Dental Care Alliance
Dental practice management company supporting independent dentists with business operations.
PE-OWNED
Acquired by Leonard Green & Partners2016-08-01
What Made It Great
Dentist-focused support model preserving clinical autonomy while providing business efficiency
What PE Will Likely Do
Dental Care Alliance will likely reduce the number of experienced dentists and replace them with less-qualified dental hygienists or technicians to cut labor costs.
Dental Care Alliance will likely sell the real estate of their dental practices and lease it back, extracting equity for investors while increasing rental costs that may be passed on to patients.
Dental Care Alliance will likely aggressively code for higher-reimbursement dental procedures and diagnoses, leading to more unnecessary treatments and higher out-of-pocket costs for patients.
Dental Care Alliance will likely eliminate unprofitable but essential dental services like preventive care or specialized treatments, forcing patients to seek care elsewhere or go without.
Dental Care Alliance will likely charge high management and consulting fees to the dental practices it acquires, reducing the resources available for patient care.
Expected Timeline
“0 to 6 months months”
Dental Care Alliance will likely announce 'optimization' programs and shuffle leadership as cosmetic changes, while behind the scenes preparing for cost-cutting measures.
“6 to 12 months months”
Staffing reductions at Dental Care Alliance practices will begin, leading to longer wait times and shorter appointment lengths.
“12 to 24 months months”
The quality of care at Dental Care Alliance practices will noticeably decline, with patients experiencing longer wait times, fewer treatment options, and poorer overall experiences.
“24 to 36 months months”
Significant issues will emerge at Dental Care Alliance, potentially including the closure of certain dental practice locations or quality scandals related to patient harm.
“36+ months months”
Dental Care Alliance may face bankruptcy or be forced to sell to another operator, leaving the future of the acquired dental practices and their patients uncertain.
Similar Cases
Other companies that followed a similar path after PE acquisition
What You Can Do
Actions
Be aware of potential changes in the quality of care at Dental Care Alliance practices, and be prepared to seek alternative providers if necessary.
Monitor your dental bills and question any unexpected or seemingly unnecessary treatments or charges.
Stay informed about any major changes or issues at Dental Care Alliance, and be willing to switch to a different dental practice if the quality of care declines.
Alternatives
Community-focused healthcare
Integrated managed care consortium