Chicago-based Aspen Dental opened a practice in Annapolis, Md., June 20 to increase accessibility for patients in the state.
The new practice is led by Shekhar Gupta, DDS, with Se Jong Kim, DMD, serving as a partner. Dr. Kim recently spoke with Becker's about his goals for the new office and how workforce shortages are affecting the industry.
Editor's note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What details can you share with me about your new practice?
Dr. Se Jong Kim: This office is in Annapolis, Md., where I will be the partner dentist and working with practice owner Dr. Shekhar Gupta. This is Dr. Gupta's 30th office as well as my 2nd office within the Aspen Dental network, and I am thrilled to be part of this major milestone for both myself and Dr. Gupta. I have 10 wonderful team members who are ready to give everyone in the Annapolis area the best dental care experience possible.
At Aspen Dental, we offer a comprehensive suite of dental services, ranging from routine checkups to advanced treatments such as cosmetic dentistry, dental bridges, crowns, implants, dentures, emergency dental care, Motto clear aligners, oral surgery and more.
Q: What are you most looking forward to with the practice?
SJK: My top priority is providing the best dental care to the patients in my community. My goal is not just to offer the best available care, but to ensure that each patient is treated with the respect and compassion they deserve.
I take pride in not only delivering top-of-the-line dental care, but also fostering a positive environment for everyone who walks through our doors. I am looking forward to working side by side with my amazing dental team to make that happen here at our Annapolis office.
Q: What recruitment strategies are you using to bring providers to your office?
SJK: There are many benefits to choosing a DSO like Aspen Dental. Aspen heavily supports providers so that we can deliver the best quality care to their patients.
Aspen Dental provides access to a national network of peers and mentors that creates a dynamic and supportive company culture. Clinicians are part of a larger network of practitioners with the backing of 2,000 dentists that share a common set of core values and present to help them along their journey.
The vast resources Aspen Dental offers allow us to implement the latest digital technology. Now, new providers have more chances to learn about digital prostheses, intraoral scanning and virtual implant treatment planning.
Within each office, new providers can take advantage of financial stability as Aspen offers robust, competitive benefits alongside a clear and accelerated pathway to practice ownership.
Q: How many staff members/providers are you looking to recruit?
SJK: We currently have 10 team members and will scale as needed to meet the needs of our patients and the community.
Q: What is contributing to the industry's workforce shortages?
SJK: Generally speaking, there is a wider issue of dental shortages across the United States. According to [American Dental Association] research, vacant positions in dental assisting and hygiene have reduced dental practice capacity by an estimated 10% nationally and one in three dentists struggle to fill staffing positions.
The ADA also reported that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, older dentists accelerated their retirement which caused a decline in active professionals. This compounded pre-existing challenges with recruiting and retraining dental professionals even before the pandemic.
Education can also be a barrier. According to a [Health Policy Institute] report, there are also increased educational issues due to hygiene program closures, complex acceptance requirements and lack of seats within existing programs.
Combined with the state's logistical and economic barriers, such as a lack of public transportation connecting citizens to more populated cities, these factors all contribute to the workforce shortage. This, in turn, leads to poor dental health across the state, particularly in rural communities where transportation is a significant hindrance to care in Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore.
Q: What issues are these shortages causing for dental providers and patients in the state?
SJK: For providers, there is more incentive to set up practices in more populated areas to recruit staff successfully. However, this leaves more rural areas with limited access to dental practices. This can create an uneven distribution of dental professionals across the state, leading to decreased access to dental care, especially in already underserved communities. The big issue for patients is access, and Aspen Dental is all about bringing better care to more people, so that is why I am thrilled to be championing this new office and opening dental access for more people.
Q: Are there any other goals you have for your practice?
SJK: My goal as a leader in this office is creating and sustaining the best positive environment for team members, which ultimately trickles down to providing excellent care for our patients. Patients' positive dental experience can only come after they feel safe and happy here. Of course, I would like to hear patients saying, "I am glad to see Dr. Kim and his team," but what I really want to hear is my team saying, "I am glad to work with Dr. Kim."