Ladd Dental Group

  Today was a special opportunity for our LADD Dental Group family as we had the chance to spend time with the wonderful students and teachers at Abacus Early Learning Center in Westfield . We truly enjoyed the opportunity to speak with the students, get to know the teachers, and share a little bit about what we do in dentistry and why taking care of our communities is so important to us. One of the things we love most about being part of a family-run dental organization is that our work extends far beyond the four walls of our dental offices . It is about people, relationships, education, and investing in the communities we are fortunate enough to serve. Spending time with young children is always a great reminder of the importance of making healthcare approachable and positive from an early age. Creating good experiences and helping children understand the importance of taking care of their teeth can help establish healthy habits that last a lifetime. We are also incredibly gra...

 There are some opportunities in business that feel less like work and more like spending time with friends—and our recent podcast recording with Dr. Avi Patel was definitely one of those experiences! We had an absolute blast in the booth recording with Avi. From the moment we started, the conversation was engaging, authentic, and filled with plenty of laughs. It was one of those conversations where you look up at the clock and realize, “Wow, we've been talking for that long?” But beyond the fun, we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to spend time with Avi and share our experiences, perspectives, and stories from the dental industry. One of the things we value most at LADD Dental Group is relationships . Dentistry is a people business. The relationships we build with our doctors, team members, patients, industry partners, mentors, and friends are what make this profession so rewarding. Our relationship with Avi is a great example of that. We appreciate the work he is d...

 Today was a special opportunity for our LADD Dental Group family as we had the chance to spend time with the wonderful students and teachers at Abacus Early Learning Center in Westfield . We truly enjoyed the opportunity to speak with the students, get to know the teachers, and share a little bit about what we do in dentistry and why taking care of our communities is so important to us. One of the things we love most about being part of a family-run dental organization is that our work extends far beyond the four walls of our dental offices . It is about people, relationships, education, and investing in the communities we are fortunate enough to serve. Spending time with young children is always a great reminder of the importance of making healthcare approachable and positive from an early age. Creating good experiences and helping children understand the importance of taking care of their teeth can help establish healthy habits that last a lifetime. We are also incredibly grat...

 One of the things we are most grateful for in dentistry is the relationships we have the opportunity to build along the way. We are especially thankful for our relationship with Dr. Avi Patel . From the conversations we have shared to the opportunity to join him on his podcast, we have truly enjoyed getting to know Dr. Avi and learning from his passion for dentistry and the people who make this profession so special. Dentistry is so much bigger than just the clinical work we do every day. It is about people, relationships, collaboration, mentorship, and learning from one another. Some of the greatest ideas, opportunities, and encouragement in our profession come from simply sitting down with another dental professional and having a genuine conversation. That is one of the things we love most about being part of the dental community. We may work in different practices, organizations, and communities, but we all have the opportunity to learn from one another and help make denti...

 The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield recently moved back above the 5% threshold, reaching 5.1% in September 2026. While that may sound like a macroeconomic issue that belongs on Wall Street, it has very real implications for the dental industry. For dentists , practice owners, DSOs, dental real estate investors, and private equity firms, the cost of capital matters. And when the risk-free rate rises, the ripple effects can reach nearly every major financial decision in dentistry. The Cost of Money Matters The 10-year Treasury is one of the most important benchmarks in the financial markets. It influences the rates investors demand for other investments and helps establish the baseline for borrowing costs across the economy. When the Treasury yield rises, lenders generally require higher returns on loans and investments that carry more risk. That means a dental practice loan, equipment loan, commercial real estate loan, or acquisition financing may become more expensive—even if the dent...

 We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Avi Patel ( @doctoravi ) for having us on his podcast and giving us the opportunity to have such an enjoyable, engaging, and meaningful conversation! We always appreciate the opportunity to connect with people who are passionate about dentistry , innovation, leadership, and helping practices become better. Dr. Avi is doing some really exciting things in the clear aligner space, and it was a pleasure to spend time with him, share ideas, and learn from his perspective. His company, Clear Aligner Advisor , is doing big things when it comes to helping dental practices successfully implement and grow clear aligner programs. We have a tremendous amount of respect for the work they are doing to help dentists and teams navigate this important part of modern dentistry . Thank you, Dr. Avi, for having us on the podcast and for such a great conversation. We are grateful for the relationship, the opportunity to connect, and the work you are doing to move ...

