Message from the Founder & CEO

Dedicated to Revolutionizing Primary Health Care

Just one month ago, I welcomed my sixth grandchild, a beautiful baby girl. Moments like these bring everything into perspective. As she gets ready to begin her first adventures in life, I am reminded that the years go fast.

In March, I was invited to speak in Cologne, Germany on behalf of Ivoclar’s 100th anniversary at the 2023 International Dental Show (IDS), an event that draws international leaders in the dental community (pictured below). In preparation, I began reflecting on the historic eras that have defined dentistry since the 1980s and the importance of innovating not only to survive, but to succeed.

Pictured left to right: Oris Dental CEO Eirik Aasland Salvesen, DDS; Ivoclar Head of DSO EMEA Cher-Marie Scott; PDS Founder and CEO Stephen Thorne; Women in DSO CEO Aman Kaur, DDS; Ivoclar Vice President Special Marketing & Global Director Key Accounts Martin Frontull; Colosseum Dental Group CMO Eddie Coyle, DDS; and Clove Dental CEO Amar Singh

All industries (and companies) experience evolutionary change, sometimes in decades or even centuries. For example, the automotive industry created the combustion engine in 1860. It took 150 years to evolve into electric vehicles and self-driving cars. Conversely, other industries (think video tape/disc rentals, Polaroid film and waning newspaper publishers) chose not to innovate and ultimately faded into history.

The Eras of Dentistry

The health care industry has historically evolved in 20-year cycles. In 1994 when PDS was founded, dentistry was in the era of esthetics (1980s-1990s) when patients were primarily focused on cosmetic treatments. From 2000 to 2020, dentistry experienced a period of innovation when patient records, scans and radiographs, once generated on film and paper, became digitally integrated in the era of digitization.

Today, we are on the forefront of the next generation of oral health, or what I call the era of convergence, a period where the dental and medical communities are coming together, driven by science and new technologies to better serve patients and meet increasing demand. This isn’t just happening in the United States but across the globe.

This new and exciting period is based on three fundamental macro trends converging in a unique way at the same time:

1. Patient demand due to the increased awareness and understanding of the of the importance of the Mouth-Body Connection®

2. Advancements in technology and science

3. The growing aging population and its potential impact on oral health care

Now is truly the most exciting time to be in dentistry. Dental-medical integration has become a reality for our industry and PDS is leading the way.

Stronger Together

Shortly after speaking in Germany, I was inducted into the inaugural Hall of Leaders at the 2023 Association of Dental Support Organizations (ADSO) Summit in Orlando, Fla. sparking another trip down memory lane. In the early 2000s, I gathered with other dental industry leaders to discuss the challenges we were experiencing and opportunities on the horizon.

Together, we formed the Dental Group Practice Association (DGPA), forging a new practice model for dentists and patients across the country. While competition is strong, we also understand that when DSOs work together, we provide more benefits to dentists and better outcomes for patients.

By 2014, the DGPA grew to about 30 members and our focus shifted to elevating clinical excellence and increasing access to care. Just one year later, the DGPA officially changed its name to the ADSO to reflect the evolution of the DSO model.

In 2023, the ADSO represents 100 DSOs, 15,000 dentists, 8,500 practices and 175 industry partners nationwide, including leadership from more than a dozen dental schools and professional associations, as well as key opinion leaders in dentistry.

It’s incredible to reflect on this timeline. There is a genuine shift happening in dentistry (and overall health care). As we continue serving patients and creating awareness and understanding of the Mouth-Body Connection, more patients across the world will become healthier and happier as they age. How awesome is that?

You Make Us Smile

None of this would be possible without every PDS team member and clinician working together to improve clinical best practices, operational efficiencies and patient care and outcomes. It seems especially appropriate that we are celebrating PDS Appreciation Week June 5-9. I would like to take this moment to thank you all for your contributions to dentistry and DEDICATION to your work. I am so grateful and honored you choose to be a part of the PDS family—it feels like we are just getting started. You truly make me smile.

Stephen Thorne IV, Founder and CEO @SteveThornePDS