DSO’s Dentist Mentorship Program Equips New Dentists to Serve Underserved Communities

Dentist mentorshipDale Mayfield, DMD, Benevis' Chief Dental Officer at Sharing Smiles Day, an annual volunteer event that provides free dental care to children who are uninsured or underinsured.

DSO Spotlight 

Benevis uses the mentorship program to arm emerging dental professionals
with
personalized guidance and hands-on experience with seasoned experts.

Benevis, a locally branded* dental healthcare and orthodontics delivery organization, reinforces its commitment to providing quality oral care for children and families in underserved communities through its Benevis Dentist Mentorship Program. This program supports the growth and success of early-career dentists and dentists new to underserved populations.

In 2002, the DSO’s founding dentists envisioned a company that could provide needed dental care to often underserved communities, while helping dentists manage the day-to-day administrative burdens of operating a dental office.

Over the past 20 years, Benevis has made demonstrable strides in delivering life-changing oral care and orthodontics to those who need it most, providing dental care to approximately five million children and adults. Today, they deliver treatment through 1.4 million visits each year.

The Benevis Dentist Mentorship Program provides a unique leadership and career growth platform, emphasizing doctor-led decision-making, ongoing education, flexibility, and support. Additionally, participants are eligible for enhanced compensation as they progress through the program.

Benevis launched the doctor-led Dentist Mentorship Program in 2008 to help prepare newly hired dentists for their dental careers and the unique patient populations served across over 100 local communities in 14 states and the District of Columbia where Benevis has offices.

The program continues through the first six months of employment, with most hands-on training occurring within the initial 90 days. However, the duration can be adjusted based on individual needs and goals, ensuring that each participant receives the support necessary for professional development.

As an organization, Benevis tends to attract like-minded dental professionals committed to providing care to underserved patients. In 2024 alone, the company welcomed 37 new dental school graduates to its practices. The recently hired dentists provide general dentistry, orthodontics, and oral and maxillofacial surgery services in all of 14 Benevis-supported states and territories. As part of the hiring process, each of the new Benevis dentists will participate in the mentorship program to help them onboard with their local practice and the company, gaining experience and building confidence as they begin treating patients in their communities. The DSO also offers a relocation package for dentists willing to work in specific locations.

Dentist Mentorship“Our families appreciate the diversity of our clinical teams, including multi-cultural backgrounds and experience, for the best patient care. The Benevis clinical team appreciates the mutual benefits of mentoring new dentists. While the mentee learns from our experienced dental leaders, the mentorship also benefits the mentor, as both grow through the process and learn from one another,” said Bryan Carey, Benevis CEO.

CDC data shows that over a quarter of adults and more than one in ten children are currently living with untreated tooth decay. According to 2024 Medicaid numbers, 37,300,782 individuals were enrolled in CHIP or were children enrolled in the Medicaid program in the 49 states and the District of Columbia that reported child enrollment data. Yet, the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute reports that while 43% of U.S. dentists are signed up to accept Medicaid or CHIP plans for children, 67% of them did not treat a single child covered by one of these plans.

At Benevis, the team is deeply committed to tackling these roadblocks to proper care once and for all, supporting disadvantaged families along their longitudinal journeys to better oral health. Since 2002, they have treated more than 4.8M patients in underserved communities.

Dentist mentorshipThe number of children not visiting the dentist or going to hospital ERs for dental-related issues nationally tells us too many of them lack the primary care they need to prevent serious dental problems. These health issues can impact children’s ability to perform their best in school and live successful lives. For states where child Medicaid/CHIP enrollees’ numbers are high, like Virginia (876,314), Georgia (1,399,535), Indiana (817,968), and South Carolina (679,408), the need for expanded access to cover treatment for the underserved is great.

The Benevis Dentist Mentorship Program is structured to provide emerging dental professionals with personalized guidance, hands-on experience, and the opportunity to learn from seasoned experts within a supportive environment. This unique program also benefits experienced general dentists transitioning from general family practice patients to underserved populations, including children and adults reliant on Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to pay for their dentistry needs. In fact, 82% of their patients rely on Medicaid and CHIP plans for coverage today.

The program highlights include:

  • Personalized mentorship: New dentists are paired with an experienced member of the clinical leadership team, such as state, regional, or district dental directors, who continue to provide care to patients in addition to their leadership role. The mentors provide tailored guidance and personalized advice as pairs are matched based on interests, career goals, and developmental needs.
  • Hands-on experience: The program emphasizes intensive hands-on training, particularly in the first week, where mentees actively participate in real-world dental procedures and case studies under expert supervision to build confidence and sharpen clinical skills.
  • Professional workshops: Benevis offers virtual and onsite monthly workshops covering advanced dental techniques, practice management, technology, and more to ensure ongoing education and skill enhancement.
  • Networking opportunities: Benevis provides mentees with opportunities to engage with other dental professionals and leaders, expanding their professional networks and fostering collaborative growth.

As vice president of dental performance, Dr. Brad Bryan collaborates with the district dental directors to ensure all doctors are providing robust, quality care. One part of that is the mentorship program. “The district dental director role is one of the hardest roles in the company, but it’s also the most satisfying,” Bryan said. “We’re trying to grow folks in an associate doctor role, hopefully up to a district dental director one day. In my opinion, it is a gratifying position in the company where you can flex your leadership muscle and also expand access to care by making other doctors the best dentist they can be.”

For dentists or soon-to-be dental graduates interested in the mentorship program and a career at one of the company’s 100+ locally branded offices, visit https://careers.benevis.com/careers for more information.

*Benevis’ Locally Branded Practices:

  • CONNECTICUT
    • Sutton Braces and Dental- 5 Locations
  • GEORGIA
    • Franklin Brace and Dental-9 Locations
    • Youth DDentist mentorshipentistry-2 Locations
  • INDIANA
    • Pippin Dental- 8 Locations
  • KANSAS
    • Youth Dental-3 Locations
  • KENTUCKY
    • Ruby Dental and Braces- 3 Locations
  • LOUISIANA
    • Taylor Dental-9 Locations
  • MARYLAND
    • Porter Dental-6 Locations
  • SOUTH CAROLINA
    • Creston Dental and Braces-8 Locations
  • TEXAS
    • Elstar Dental-2 Locations
    • Goodland Dentistry & Braces-5 Locations
    • Jubilee Dental-2 Locations
    • Pinova Dental-5 Locations
    • Taylor Dental-1 Locations
    • Topaz Dentistry & Braces-6 Locations
  • VIRGINIA           
    • Pine Dentistry- 3 Locations
    • Spencer Dental-10 Locations

Click on Map and Scroll to ‘Where We Work’ for Job Openings:

Dentist Mentorship

Key Benevis Executives:

  • Bryan Carey, CEO
  • Dale Mayfield, DMD, Chief Dental Officer
  • Kate Stets, CFO
  • Will Alexander, CIO
  • Brad Bryan, DMD, VP of Clinical Operations
  • Tara McCarthy, VP of Marketing and Community Engagement
  • Gaile Omori, Senior VP of Human Resources
  • Bill Ryan, VP of Talent Acquisition
  • Marina Miller, VP of Talent Acquisition
  • Shannon Ghosh, SVP-General Counsel and Secretary

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