by North American Dental Group joins OSAP
North American Dental Group (NADG) has joined the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention as a Professional Practice II (Group) member. NADG is the first large group to join OSAP in that capacity. The Professional Practice II member level allows large, multiple-location group practices to give professional staff at all their sites full access to OSAP’s resources a single rate. NADG decided to join OSAP after their compliance officer attended the 2016 OSAP Boot Camp in Atlanta.
Sage Dental to open three new locations in Florida
Sage Dental (Boca Raton, FL) announced it would open three new patient care centers. The new locations are Wekiva Springs (Apopka, FL), opening June 27, 2016; Altamonte (Altamonte Springs, FL), opening July 18, 2016; and Downtown Doral (Doral, FL), opening August 10, 2016. The three locations will join Sage Dental’s network of 42 locations throughout Florida.
Marquee Dental Partners makes first Alabama acquisition
Marquee Dental Partners (Nashville, TN) entered into an affiliation agreement with Signature Smile (Florence, AL), a multi-specialty dental practice with locations in Florence and Huntsville, Alabama. This is Marquee’s first acquisition in the state of Alabama Signature Smile’s practice and staff will remain in place. Dr. L. Don Wilson and Dr. Kristen Bentley will continue to remain actively involved in the practice. Marquee Dental, which formed in 2015, now operates 11 practices across Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky.
FDA emphasizes added sugars on new nutrition labels
The FDA’s new design of the nutrition label included on packaged food in the U.S. will spotlight added sugars among other changes. According to officials, the updated label makes improvements so consumers can make more informed food choices, which the agency hopes will reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay. The new label design also will highlight calories and servings with requirements for serving sizes that more closely reflect the amounts of food that people actually eat. These habits have changed since the last serving size requirements were published in 1993. The daily values for nutrients like sodium, dietary fiber, and vitamin D also have been updated to be consistent with Institute of Medicine recommendations and the “2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.” Calories from fat have been removed, because research shows that the type of fat is more important than the amount.
Aspen Dental opens new location in Conway, South Carolina
Aspen Dental (Syracuse, NY) last week opened a new practice in Conway, South Carolina. The new practice is led by Dr. Derek Hayes, who with his team will provide dental services ranging from dentures and preventive care to general dentistry and restoration. The new location is one of 18 Aspen Dental practices in South Carolina.
Great Expressions Dental Centers adds new location in The Villages, FL
Great Expressions Dental Centers (Southfield, MI) recently affiliated with Your Gentle Dentist (The Villages, FL). Run by Dr. Frantz Brignol since 2013, the location provides general dentistry, teeth whitening products and services, endodontists, prosthodontists and denture centers, and cosmetic dentistry. The affiliation will offer access to Great Expressions Dental Centers Smile Protection Plan to new and existing patients. The addition of this location brings Great Expressions’ Florida footprint to 105 offices.
Halifax Group invests in Familia Dental Group
The Halifax Group (Washington, DC) completed an investment in Familia Dental Group Holdings LLC (Schaumburg, IL), a suburban dental support organization. Familia Dental provides affordable dental care to underserved populations in smaller markets across five states. Familia has 31 dental practices across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, New Mexico, and Texas with several new practice locations slated to open this year.
Delta Dental of Washington donates $2M for dental education clinic
Delta Dental of Washington (Seattle, WA) made a donation of $2 million for a new dental clinic that will serve low-income and uninsured patients in Seattle. The 20-chair Dental Education Clinic will serve Medicaid and uninsured patients on a sliding-fee scale and train 40 – 60 dental hygienists and the same number of dental-assisting students each quarter. The clinic will open in June 2016 and is expected to provide 19,000 visits for 6,300 patients annually. It will offer annual exams, cleanings and fluoride treatments, emergency dental care, and restorative treatments. The clinic will be managed by Neighborcare Health (Seattle, WA), Delta Dental of Washington, Seattle Central College (Seattle, WA), and the Seattle Vocational Institute (Seattle, WA).
