Ellis Dental

What Ellis Dental does

Ellis Dental is a privately held, single-location family dental practice founded in 2009 by Dr. Holly Ellis and based in Crestwood, Missouri, a suburb within the St. Louis metropolitan area. The practice serves more than 1,900 patients across all age cohorts through a portfolio of six core service lines: preventive cleaning and oral cancer screening, restorative and cosmetic dentistry (including Invisalign, veneers, crowns, bridges, and whitening), pediatric care (with free exams for children under two), dental implants and oral surgery (including laser tissue removal), and a differentiated dental sleep medicine program. The sleep medicine offering is anchored by Dr. Ellis's Diplomate credential with the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and comprises at-home sleep apnea diagnosis (using the ARES device for three consecutive nights) and treatment with custom-fitted oral appliances positioned as a CPAP alternative. Clinical infrastructure occupies more than 3,100 square feet of state-of-the-art space completed in August 2015 and includes multiple operatories, a consult room, and an in-office lab.

The business operates as a traditional fee-for-service professional services practice with a multi-dentist clinical bench (Dr. Holly Ellis, Dr. Kelly O'Shaughnessy, Dr. Kathryn Brennan, and Dr. Linda Branham). Revenue is generated per visit or treatment episode, with insurance accepted, financing facilitated through CareCredit, Sun Life Financial Preferred, and OneMain Financial, and an in-house insurance alternative (Smile Advantage) offered to patients without traditional coverage. Go-to-market is exclusively direct-to-consumer through the single Crestwood office, supported by online scheduling (via Modento and LocalMed), a 24–48 hour appointment request form, and a multi-channel marketing mix that includes a content blog, organic social on Facebook and Instagram, paid review management across seven platforms (Google, Facebook, Yelp, Birdeye, Healthgrades, RateMDs, Vitals), earned media through KTVI FOX 2 and KEZK 102.5 FM, community sponsorships, and a patient referral rewards program.

Ellis Dental is individually owned by Dr. Holly Ellis with no disclosed parent company, external equity investors, venture funding, M&A activity, or geographic expansion beyond its single location. The practice has accumulated a strong regional reputation (St. Louis Magazine Top Dentist 2012–2018, 2016 Outstanding New Dentist Practice winner, 2016 Crestwood-Sunset Hills Business of the Year), but its growth model to date has been organic and capacity-constrained within one physical site.

Name

Ellis Dental

Legal name

Ellis Dental

Website

https://ellisdental.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ellis Dental is a privately owned, single-location family dental practice in Crestwood, Missouri (St. Louis metro), founded in 2009 by Dr. Holly Ellis, serving more than 1,900 patients with general dentistry, implants, cosmetic procedures, pediatric care, and dental sleep medicine.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

General Dentistry

NAICS

Offices of Dentists (621210)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLABAAAE

Comprehensive Family Dentistry (Multi-Disciplinary In-Office General Care)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Dental Care Services/General & Family Dentistry

SECONDARYHLABAAAA

Preventive & Routine General Dentistry (Exams/Cleanings/Sealants/Fluoride)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Dental Care Services/General & Family Dentistry

SECONDARYHLABAAAB

Restorative General Dentistry (Fillings/Crowns/Bridges)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Dental Care Services/General & Family Dentistry

Keywords

• Family dentistry
• Cosmetic dentistry
• Sleep apnea treatment
• Dental implants
• Pediatric dental care

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Dental Care Services: Comprehensive dental services including cleanings, preventive care, restorative procedures, cosmetic dentistry, oral surgery, pediatric care, and sleep apnea treatment. Revenue is generated through fee-for-service dental procedures billed per visit or treatment episode, with some services potentially covered by dental insurance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Ellis Dental is a single-location family dental practice that delivers comprehensive general, preventive, cosmetic, restorative, pediatric, oral surgery, and implant dentistry plus specialized dental sleep medicine services (at-home sleep testing and custom oral appliances for sleep apnea). The practice also offers an in-house dental insurance alternative called Smile Advantage. All services are delivered in person at its Crestwood, MO office to individual patients of all ages.

