Heartland Dental Reaches 2,000 Supported Dental Offices, Expanding Its Doctor-Led Culture and Support Model Nationwide

Nation's largest dental support organization expands its doctor-led culture and support model while providing access to comprehensive business, technology, continuing education, and administrative resources.

EFFINGHAM, Ill., Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Heartland Dental, the nation's largest dental support organization, has reached 2,000 supported dental offices, marking a significant milestone in the company's commitment to expanding access to its doctor-led culture and support model nationwide.

The milestone builds on decades of growth rooted in a simple idea: doctors should retain full clinical discretion over patient care and be able to focus on delivering high-quality dental care, with access to world-class business and administrative support behind them. Heartland Dental began with a single dental practice and, by the end of 2025, had grown to support more than 1,900 practices across 38 states and the District of Columbia.

"Reaching 2,000 supported offices is exciting because it represents more doctors and teams with access to support that helps them build successful practices, serve patients and make a difference in their communities," said Pat Bauer, President and CEO of Heartland Dental. "As we grow, we remain committed to our mission of supporting doctors and their teams so they can deliver the highest quality dental care and experiences to the communities they serve."

Comprehensive Support Built Around the Dental Office
Heartland Dental's support model is designed to help supported doctors and their teams spend more time focused on patients and less time managing administrative demands. Supported offices have access to extensive non-clinical capabilities across operations, human resources, recruiting, marketing, technology, supplies and labs, payroll, credentialing, finance, and learning and development.

Across its 2,000 supported offices, Heartland Dental supports over 10,000 doctors and hygienists.

Through Heartland Dental University (HDU), supported doctors and team members have access to extensive education and development opportunities. Year to date in 2026, HDU offered 1,542 continuing education courses, with 118,389 courses completed.

Importantly, Heartland Dental's support model is built around supported doctors' retaining full clinical autonomy and responsibility over patient care. Heartland Dental's teams provide non-clinical administrative assistance designed to help supported offices address the business and administrative challenges of operating a dental practice. 

Growth with Purpose
Heartland Dental has built its supported footprint through a multi-mode growth strategy that includes collaborating with supported practices to open de novo offices in growing, high-need markets while also affiliating with established solo practices, groups and DSOs whose doctors also share Heartland Dental's commitment to a doctor-led culture.

"Our growth strategy has never been about growth for growth's sake. It is about expanding access to a support model that helps doctors and teams thrive, whether through building new practices in growing communities or welcoming established practices that share our values. There is tremendous opportunity ahead to continue growing responsibly and bring Heartland Dental support to even more doctors," said Mark Greenstein, EVP and Chief Growth Officer of Heartland Dental.

Year to date in 2026, Heartland Dental has added more than 106 supported offices, including 55 de novo practices. Strategic affiliations, including the affiliation with Foundation Dental Partners, expanded Heartland Dental's doctor-led culture and support model to 51 additional supported offices.

As Heartland Dental moves beyond 2,000 supported offices, the company remains focused on strengthening the infrastructure, technology, learning opportunities and administrative services available to supported doctors and teams, while continuing to preserve the doctor-led culture and support model that has been central to the organization throughout its growth.

About Heartland Dental
Heartland Dental is the nation's largest dental support organization, providing non-clinical administrative support services. What started from the entrepreneurial spirit of Rick Workman, DMD, with his single dental practice, has evolved into affiliating with over 3,200 doctors in over 2,000 locations across 38 states and the District of Columbia. The company is majority owned by KKR, a leading global investment firm. For additional information, please visit heartland.com.

Media Contact:
Jessica Thompson
Vice President of Communications
[email protected]

SOURCE Heartland Dental