Comfort Dental
Comfort Dental is the largest dental franchise in the world, operating 150+ independently owned clinics across 10 U.S. states, offering affordable general dentistry, orthodontics, implants, oral surgery, and pediatric care through its franchise model and proprietary Gold Plan membership program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersLakewood, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Comfort Dental does
Comfort Dental Group, Inc. is the largest dental franchise in the world, operating 150+ independently owned and operated clinics across 10 U.S. states (Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington). Founded in 1977 by Dr. Rick A. Kushner after his graduation from Marquette University School of Dentistry, the company pioneered the concept of fair-priced, accessible dentistry and has expanded through a franchise model in which each clinic is owned by a licensed dentist operating under the Comfort Dental brand. The company is headquartered at 2540 Kipling St., Lakewood, Colorado, which also houses the Partner Development Center that hosts franchise orientation and disclosure meetings.
The company's service portfolio spans comprehensive general dentistry, orthodontics (traditional braces and invisible aligners), dental implants, oral surgery, pediatric dentistry (Comfort Kids), periodontics, endodontics, emergency dentistry, and same-day appointments. Core technology consists of standard dental practice equipment (digital imaging, nitrous oxide, topical anesthesia). Differentiated offerings include extended hours (evenings and Saturdays), same-day and walk-in availability, acceptance of Medicaid (making Comfort Dental one of the largest Medicaid dental providers in the U.S.), and the proprietary Gold Plan membership program for uninsured individuals and families, priced at $12.50-$31.50/month. Business-tier Gold Plan Platinum and Diamond variants target employer groups. The annual Care Day program, held since 1984 on December 23rd, has donated over $22.8 million in free dental services.
Comfort Dental's revenue model combines franchise fees and royalties from independently owned franchisees, Gold Plan subscription membership fees, and ancillary service fees. With a small central organization (11-50 employees at the franchisor level), the company relies on franchisee operators for service delivery while centralizing brand, marketing, Gold Plan administration, and franchise development. Marketing is multi-channel, emphasizing community involvement, social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter), and direct-to-consumer outreach highlighting affordability ($19 new-patient exam and X-rays; braces from $99/month with Gold Plan). The company remains privately held and founder-controlled, with no external investment, funding rounds, or acquisition activity disclosed.
Comfort Dental firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Comfort Dental
- Legal name
- Comfort Dental Group, Inc.
- Website
- https://comfortdental.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Comfort Dental is the largest dental franchise in the world, operating 150+ independently owned clinics across 10 U.S. states, offering affordable general dentistry, orthodontics, implants, oral surgery, and pediatric care through its franchise model and proprietary Gold Plan membership program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Comfort Dental industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Dental Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Dentists (621210)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Membership/Subscription & Direct-Pay General Dentistry Practices (HLABAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Dental Discount Plans (Dental Savings Plans) (HLAEAIAD), Emergency/Urgent General Dentistry (Walk-In/After-Hours General Care) (HLABAAAJ)
Keywords
Where Comfort Dental is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lakewood
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Comfort Dental business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Dental Service Fees: Revenue generated from providing dental services to patients at independently operated franchise locations. Each franchise owner operates their own practice.
- Gold Plan Membership Fees: Monthly or annual membership fees for the Gold Plan discount program that provides reduced fees on dental services. Plans range from $12.50-$31.50 per month for individuals and families, with annual options from $136-$364.
