DSO Spotlight
Heartland Dental, the nation’s largest dental support organization (DSO), announced the closing of its key transaction with Foundation Dental Partners, a doctor-focused dental support organization with 33 supported practices across Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Kentucky. The affiliation brings together two organizations united by a shared commitment to clinical autonomy, supporting exceptional patient care and experiences while helping create opportunities for doctors and teams to thrive.
Foundation Dental Partners is led by Adam Ditto, CEO, David Ray, CFO, Ben Butler, HR, John Merandi, COO.
The transaction builds on Heartland Dental’s decades-long approach to increase our nation’s access to oral healthcare via its DeNovo and Affiliation models. Over the past 13 months, Heartland Dental welcomed Smile Design Dentistry and its 60 supported practices, as well as Inspire Dental Group, and nearly two-dozen solo practices. Further, the company’s DeNovo program has collaborated to open 51 offices in 2026 with a goal of 68 by year-end.
Foundation Dental Partners has built a reputation for supporting doctors through a philosophy centered on clinical excellence, collaboration and professional growth. Like Heartland Dental, Foundation is committed to a doctor-led culture and support model that empowers supported doctors and their teams to focus on patient care.
“Foundation Dental Partners has established an exceptional network of high-quality supported doctors and practices with a strong reputation for providing world-class dental experiences throughout the Southeast,” shared Pat Bauer, President and CEO of Heartland Dental. “Foundation is a great example of the type of organization we seek to affiliate with, one that shares our doctor-led culture and philosophy, commitment to supporting clinical excellence and dedication to helping doctors grow their careers. By combining Foundation’s talented doctors and teams with Heartland Dental’s world-class support model, we can create even greater opportunities to support doctor success as they deliver exceptional patient care.”
“Foundation Dental Partners has established an exceptional network of high-quality supported doctors and practices with a strong reputation for providing world-class dental experiences throughout the Southeast,” shared Pat Bauer, President and CEO of Heartland Dental. “Foundation is a great example of the type of organization we seek to affiliate with, one that shares our doctor-led culture and philosophy, commitment to supporting clinical excellence and dedication to helping doctors grow their careers. By combining Foundation’s talented doctors and teams with Heartland Dental’s world-class support model, we can create even greater opportunities to support doctor success as they deliver exceptional patient care.”Together, Foundation Dental Partners and Heartland Dental will create new opportunities for doctors and teams, including access to the industry’s most comprehensive clinical, professional, and leadership development programs through Heartland Dental University, along with support services spanning operations, marketing, technology, payor relations, human resources, procurement and more. A key principle guiding the affiliation is business continuity and helping to ensure patients continue to receive the exceptional patient experiences from the doctors, hygienists and team members they know and trust.
“Since our founding, we have focused on supporting doctors, investing in people and building a culture where teams can grow and succeed,” said Adam Ditto, Foundation Dental Partners CEO. “Heartland Dental shares those same values. This affiliation provides exciting opportunities for our doctors and teams while preserving the relationships, culture and commitment to patient care that have defined Foundation Dental Partners.”
In addition to expanded professional development and non-clinical support, Foundation Dental Partners supported practices will gain access to the technology and innovations Heartland Dental continues to invest in to help supported doctors elevate patient care, including artificial intelligence powered by VideaAI, digital scanning and aligner technologies, and access to world-class supplies and laboratory partnerships. Together, these resources help supported doctors and teams continue growing, delivering exceptional patient care and advancing their professional goals.
