Braces, Invisalign, Retainers
Since 1978, Dr. Glenn Ashmore has provided quality, affordable dentistry to his fellow Oklahomans and their families. Now – 43 years, 4 states, and 26 offices later– we’re excited to announce the changes that will ensure the legacies of both Dental Depot and of Dr. Glenn and Arlene Ashmore.
In January 2020, Dental Depot officially made the transition into a DSO (a Dental Support Organization) and with it, opened up a world of new opportunities for Dental Depot’s dentists, team members, and patients. As part of these changes, several of our doctors opted to buy into their offices as partners and partner-owners, sealing their commitment to Dental Depot, their patients, and communities.
A DSO consists of multiple clinical practices that use a single support organization for all of their non-clinical needs, such as accounting, marketing, IT, and more. Because all of the support is in one place, (in Dental Depot’s case at the Executive Leadership Office in Oklahoma City) the clinical practices enjoy the benefits of being under one established brand.
In the simplest terms, DSOs allow dentists to do what they do best – practice dentistry – without sacrificing critical business infrastructure or support.
You see, the goal of Dental Depot transitioning into a DSO isn’t to become just another brand. We’re committed to bringing the highest standards of dentistry to our patients and communities that we serve and continue to grow into. Our goal is to empower dentists from all walks of life to learn new skills to better serve their patients, without worrying about the bottom line. Lastly, we strive to provide team members with the ability to grow and advance in their positions.Â
In addition to the normal community benefits Dental Depot provides, by creating more jobs and supporting local schools and charitable organizations with each office opening, there’s an even bigger benefit to branching out – increasing access to dental care.
Dental Depot already accepts most major insurances, making us an easy choice for most patients no matter what their policy may be. We also offer discounts for self-pay patients that other offices can’t beat. However, there’s a large group of other patients whose needs we meet in a way that most other practices can’t: patients with Medicaid.
One in five Americans relies on Medicaid for their healthcare needs. Of the more than 70 million people on Medicaid, children account for a little more than half. And while all of our offices accept Medicaid dental benefits for both children and adults – only a third of dental practices in the country do the same.
Without access to quality, affordable dental care, patients are more likely to have extractions and dentures than they are to receive restorative or even preventative care. It’s these patients who inevitably make up the bulk of the two million ER visits every year for dental emergencies. We all understand that our oral health is directly related to our overall health and a lack of dental care makes already vulnerable populations likely to report higher instances of heart disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes.
Geographically speaking, DSOs are also better equipped to open offices in areas private practices either can’t or won’t go into, such as inner cities, rural areas, and low-income neighborhoods. By bringing our offices into new communities, we increase the accessibility to dentistry and contribute directly to improving the health of our neighbors.
With the transition into a DSO, several of our doctors have made the decision to buy-into their practices. These decisions don’t come lightly: these partners and partner-owners have been entrusted with the growth and development of their respective offices. We have full faith and confidence in their abilities and look forward to celebrating their accomplishments.
Joining Central OKC as Partners, Drs. Joseph Sebourn and Omar Rasheed have worked side-by-side for years and will continue to do so for many more to come. Dr. Sebourn is a graduate of The Ohio State University College of Dentistry and has worked full-time at Dental Depot Central OKC for the last seven years. Dr. Omar Rasheed, a graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, recently celebrated his fifth anniversary with Depot.
Dr. John Van Vu and Dr. Yousef Salous already have a lot in common, and now that includes a Partner-Ownership in their North OKC office. Both dentists are graduates of the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry and celebrated their fifth year with Dental Depot in 2020. Dr. Vu is also an official doctor-mentor for his peers in OKC.
Dr. Austin Keaster’s Partner-Ownership in the West OKC office comes after five years with Depot. Also an OU College of Dentistry alum, Dr. Keaster joins Dr. Vu as a doctor-mentor for OKC.
Dr. David Hoang opened the West Norman office in 2018 and is now an official Partner-Owner in that office. Like his peers, Dr. Hoang is a graduate of the OU College of Dentistry and celebrated his fifth year with Depot in 2020.
Dr. Khalid Alzubi also signed on as a Partner-Owner in the Northwest OKC office, of which he has been a cornerstone for the last three years following graduation from the OU College of Dentistry. Dr. Al-Zubi plays an active role in his community and even received the CAIR Oklahoma Muslim of the Year Award in 2019 for his efforts.
Dr. Josh Phillips opened the Northwest Expressway at the end of 2019 and he and his team have been hard at work growing the practice. Dr. Phillips has been with Dental Depot for the last three years, after completing the OU College of Dentistry.
And last but not least, Dr. Amit Patel has signed on as a Partner-Owner in Dental Depot Blue Springs. The office, which opened in December 2020, is the first Dental Depot in Missouri. Dr. Patel has spent the last five years with Depot as a part of the Norman office. He is looking forward to returning home to the Kansas City Metro, where he graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry.
Looking back on 2020, despite the many challenges and obstacles our teams had to overcome, Dental Depot was still able to press on and grow. We were incredibly fortunate to open not one, but two new practices this year and have several planned for 2021. So here’s to the New Year and an exciting new chapter for Dental Depot!