- Franchise Fees: Revenue from franchise opportunities where dental professionals pay to become Comfort Dental franchise owners. Orientation and disclosure meetings are held at the Comfort Dental Partner Development Center in Lakewood, CO.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | New Patient Exam & X-rays - $19 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Braces starting at $99/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Gold Plan Individual - $12.50/month or $150/year |
| Subscription | Monthly | Gold Plan Individual + 1 Dependent - $19.50/month or $234/year |
| Subscription | Monthly | Gold Plan Individual + Up to 3 Dependents - $26.50/month or $318/year |
| Subscription | Monthly | Gold Plan Individual + 4 or More - $31.50/month or $378/year |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Comfort Dental product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Comfort Dental delivers affordable, accessible dental care through a franchise network of 150+ independently owned clinics across 10 U.S. states, offering general dentistry, braces, dental implants, oral surgery, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, endodontics, and emergency care. The Gold Plan membership program provides reduced-fee dental access for uninsured individuals and families, while extended hours, same-day appointments, and Medicaid acceptance broaden patient access. Care Day, an annual free dental service event, has been a hallmark of the brand since 1984.
Product overview
Comfort Dental is a dental service organization operating as a franchise model, offering comprehensive dental care services across a network of over 150 clinics in 10 states. The product portfolio centers on accessible, affordable dentistry with a complete range of services including General Dentistry, Braces (including Invisible Braces), Dental Implants, Oral Surgery, Periodontics, Endodontics, Emergency Dentistry, and pediatric services through Comfort Kids. The company operates on a simple philosophy: exceptional dental care should be accessible, affordable, and delivered with genuine compassion. Complementing clinical services is the Gold Plan membership program — an in-house reduced-fee dental plan available to individuals and families without insurance, offering preventive care benefits and discounts on procedures. Business variants (Gold Plan Platinum and Diamond) serve employer groups. The Care Day community program provides free dental services annually. Same-day appointments and extended hours (evenings and Saturdays) enhance accessibility. All branded Comfort Dental offices are independently owned and operated franchisees.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- General Dentistry Comprehensive general dental services including preventive care, cleanings, fillings, crowns, and regular checkups to maintain oral health and prevent serious dental problems, delivered at Comfort Dental franchise clinics.
- Braces Orthodontic solutions including traditional braces and clear aligners for patients of all ages, offering customized treatment plans for crowding, spacing, bite issues, and alignment problems, available at participating Comfort Dental Braces offices.
- Dental Implants Tooth replacement solution that replaces both the root and crown of missing teeth, providing stability, functionality, and natural appearance, available at Comfort Dental clinics.
- Oral Surgery Surgical dental procedures including wisdom teeth removal and extractions, performed with various sedation options to ensure patient comfort throughout the procedure, available at Comfort Dental clinics.
- Comfort Kids Specialized pediatric dentistry services in an environment designed to make children feel safe and excited about dental care, using gentle techniques and positive reinforcement from first teeth through teenage years.
- Periodontics Gum disease treatment and care for supporting structures of teeth, using advanced techniques to treat gingivitis, periodontitis, and recession before they lead to tooth loss, available at Comfort Dental clinics.
- Endodontics Root canal therapy services that save natural teeth by treating damaged or infected inner pulp, using modern comfortable procedures, available at Comfort Dental clinics.
- Emergency Dentistry Urgent dental care services for unexpected dental issues including toothaches, broken teeth, and dental trauma, with availability for immediate attention, including 24-hour emergency dental access.
- Same-Day Appointments Same-day dental appointments and walk-in availability allowing patients to receive prompt dental care without waiting weeks, including weekend hours, at Comfort Dental clinics.
- Gold Plan Affordable dental membership program offering discounted fees for individuals and families without dental insurance, providing two cleanings, exams, and X-rays annually at no additional cost plus 20% discounts on procedures. Monthly options range from $12.50-$31.50 or annual options from $136-$378.
Quantifiable outcome
- Gold Plan provides 40-50% lower fees compared to other dentists
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Comfort Dental
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Comfort Dental technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Comfort Dental partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- DentaQuestcoreDentaQuest is the primary administrator of Medicaid dental benefits and works with Comfort Dental to manage claims, approvals, and patient eligibility. Patients are directed to DentaQuest for questions about coverage, plan eligibility, and activation status.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Comfort Dental competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Dental Care Alliance: Dental Care Alliance is a DSO supporting 400+ practices across 20 states with a focus on affiliated rather than franchised models. It competes for both dentist talent and patients in the affordable dental segment.