 A career in dentistry is about so much more than teeth. It is about people. It is about building relationships, relieving pain, restoring confidence, helping families stay healthy, and making a meaningful difference in the communities we serve. At LADD Dental Group , we believe that is what makes a career in dentistry so rewarding—and what makes being part of the LADD family especially fulfilling. For more than 40 years, LADD has been built around a simple philosophy: family serving families. That philosophy applies not only to our patients, but also to the people who come to work with us every day. Your Work Has a Purpose One of the greatest rewards of working in dentistry is seeing the immediate impact you can have on someone's life. A dental assistant can help a nervous patient feel comfortable. A hygienist can educate a patient and help prevent future problems. A treatment coordinator can help a family understand their options and find a path toward better oral health. A pr...

 Today is an exciting day for the entire LADD Dental Group family as Dr. Greg Velligan officially begins his journey with our organization as our Chief Clinical Officer. We have been looking forward to this day for quite some time, and we couldn’t be more excited about what lies ahead. Dr. Velligan brings 36 years of experience in dentistry , including clinical practice, dental education, multi-site dental operations, practice ownership, and clinical leadership. His experience has given him a unique perspective on what it takes to support both excellent patient care and the dental professionals who provide it. But what excites us most isn't simply his impressive résumé. It is who Dr. Velligan is and what he brings to the table as a leader, mentor, and dentist. Hitting the Ground Running From the very beginning, Dr. Velligan has understood something that is incredibly important to us at LADD: Our organization is built around people. Our patients. Our doctors. Our hygienists. Our a...

 Every organization has a “why.” For us at LADD Dental Group , our why has never simply been about dentistry . It is about people. It is about taking care of patients, supporting our doctors and team members, strengthening the communities we serve, and building an organization that our family—and the families we serve—can be proud of. LADD was founded in 1978 by Dr. John Ladd with a simple philosophy: put the patient first, and the money will follow. More than four decades later, that philosophy continues to guide the way we lead. Our Why Starts With Family LADD Dental Group is a family-run organization, and we believe that matters. Our goal isn't simply to build a large dental organization. We want to build a great dental organization —one where people know they matter. That means creating an environment where our doctors can practice great dentistry , our team members can grow in their careers, and our patients feel genuinely cared for. When we say “family serving families,” ...

 The Old Treaty Grounds in Huntington, Indiana are one of the most historically significant places in the Huntington area because they sit at the intersection of Miami Indian history, the Wabash River, early American settlement, treaty-making, and eventually the development of Huntington itself .  The Forks of the Wabash The key to understanding the Treaty Grounds is the Forks of the Wabash —where the Little River meets the Wabash River just west of present-day Huntington . For the Miami people, this was an important location because it was both a transportation crossroads and a place of commerce and diplomacy . The river system connected the Great Lakes region with the Wabash and ultimately the Ohio and Mississippi river systems. Local historical accounts describe the Forks as an important center for Miami tribal activities and treaty negotiations. The location was especially valuable because of the nearby portage around present-day Fort Wayne , which connected the Maumee R...

 At LADD Dental Group , we have never believed that bigger automatically means better. Our philosophy has always been about growing thoughtfully, staying connected to our communities, and putting people first . That is one of the reasons we believe our operational density is such an important advantage. For us, operational density means having multiple dental offices within a concentrated geographic footprint. Instead of spreading ourselves across a large region, we intentionally build a network of practices where our teams, doctors, leadership, and resources can stay connected. Today, that creates advantages in three areas that matter enormously to us: Operations. Clinical mentorship. Patient experience. Better Operations Through Proximity Running a dental organization is complicated. Every office has unique needs, but many operational challenges are shared. When our offices are geographically close to one another, our teams can communicate more easily, share ideas, solve proble...

