PDS Health’s Dual Strategy: Community Care and Workforce Solutions for Dentistry

DSO Spotlight

When it comes to advancing access to care, PDS Health® has long emphasized the Mouth-Body Connection® and the need for integrated healthcare delivery. In September 2025, the organization made two significant announcements that highlight its growing influence on both patients and providers: the record-breaking Smile Generation Serve Day and a new collaboration with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA®).

Together, these initiatives underscore PDS Health’s dual focus on strengthening community health while supporting the dental workforce—a balance that is increasingly critical for DSOs and dental groups navigating today’s competitive landscape.

PDS Health DSO Smile Generation ADHA hygienist

As part of Smile Generation Serve Day, Grand Canyon Modern Dentistry, a PDS Health practice in Las Vegas, donated dental services to 20 patients in need, including U.S. military veterans, as well as people recovering from cancer treatment or substance abuse. From left, Robert Bingaman, DDS, owner and dentist at Grand Canyon Modern Dentistry; Stephen E. Thorne IV, CEO and founder of PDS Health; and Catherine Wild-Pappas, regional partner for Las Vegas.

A Record Year for Smile Generation Serve Day

On September 19, 2025, more than 12,000 PDS Health-supported team members participated in the 15th annual Smile Generation Serve Day, a nationwide day of service providing essential dental and primary care to underserved communities.

This year’s effort resulted in:

$20+ million in donated care
74,000+ volunteer hours
2,400+ patients served in California and Texas alone
Community support projects, from food distribution to park restoration

Since its launch in 2011, Serve Day has provided over $94 million in donated care to 37,000 patients, alongside hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours.

But the day is not just about volume. It is also a showcase of dental-medical integration (DMI) in action. Some practices offered both dental and medical services during the event, reinforcing the idea that oral health is inseparable from overall health. Research consistently links untreated oral disease to systemic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. By treating the whole patient, PDS Health demonstrated how DMI can close gaps in care and potentially reduce future healthcare costs.

“Each year, we see the lasting impact Smile Generation Serve Day has on the patients who receive care, the communities we support, and the volunteers who give their time,” said Stephen E. Thorne IV, Founder and CEO of PDS Health. “Service doesn’t just improve health, it shapes our hearts and minds, inspiring us to keep building healthier, more connected communities together.”

Patients were referred through PDS Health practices as well as non-profit partners, including Hire Heroes USA, Everyone For Veterans, Dental Lifeline Network, After Innocence, The Boyce L. Ansley School. These partnerships ensure care reaches individuals who may not otherwise have access, including veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals, and families in underserved areas.

Addressing Workforce Gaps: Partnership With ADHA

Just days after Serve Day, PDS Health announced another major step: a strategic collaboration with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA). Beginning in October 2025, ADHA members and their families will gain access to the Smile Generation® Dental Plan, a flexible alternative to traditional dental insurance that delivers up to 60% savings on preventive, restorative, and specialty care.

The partnership responds directly to a persistent issue in dentistry: lack of benefits for dental hygienists. According to the ADA Health Policy Institute, more than 25% of hygienists lack dental insurance coverage, while over one-third do not receive benefits through their employer. This not only impacts the well-being of hygienists themselves but also contributes to workforce retention challenges across the profession. This plan helps close the gap with savings on preventive, restorative and specialty care at over 1,000 practices around the country.

“Dental hygienists play a vital role in improving oral health and overall health outcomes,” said Jeremy Jonckheere, Vice President, Strategic Payor Partnerships at PDS Health. “We are proud to collaborate with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association to support their members with meaningful access to care while helping practices strengthen workforce retention.”

The Smile Generation Dental Plan ADHA features:

Transparent pricing
No deductibles or annual maximums
No waiting periods
Low annual membership fee
Eligibility for family members

For ADHA leadership, the partnership aligns with its mission to address barriers facing hygienists in both clinical practice and personal well-being.

“We’re proud to partner with PDS Health on this innovative solution that directly addresses what our research shows dental hygienists need most,” said Lancette VanGuilder, President of ADHA. “When we see barriers to our members’ success, we take action. This partnership ensures dental hygienists have practical access to the care they provide every day.”

Connecting Service, Access, and Workforce

While distinct, Smile Generation Serve Day and the ADHA partnership are connected by a common thread: access to care. One expands access for patients in underserved communities; the other expands access for clinicians who too often find themselves without the very benefits they deliver to others.

For DSOs and group practices, the implications are significant:

Community credibility: Large-scale service events demonstrate social impact, strengthening trust between practices and local communities.
Workforce stability: Providing affordable benefits solutions helps attract and retain talent in a market where hygienist shortages remain a top concern.
Integrated care leadership: Demonstrating dental-medical integration positions PDS Health as a leader in the evolving care delivery model.

From a broader industry perspective, these initiatives reflect growing recognition that access challenges exist on both sides of the chair—for patients and providers alike. Addressing one without the other risks an unsustainable model.

Industry Significance

The announcements come at a time when DSOs and dental groups are under pressure to innovate in multiple areas: care delivery, workforce development, and patient engagement.

Access to care: With millions of Americans still facing barriers to basic dental services, community outreach remains essential.
Workforce shortages: According to the ADA Health Policy Institute, lack of benefits continues to drive attrition among hygienists, compounding staffing challenges for practices.
Integration of services: As healthcare moves toward value-based care, organizations that can bridge dentistry and medicine stand to influence broader systemic change.

By pairing a patient-centered event like Serve Day with a workforce-focused partnership with ADHA, PDS Health is signaling that it intends to lead in all three areas.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Looking Ahead

Fifteen years into Serve Day, and now with a new collaboration with ADHA, PDS Health appears to be charting a course that extends beyond traditional DSO support. Its dual approach—advocating for underserved patients while also investing in the well-being of providers—offers a model that others in the industry may look to replicate.

As Thorne noted, “Smile Generation Serve Day shows what’s possible when clinicians, patients, and communities unite around a shared vision of better health.”

That vision, when paired with practical solutions like the Smile Generation Dental Plan, may offer a blueprint for tackling two of dentistry’s biggest challenges: access and workforce stability.

For DSOs, group practices, and policymakers, the message is clear: meaningful impact requires addressing both.