- Aspen Dental: Aspen Dental is one of the largest dental service organizations (DSOs) in the US, operating over 1,000 branded locations with a similar value positioning targeting uninsured and underinsured patients. PE-backed by Ares Management, it competes directly with Comfort Dental's affordable-franchise model.
- Western Dental & Orthodontics: Western Dental operates ~350 offices across multiple states with a strong focus on Medicaid patients and orthodontics. It directly competes with Comfort Dental for Medicaid patients and value-conscious families in overlapping western US geographies.
- Mortenson Dental Partners: Mortenson Dental Partners is a large DSO operating over 140 practices across 9 states under multiple brands. It serves a comparable patient demographic and competes for dentist-owners in midwestern and southern US geographies.
- Smile Brands: Smile Brands is a PE-backed DSO operating ~700 affiliated practices under brands including Bright Now! Dental, Monarch Dental, and Castle Dental. It offers a similar multi-brand franchise/affiliation model and competes for price-sensitive patients.
- Great Expressions Dental Centers: Great Expressions Dental Centers is a DSO operating ~300 practices across 10 states offering general, specialty, and orthodontic care. It competes with Comfort Dental for both patients and dentist-owners in overlapping geographies.
- Pacific Dental Services: Pacific Dental Services (PDS) supports over 900 dental practices across the US with modern technology platforms and integrated specialties. As a large-scale DSO, it competes for both patients and dentist-owners in overlapping geographies.
- Affordable Dentures & Implants: Affordable Dentures & Implants operates ~400 affiliated practices across 42 states focused on dentures, implants, and extractions at value pricing. It competes in adjacent specialties with Comfort Dental while targeting a similarly price-sensitive patient base.
- Bright Now! Dental: Bright Now! Dental is a Smile Brands DSO brand operating ~150+ offices offering general dentistry, orthodontics, and specialty services. It offers similar extended-hours and multi-specialty positioning and competes for price-sensitive patients.
- Heartland Dental: Heartland Dental is the largest DSO in the US, supporting over 2,000 dentist offices across 38 states. KKR-sponsored, it competes for the same patient demographic and dentist-franchisee pool that Comfort Dental targets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks3 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Comfort Dental social profiles
Digital presenceComfort Dental compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Comfort Dental financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Comfort Dental leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Comfort Dental subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Comfort Dental funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Comfort Dental M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Comfort Dental
What does Comfort Dental do?
Comfort Dental delivers affordable, accessible dental care through a franchise network of 150+ independently owned clinics across 10 U.S. states, offering general dentistry, braces, dental implants, oral surgery, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, endodontics, and emergency care. The Gold Plan membership program provides reduced-fee dental access for uninsured individuals and families, while extended hours, same-day appointments, and Medicaid acceptance broaden patient access. Care Day, an annual free dental service event, has been a hallmark of the brand since 1984.
Is Comfort Dental a public or private company?
Comfort Dental is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Comfort Dental founded?
Comfort Dental was founded in 1977. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Comfort Dental based?
Comfort Dental is headquartered in Lakewood, United States, in the North America region.
How does Comfort Dental make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Dental Service Fees are the primary driver. The others are gold Plan Membership Fees and franchise Fees.
Who are Comfort Dental's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Dental Care Alliance, Aspen Dental, Western Dental & Orthodontics, Mortenson Dental Partners, Smile Brands, Great Expressions Dental Centers, Pacific Dental Services, Affordable Dentures & Implants, Bright Now! Dental and Heartland Dental.
Does Comfort Dental have an API?
No public API is recorded for Comfort Dental.
What industry is Comfort Dental in?
Comfort Dental's product category is Dental Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLABAAAI, Membership/Subscription & Direct-Pay General Dentistry Practices, with a secondary code of HLAEAIAD, Dental Discount Plans (Dental Savings Plans). Its NAICS code is 621210 and its SIC code is 8000.