Heartland Dental Care

Heartland dental care, often referred to simply as Heartland Dental, is a prominent Dental Support Organization (DSO) established by Dr. Rick Workman in 1997. It is not an individual dental practice but rather a large organization that supports over 2,800 dentists and 16,000 team members across more than 1,600 dental offices in 38 states and D.C., making it one of the largest and most experienced DSOs in the nation. Heartland Dental's core business model revolves around providing comprehensive non-clinical administrative support services to affiliated dental practices. This includes assistance with crucial operational aspects such as human resources, marketing, IT, supplies and labs, accounting, payroll, and patient support. By taking on these administrative burdens, Heartland Dental aims to empower dentists to focus on their primary passion: delivering exceptional patient care. The organization emphasizes a "doctor-led" culture, asserting that supported dentists retain full clinical autonomy, meaning they make all decisions regarding patient treatment, services offered, and even the choice of labs and supplies. Heartland Dental states its goal is to help dentists achieve an optimal work-life balance and foster professional growth through ongoing training, continuing education opportunities via "Heartland Dental University," and access to advanced technology and resources. While Heartland Dental presents itself as a supportive partner for dentists, it's worth noting that it operates as a private equity-backed entity (KKR since 2018). Some public complaints and discussions from past employees and patients suggest potential challenges related to production goals, management practices, and occasional issues with treatment continuity or billing. However, Heartland Dental consistently highlights its commitment to fostering a collaborative environment, providing robust support systems, and enabling its supported practices to thrive and deliver quality dental experiences to their communities. They also engage in community support initiatives through programs like Free Dentistry Day and My Free Smile.