Nashville, Tenn.-based Tend’s recently launched compensation model has led to some dentists earning more than $400,000 a year.
The company launched its compensation model in October 2025 in an effort to combat industry-wide challenges and make the field more sustainable for clinicians. As part of the model, the company pays general dentists up to 40% of adjusted production with no cap. The model credits clear aligner revenue — one of Tend’s priority growth areas — to the dentist at the bonding date rather than over the length of treatment. Tend said dentists kept their paid time off, benefits and scheduling practices as part of the new model. The company also shows candidates an office’s metrics and projects their earnings before they receive an offer.
Tend said Nov. 10 that the top 9% of its dentists earn more than $400,000 a year and the top 27% earn more than $300,000. It also said 86% of the candidates it extends offers to accept them.
Additionally, dentist applications are up 160% in the year since Tend began publishing what its dentists earn, according to a news release from the company.
Tend cited data from the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute showing that the average net income for private practice general dentists was $215,320 in 2025, down from $274,198 in 2010 after adjusting for inflation. It put associate turnover across DSOs at about 34% last year, and average dentist education debt at about $294,000.
Tend operates 33 locations across six markets.