 At LADD Dental Group , we have always believed that dentistry is about much more than teeth. It is about people. It is about families. It is about relationships, trust, mentorship and making sure every patient who walks through our doors feels cared for. As a family-run dental organization, we have worked hard to build an environment where our doctors and clinical teams can grow while keeping the patient at the center of everything we do. That is why we are so grateful and excited to welcome Dr. Greg Velligan as our new Chief Clinical Officer . Dr. Velligan officially joins the LADD family on September 21, 2026, bringing 36 years of experience across clinical dentistry , dental education and multi-site dental operations . His experience gives LADD another opportunity to strengthen something we have always considered incredibly important: supporting our providers and clinical teams. What Does a Chief Clinical Officer Do? In a dental organization, the Chief Clinical Officer serves...

 At LADD Dental Group , we have always believed that great dentistry starts with great people, strong relationships, and a commitment to putting patients first. That is why we are so excited to welcome Dr. Greg Velligan as our new Chief Clinical Officer. Dr. Velligan officially joins the LADD family on September 21, bringing with him 36 years of experience in dentistry , including clinical practice, dental education, multi-site operations, practice ownership, and clinical leadership. But what excites us most isn't simply his impressive résumé. It is what his experience and passion can mean for our patients, our dentists, and our entire clinical team. An Advocate for Our Dental Providers We believe our dentists should have a strong voice in the clinical direction of LADD Dental Group. Dr. Velligan understands what it is like to sit in the operatories, care for patients, lead a practice, mentor other providers, and navigate the challenges that come with modern dentistry . His exp...

At LADD Dental Group , we believe the strength of our organization has always come down to one thing: our people . That is why we are incredibly grateful and excited to announce that Dr. Greg Velligan will be joining the LADD Dental Group family as our new Chief Clinical Officer on September 21, 2026! Dr. Velligan brings with him an incredible 36 years of experience in dentistry , with a career that spans clinical practice, dental education, multi-site dental operations, and clinical leadership. He has owned and operated a dental practice , served as a Chief Clinical Officer for a DSO with more than 15 locations, worked in dental education, and most recently served as an Adjunct Clinical Instructor at Indiana University School of Dentistry while also serving as an Enterprise Dental Director for CareSource. But while his experience and accomplishments are impressive, what excites us most is what Dr. Velligan brings to LADD: a passion for people, mentorship, clinical excellence, and h...

We are incredibly grateful to welcome Dr. Greg Velligan to the LADD Dental Group family as our new Chief Clinical Officer! Dr. Velligan brings an impressive 36 years of experience in the dental profession , with a career that includes clinical practice, practice ownership, dental education, multi-site dental operations, and clinical leadership. We couldn't be more excited to have someone with his experience, passion, and perspective joining our team. What excites us most about Dr. Velligan joining LADD is his commitment to supporting and mentoring dentists and clinical teams . We believe that great dentistry starts with great people. Our doctors and clinical team members are the heart of everything we do, and having strong clinical leadership is incredibly important as we continue to grow. Dr. Velligan will help provide our providers with another valuable resource, advocate for our clinical teams, and help us continue to elevate the standard of care we provide to our patients. ...

When people hear the term DSO (Dental Support Organization) , they may immediately think about ownership, multiple locations, or corporate dentistry. But we believe there is another side of the DSO story that deserves much more attention: Career opportunity. A well-run DSO can create career paths for dental professionals that simply may not exist in a traditional solo practice. At LADD Dental Group , we believe dentistry is about more than providing excellent patient care. It is also about creating opportunities for the people who make that care possible every day. More Than Just a Job In a solo dental practice, a dental assistant, treatment coordinator, or practice manager may have a wonderful career. But because the organization is relatively small, there can be natural limitations on how much someone can grow or how many different responsibilities they can take on. A well-run multi-location dental organization can create an entirely different environment. As the organization grows...