Aspen Dental Opens a Second Punta Gorda Office as Local Demand Grows for Tooth Replacement and Emergency Dental Care

The new practice plans to host its first Day of Service for local veterans on Nov. 7 as part of a broader Aspen Dental commitment to provide $100 million in donated care and community service nationwide

PUNTA GORDA, Fla., Aug. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Aspen Dental^® opened a new supported practice at 26280 Jones Loop Road, Unit B, in Punta Gorda, its second office in the city and a new dental care option for patients on the south side of town and across Charlotte County. The practice is independently owned and operated by Raymond D. Dixon, DMD, who owns and operates several Aspen Dental practices across Southwest Florida. Marc Rabideau, DMD, a graduate of Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, serves as the practice's managing clinical director. Reflecting the needs of the surrounding community, the office places particular emphasis on dentures, implant dentures, crowns and bridges, alongside preventive checkups, emergency visits, oral surgery and Motto™ Clear Aligners, each with a clear cost estimate provided before treatment begins.

The Jones Loop Road office will also mark its first Day of Service on Nov. 7, 2026, joining Aspen Dental-branded offices nationwide in providing free dental care to veterans in need that day. The event is part of a five-year, up to $100 million commitment to donated care and community service that Aspen Dental announced this year through its Healthy Mouth Movement. Since Day of Service began in 2014, Aspen Dental-branded practices have treated more than 30,000 veterans and delivered more than $28 million in donated dentistry nationwide.

"Giving back to this community is important to us," said Dr. Dixon. "That starts with free care for local veterans at our first Day of Service on November 7, and it's part of why we opened a second Punta Gorda office, so patients on the south side of town have an easier place to get the care they need."

More than half of Punta Gorda's residents, 56.8 percent, are 65 or older, and the city's median age is 67.6, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Charlotte County reflects the same pattern: 40.4 percent of residents are 65 or older, the highest share of any large U.S. county, according to the Census Bureau. That population is fueling demand for restorative dentistry, dentures and dental implants alongside routine preventive care, particularly along the Jones Loop Road corridor south of downtown.

Florida is not immune to the dental workforce shortage affecting much of the country. The state has 283 areas designated as dental Health Professional Shortage Areas, covering nearly 6 million residents, and would need 1,271 more dentists to eliminate those shortage designations, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration. Roughly 4 in 10 Florida adults did not visit a dentist in the past year, according to the Florida Department of Health.

"A community with a large share of retirees needs a dentist nearby just as much as a fast-growing one does, maybe more," said Dr. Arwinder Judge, chief clinical officer at Aspen Dental. "Many patients 65 and older are managing dentures, implants or restorative work that requires ongoing care, and a shortage of providers means longer waits and longer drives. Opening a second Punta Gorda office puts that care closer to home for patients on the south side of the city."

"When an independently owned practice is ready to open a second location in the same city, that usually means patients are already asking for it," said Lori D'Anna, president, field operations at Aspen Dental. "Our role is to make sure Dr. Dixon and Dr. Rabideau can hit the ground running from day one, with the latest technology, staffing and operational support already in place, so their focus can stay on the patients walking through the door."

Patients can book online, call the office directly or simply walk in. Same-day care is available for dental emergencies such as a broken tooth, an infection or sudden pain, and the practice works with many major dental insurance plans and offers flexible financing options to make care affordable.

Office Hours and Scheduling

The office at 26280 Jones Loop Road, Unit B, Punta Gorda, FL 33950, is now open to new patients. Office hours:

• Monday – Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Appointments can be booked at aspendental.com, by phone at (941) 209-1355, or by walking in.

About Aspen Dental

Aspen Dental, part of The Aspen Group (TAG), is committed to breaking down barriers to oral healthcare and helping patients put themselves first, starting with a healthy mouth. With nearly 1,100 Aspen Dental-branded offices across the United States, Aspen Dental practices offer comprehensive care and are supported by dedicated teams focused on making dental care more accessible and affordable. Through initiatives such as the Healthy Mouth Movement and Day of Service, Aspen Dental and its network continue to expand access to care for those who need it most. Aspen Dental-branded practices are independently owned and operated by licensed dentists. Aspen Dental Management, Inc. provides business support services to these practices. For more information, visit aspendental.com, and follow Aspen Dental on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Aspen Dental