Smile Doctors

What Smile Doctors does

Smile Doctors is the largest orthodontic support organization (OSO) in the United States, operating an Invisible DSO (IDSO) model that provides back-office, technology, and procurement support to 580+ independently owned affiliated orthodontic practices across 36 states. Founded in 2015 by Drs. Scott Law, Dana Fender, and Greg Goggans and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company is controlled by Thomas H. Lee Partners and Linden Capital Partners following a 2022 strategic investment, with affiliated orthodontists retaining significant ownership stakes. The affiliated network delivers two principal treatment modalities: fixed braces (traditional metal, ceramic, and Damon self-ligating systems) and clear aligner therapy (comprehensive Invisalign, Invisalign for Teens/Adults, and the Smile Express at-home aligner program for mild-to-moderate cases), supplemented by the Rising Star pediatric early-intervention program and retainer services.

The technology stack centers on Align Technology's iTero Element digital scanners for 3D treatment planning, Invisalign SmartTrack aligner material, the Smile Doctors Anywhere remote monitoring app for appointment scheduling, messaging, and weekly photo-based remote check-ups, and the Smile Simulation App for treatment-outcome visualization. Revenue is generated through patient-paid treatment fees processed by affiliated practices, with insurance direct-billing infrastructure covering major U.S. dental carriers (Delta Dental, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, BCBS, MetLife, Humana), flexible monthly payment plans, FSA/HSA acceptance, and discount programs for military and family plans. Smile Doctors reaches patients through its website location finder, SEO-optimized state pages, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), paid digital advertising, community outreach programs such as Smiles From the Heart, and general-dentist referral networks.

The company has executed an aggressive acquisition-led expansion, growing from approximately 200 practices to 580+ since adopting the IDSO model, including the April 2025 myOrthos acquisition, multiple 2025 joint venture and affiliation additions, and 100+ net new locations in 2025 alone. Capitalization includes a $550M+ private placement in Q3 2023 and an in-progress ~$2 billion debt refinancing led by Barclays in March 2026, alongside existing lender exposure to Blackstone and Antares.

Name

Smile Doctors

Legal name

Smile Doctors LLC

Website

https://smiledoctors.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Orthodontic Services

NAICS

Offices of Dentists (6212)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Orthodontic Group Practices (HLABAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dental Support Services Organizations (Non-Clinical MSO/Back-Office Platforms) (HLABAKAN), Clear Aligner Orthodontics (HLABABAD)

Keywords

• Orthodontic services
• Dental support organization
• Clear aligner treatment
• Braces treatment
• Orthodontic care network

Headquarters

HQ city

Georgetown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Orthodontic Treatment Services: Smile Doctors generates revenue through orthodontic treatment fees charged to patients at affiliated practice locations. Treatment services include braces (metal and ceramic), Invisalign clear aligners, Smile Express at-home aligners, and retainers. The organization supports affiliated orthodontists with billing systems, insurance processing, and payment plan administration.
2. Insurance Billing and Reimbursement: Affiliated practices accept most major dental insurance plans. Smile Doctors processes insurance claims on behalf of patients and handles direct billing with insurers including Delta Dental, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, MetLife, Humana, and many others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Smile Doctors is the largest ortho-focused Dental Support Organization (OSO) in the U.S., operating a network of 580+ independently owned affiliated orthodontic practices across 36 states. The company provides comprehensive orthodontic treatments including traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, Invisalign clear aligners, and the Smile Express at-home aligner program, supported by digital tools such as the Smile Doctors Anywhere remote monitoring app and Smile Simulation technology.

Product overview

Smile Doctors is the largest ortho-focused Dental Support Organization (DSO) / Orthodontic Support Organization (OSO) in the U.S., operating a network of 580+ independently owned affiliated orthodontic practices across 36 states. The company offers a unified portfolio of orthodontic treatments centered on two core modalities: braces (traditional metal and ceramic/Damon braces) and clear aligners (Invisalign full treatment, Smile Express at-home aligners, and Invisalign for teens). Supporting these clinical treatments are digital tools including the Smile Doctors Anywhere remote monitoring app, the Smile Simulation App, and the Smile Files patient education blog. The Rising Star program provides early pediatric orthodontic evaluation (ages 5–10), while retainers cover post-treatment retention. The affiliated practice network model provides back-office and technology support to independent orthodontists who retain clinical ownership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smile Express®: At-home aligner treatment for adults using Invisalign® aligners with minimal office visits, achieving results in as little as 6 months.
• Rising Star
• Smile Doctors Anywhere

