Aspen Dental Management Inc., a Syracuse, N.Y.-based chain that provides nonclinical, administrative and business support services to independently owned and operated dental practices, says it plans to open a clinic in Spokane Valley this fall.

A yet-to-be determined dental practice will lease a 3,500-square-foot building being developed at 15810 E. Indiana. The dental practice will operate under the Aspen Dental name. 

Pat Simon, a New York –based spokesman for Aspen Dental says the location will provide general dentistry services, as well as denture and restoration-related services, and will probably have a staff of eight people. 

ADMI is what is known as a dental support organization. “It provides non clinical business support services to independently owned and operated dental practices pursuant to a contract with such practices in exchange for a fee,” says Simon. “Practices like the one which will own and operate the facility in Spokane Valley, are solely and exclusively responsible for the clinical care delivered to its patients.”

The practice that will own and operate the Spokane Valley location will employ the dentists and other staff working there. Simon says that “as part of the services provided by ADMI to the dental practices it supports, ADMI assists in the recruitment activities for the practice’s employees.” 

While the location is expected to open in October, ADMI has yet to find an owner dentist, although it is actively recruiting for one. 

“It depends on the staffing needs of the location,” says Simon. “The location may open with just the owner doctor, or if the owner primarily works from a different location, the practice might need to recruit another dentist before opening. The office cannot open without a licensed dentist, whether an owner dentist or an employee of the owner,” says Simon. 

Aspen Care claims to be one of the largest and fastest-growing networks of independent dental care providers in the U.S., with nearly 500 practices across 31 states. The new practice in Spokane Valley will be the only Aspen Care-branded practice in the Spokane area, although others have operated here in the past.

Based in Syracuse N.Y., Aspen is a chain operation providing non clinical, administrative and business support services to independently owned and operated dental practices. Its parent company, Aspen Dental Management Inc. operates locations in 31 U. S. states. 

Simon indicated Spokane County is one of many areas in Washington State designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as having a shortage of dental health professionals. 

According to a 2013 study  by Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management, each new Aspen Dental-branded office supports local community growth by contributing more than $1.3 million in  economic benefits.