The dental world saw new partnerships pursued by DSOs, teledentistry companies and dental organizations throughout 2020, despite the pandemic's financial strain on the industry.
Below are dental industry partnerships reported by Becker's Dental Review in 2020, organized chronologically:
- SmileDirectClub partnered with Walmart and rolled out a suite of products sold exclusively in the retailer's stores and on its website.
- Young teledentistry company The TeleDentists partnered with digital health solution supplier Competitive Health to expand virtual dental care.
- Waltham, Mass.-based 42 North Dental teamed up with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts in a value-based payment model deal.
- Delta Dental of California and Lendeavor partnered to develop a $200 million post-pandemic loan program for its independent provider network across 15 states and Washington, D.C.
- The Florida Dental Association entered an exclusive partnership with Bento, a cloud-based dental benefits technology company based in Boston.
- Nashville, Tenn.-based SmileDirectClub partnered with Irvine, Calif.-based Smile Brands as part of its direct-to-office treatment model.
- The American Dental Association and Bayer collaborated to create a teaching tool that recommends considering nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to manage acute pain.
- Henry Schein partnered with The Dentists Supply Co. to launch TDSC.com, an online-only option for purchasing dental supplies.
- The TeleDentists partnered with healthcare services provider FlexCare Digital Health to offer its services to more employees.
- Oral-B joined nonprofit Dental Lifeline Network in an initiative to improve the oral health of underserved communities.
- SmileDirectClub partnered with Dallas-based Deca Dental, integrating the DSO's more than 100 affiliated practices into its network.
- Boston-based teledentistry company Virtudent entered a partnership in which it offers its teledentistry services to Guardian's approximately 7 million members.
- SmileDirectClub added Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based DSO Unified Smiles to its partner network.
- SmileDirectClub partnered with U.S. dental insurance provider MetLife.
- SmileDirectClub partnered with Arlington, Texas-based Altius Healthcare Management, a DSO with 29 offices.
- The Texas Dental Association entered an exclusive partnership with Bento for its perks program.
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