Products and services

• Traditional Metal Braces Traditional stainless steel brackets, arch wires, and elastic ties that gently move teeth into alignment; includes Damon Braces as a modern self-ligating option with reduced discomfort and fewer adjustments. Targets kids, teens, and adults seeking orthodontic correction.
• Ceramic Braces Tooth-colored or clear brackets made of ceramic, porcelain, or plastic that blend with natural teeth for a less noticeable appearance compared to metal braces. Targeted at patients seeking a more discreet fixed-brace option.
• Invisalign Full Comprehensive Treatment Full-course removable clear aligner treatment using genuine Invisalign SmartTrack aligners for comprehensive correction of crooked, gapped, crowded, or overlapping teeth in adults and teens.
• Smile Express At-home adult aligner treatment using genuine Invisalign aligners with minimal office visits (2 appointments) and orthodontist supervision, targeting mild-to-moderate cases with results in approximately 6 months; priced at half the cost of traditional braces or full Invisalign.
• Invisalign for Teens Removable, nearly invisible clear aligner treatment designed for teen patients, with no dietary restrictions and completion typically in 12 months when worn as prescribed.
• Invisalign for Adults Removable, discreet clear aligner treatment using BPA-free SmartTrack material for adult patients seeking alternatives to traditional braces, with custom treatment plans and results in as little as six months for less complex cases.
• Adult Braces Traditional metal or ceramic braces specifically positioned for adult patients, effective for complex bite and alignment corrections, typically lasting 1.5-2 years.
• Rising Star Program Complimentary early orthodontic care program for children ages 5-10, providing developmental monitoring and preparation for future treatment per AAO guidelines recommending orthodontic evaluation by age 7.
• Retainers Retention devices including clear retainers and fixed (permanent) retainers to maintain teeth alignment after active treatment; includes 1 year of complimentary repairs and a Lifetime Retainers plan for ongoing replacements.
• Affiliated Orthodontist Network A network of independently owned and operated orthodontic practices affiliated with Smile Doctors, offering access to 580+ locations across 36 states; affiliated orthodontists retain ownership stakes while benefiting from back-office support, technology, group purchasing, insurance billing infrastructure, and marketing resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 580 affiliated locations across 36 U.S. states as of 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Align Technology (Invisalign)coreTechnology or Integration · 21 November 2025Smile Doctors is the largest Diamond Plus Invisalign provider network (top 1% in North America). The company uses genuine Invisalign aligners and iTero digital scanning technology for treatment. Align Technology provides the SmartTrack material used in aligner fabrication.
• American Association of Orthodontists (AAO)minorOthersSmile Doctors orthodontists are proud members of the American Association of Orthodontists, which recommends children see an orthodontist by age 7. AAO membership supports professional standards and referral networks.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Heartland Dental: Heartland Dental is the largest U.S. dental support organization (DSO), supporting thousands of affiliated general dentistry practices with non-clinical back-office services — the same operational structure Smile Doctors uses at a specialty orthodontics scale.
• Aspen Dental: Aspen Dental is one of the largest DSOs in the U.S., operating hundreds of affiliated multi-specialty practices that include orthodontic offerings, mirroring Smile Doctors' affiliated-practice distribution model but at broader dental scope.
• Pacific Dental Services: Pacific Dental Services is a major U.S. DSO providing non-clinical support (procurement, technology, billing) to a large affiliated dental practice network — directly analogous to Smile Doctors' IDSO/MSO back-office model.
• Mortenson Dental Partners: Mortenson Dental Partners is a sizable regional DSO supporting a network of affiliated dental practices, comparable to Smile Doctors in its back-office support and partnership-of-practices structure, though in general dentistry.
• Great Expressions Dental Centers: Great Expressions is a multi-state DSO that operates a network of affiliated dental offices with some orthodontic services, offering a comparable mid-size affiliated-practice DSO platform to Smile Doctors' specialized ortho network.
• Western Dental & Orthodontics: Western Dental & Orthodontics operates a large multi-state chain of dental clinics with substantial orthodontic service lines, comparable to Smile Doctors in delivering branded orthodontic care at scale across states.
• Affinity Dental Management: Affinity Dental Management is a dental support organization that partners with multi-specialty practices including orthodontics, sharing Smile Doctors' affiliated-practice, central-support architecture at a smaller regional scale.

Direct peers

• U.S. Orthodontic Partners: U.S. Orthodontic Partners is a U.S.-based orthodontics-focused support organization that partners with independent orthodontic practices — the closest pure-play ortho-only DSO peer to Smile Doctors' IDSO model.
• Corus Orthodontists: Corus Orthodontists is a North American orthodontic support organization built on the same partnership-with-independent-orthodontists model as Smile Doctors, making it the most directly comparable international peer.

Emerging players

• Candid Co. Candid is a direct-to-consumer clear aligner brand offering remote orthodontic treatment, the most direct substitute for Smile Doctors' Smile Express at-home aligner tier targeting mild adult cases.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/smiledoctorsbraces
• Instagraminstagram.com/smiledoctorsofficial
• TikToktiktok.com/@smiledoctorsofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smiledoctorsbraces

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smile Doctors