Western Dental’s 5-year recap: 26 big moves

Here are 26 moves from Western Dental in the last five years:

2017

1. In March, the DSO acquired Irvine, Calif.-based Smile Wide and its 14 related practices.
2. Western Dental acquired 14 California offices from Kids Dental Kare and eight California offices from Children’s Dental Group.

2018

1. In January, the DSO elected Corina Ramirez, DDS, to serve as pediatric director. 
2. Western Dental opened a 7,000-square-foot dental office in San Francisco, its largest practice to date.
3. Western Dental added Jennifer Mallon to its team as vice president of business development. 
4. The DSO purchased a SmileCare office in Lancaster, Calif.
5. Western Dental opened its 200th California practice in Vista.

2019

1. In January, the group purchased the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America’s 63-office DSO.
2. Western Dental purchased two Coast Dental offices in Vallejo and Tracy, Calif.
3. The DSO appointed Alex Park as chief credit officer.
4. Western Dental acquired San Diego Dental Specialty Center in September.

2020

1. In January, the organization launched its clear aligner system ClearArc. 
2. Western Dental promoted Patricia Himpelmann to senior vice president of specialty services.
3. The DSO acquired Ontario, Calif.-based Salwan Dental Group in November, its 235th practice in the state.

2021

1. Western Dental selected Voya Financial as the DSO’s new recordkeeper and service provider for its 401(k) retirement savings plan.
2. Western Dental partnered with dental implant maker Straumann Group to provide its offices with implants, abutments and crowns.
3. The group opened its 234th office in California in May.
4. The DSO made several leadership appointments, including Paul Holt as executive vice president and CFO; Vivek Kumar as chief credit officer; Eric Royal as chief compliance officer; and Keith Kooman as vice president of financial planning and analysis.
5. Western Dental partnered with creative advertising agency Spread on two marketing campaigns in November.

2022

1. Western Dental and anchored denture company Renew partnered to build surgery centers in California and Texas.
2. Western Dental partnered with the NFL Alumni Association-Southern California Chapter, Walgreens and Water and Power Community Credit Union to offer free COVID-19 and flu vaccinations and COVID-19 antigen testing before the Super Bowl LVI.
3. Western Dental named Vikash Jhunjhunwala as its next senior vice president of finance. 
4. Western Dental acquired Mid-Atlantic Dental Partners, a DSO with 215 dental offices.
5. Western Dental opened six practices in six months.
6. Sonrava Health, a multispecialty health and wellness company, was announced as the new parent company of Western Dental.
7. Sonrava Health opened a co-location housing LooksBrite Eye Center and Western Dental & Orthodontics in South Gate, Calif.