatric dentist who was accused of performing unnecessary procedures, closed his practice in August.
- The Ammonoosuc Community Health Services dental clinic closed due to staffing shortages, exacerbating a lack of access to care for patients in New Hampshire.
- Patients were left confused and in need of a new dentist after Always Gentle Dentistry in Dearborn, Mich., closed without notice.
2021
- Several patients of shuttered Dr. Molar Family Dentistry in Milwaukee disputed bills sent to them for visits they claimed were paid.
- A Chandler, Ariz.-based dental practice closed temporarily after an explosion at a nearby printing shop caused damage to the clinic.
- Gerald Lutz, DDS, closed his Fallston, N.C.-based family dental practice in May.
- Topeka, Kan.-based Family and Implant Dental closed after Brian Newell, DDS, was arrested on charges of violating a protection order, criminal use of weapons, and criminal threat and harassment by telecom device.
- All Public Health Dental Clinics in Delaware were shut down indefinitely after patient visits dropped during the pandemic.
- Sherwood Dental Clinic in Amarillo, Texas, closed in February without alerting its patients.
- The office of Mackenzie Craik, DDS, in Walla Walla, Ore., closed in October.
2020
- Knoxville, Tenn.-based dentist Clarence "Buzz" Nabers, DDS, who previously made headlines for improperly sterilizing dental equipment, sold one of his buildings and closed his practice located there.
- Oak Bluffs, Mass.-based Martha's Vineyard Hospital closed its dental practice Nov. 20, following the departure of its dentist.
- Cambridge, Mass.-based Harvard University closed its dental clinic and pharmacy Dec. 31 to offset financial strains.
- Wake Forest (N.C.) Smiles closed Sept. 6 after 13 years of business after filing for Chapter 7 liquidation.
- Two Signature Smiles dental practices in Texas abruptly shut down, leaving dozens of current and former patients in limbo.
- Bend, Ore.-based Kemple Memorial Children's Dental Clinic, a nonprofit dental organization serving patients since 1998, shut down July 1.