Straine Dental Management and Specialty Smile Partners were launched in April 2022, increasing competition in the DSO field and expanding private equity's foothold in the dental industry.
Here is where both DSOs stand one year after their formation:
Straine Dental Management (Sacramento, Calif.)
Straine Dental Management was formed by joining Straine Dental Consulting with 33 independent dental practices across 11 states. A group of investors gave $122.5 million of debt and equity to support the transaction and fund growth.
In December, the dentist-owned and led organization added Pearl's artificial technology across its network, which includes its 33 practices, 35 owner dentists and 48 non-owner dentists. Kerry Straine currently serves as the company's CEO.
Specialty Smile Partners (Eau Claire, Wis.)
Eau Claire, Wis.-based Simko Specialty Dental and private equity firm Blue Sea Capital entered a strategic partnership to form Specialty Smile Partners. The DSO was created to support Simko's then network of 35 orthodontic and pediatric dentistry practices in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Colorado.
In September, the company added All Smiles Orthodontics, which has six locations in Florida.
Jason Lockwood currently serves as president and CEO.