Heartland Dental

Heartland Dental is a dental support organization, or DSO, that partners with dental practices rather than treating patients directly. Dr. Rick Workman of Effingham, Illinois, founded it in 1997 as the first DSO. It now supports more than 1,900 practices and 3,100 doctors, with support teams that help with operations, human resources, marketing, vendors and payers while the doctors keep independence over clinical decisions.

Patients looking for a dentist will not find an office here, so a neighbor needs one of the supported practices instead. Dentists who want to sell their practice can request a valuation and talk with a transition representative. The company also runs continuing education, the Masters & Mentors podcast and career listings for dentists and hygienists. Its corporate headquarters is at 1200 Network Centre Drive in Effingham.