Light at the End of the Tunnel

I HAVE BEEN in the DSO space for 15 years, and have seen so many changes in my career that it would be too difficult to name them all. However, there is one thing that I keep hearing at the end of each year that has never failed to repeat, “...this was the most difficult year ever.”

I did not think any year could be more difficult than the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Well, I was wrong. As we conclude a very bumpy and difficult 2022, I’m reminded that each year will bring unique challenges. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, we can start focusing on the things we did well and the new things that 2023 will bring us. For example, we welcome the new Adult Speciality division, mimicking the ideology of the Ortho division, providing our beloved specialists with additional support and growth in the company.

Our division is also changing, beginning with our name; as of 12/1/2022 we are the Ortho-Pedo division. This makes sense, as half of our business is pediatric dentistry. The second change is the addition of certain offices. We welcome the opportunity to embrace, grow and manage the following offices:

• Five Main Street Children’s Dentistry and Orthodontics in Maryland (Perring Parkway, Elkton, Havre de Grace, Forest Hill and Glen Burnie)

• Three KDA pediatric offices (Battlefield, Little Neck and Lynnhaven)

• The Dental Center of South Bend Pediatrics

• Imagix Legacy Pediatrics

• Miami Center for Pediatrics and Orthodontics

The last change is a reallocation of our regional managers so they have more bandwidth to cover and support all practices in our division.

Therefore, 2023 is shaping up to be an amazing year! There will be challenges, as with every year, but we are realigned and prepared, not only for any problems we are dealt, but also to grow and make 2023 the year we “break the spell.”