Product overview

Ellis Dental is a single-location family dental practice in St. Louis, Missouri that offers a comprehensive range of dental services organized into six core areas: Cleaning & Prevention (professional cleanings, oral cancer screenings), Sleep Apnea Treatment (home sleep testing, custom oral appliances), Pediatric Care (children's dentistry including free exams for under-2), Oral Surgery (extractions, laser tissue removal), Cosmetic Dentistry (Invisalign, crowns, veneers, whitening), and Restorations (crowns, bridges, root canals). The practice also provides dental implants and offers the Smile Advantage insurance-alternative membership plan. The portfolio is structured as a single unified practice offering multiple service lines rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cleaning & Prevention Preventive dental care for patients of all ages, including professional cleanings, scaling and root planing, oral hygiene instruction, and oral cancer screenings.
• Sleep Apnea Treatment Diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea for adult patients, including a free online sleep risk assessment, at-home sleep testing using the ARES device, and custom oral appliance therapy as a CPAP alternative, co-managed with board-certified sleep physicians.
• Pediatric Care Comprehensive dental care for children including cleanings, fillings, and Invisalign Teen orthodontic treatment; free examinations are offered for children under 2 years old.
• Oral Surgery Surgical dental procedures performed in-office, including routine extractions, treatment of tooth infections, and laser tissue removal.
• Cosmetic Dentistry Aesthetic dental procedures for adult patients, including bonding, tooth-colored fillings, Invisalign clear braces (Ellis Dental is a preferred Invisalign provider), porcelain and zirconia crowns and bridges, porcelain veneers, and professional in-office and at-home tooth whitening.
• Dental Implants Implant-based tooth replacement services for adult patients, including single-tooth implant restorations and implant-supported dentures.
• Restorations Dental restoration services to repair or replace damaged teeth, including crowns, fixed bridges, and root canal therapy.
• Smile Advantage In-house dental insurance alternative membership plan offering savings on dental services, examinations, specialist referrals, and emergency care coverage for Ellis Dental patients.
• Oral Sleep Appliance Custom-made oral appliance individually fitted by Dr. Ellis for treatment of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea as an alternative to CPAP; the device is worn during sleep to maintain an open airway.
• At-Home Sleep Testing Home-based sleep apnea diagnostic test using the ARES (Apnea Risk Evaluation System) wearable device; patients complete three consecutive nights of testing in their own bed rather than traveling to a sleep lab.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 1,900 patients served since founding in 2009
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Smile AdvantagecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSmile Advantage is an in-office dental insurance alternative/membership plan offered by Ellis Dental. It provides patients with an alternative to traditional dental insurance with savings on exams, cleanings, and other procedures. The practice actively promotes Smile Advantage as a financing and value option for patients.
• CareCreditcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCareCredit is a health, wellness, and beauty credit card used by patients to finance dental procedures. Ellis Dental accepts CareCredit as a payment option, enabling patients to manage costs for larger procedures over time.
• Sun Life Financial (Preferred)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSun Life Financial Preferred is a dental financing and insurance partner listed on the Ellis Dental financing page. It provides patient financing options for dental care.
• OneMain FinancialminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOneMain Financial is a personal loan provider used by Ellis Dental patients to finance dental procedures, listed alongside other financing partners on the practice's financing page.
• American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Holly Ellis is a member of the AADSM and participates in its registry. The AADSM is the leading national organization for dentists who provide sleep apnea treatment. Membership enables Dr. Ellis to stay current on dental sleep medicine standards and connect with sleep physician partners for collaborative patient care.
• Board Certified Sleep PhysicianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Ellis works closely with board certified sleep physicians to analyze home sleep test results and co-manage patients' sleep apnea treatment plans. This collaborative care model allows for proper diagnosis and customized oral appliance therapy.
• 102.5 KEZK (Greg Hewitt)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEllis Dental partnered with Greg Hewitt of KEZK 102.5 FM for on-air radio segments discussing oral health topics. This local media partnership helps raise awareness of the practice in the St. Louis community.
• Make-A-Wish Missouri & KansasminorOthersEllis Dental ran a 'Whitening for Wishes' summer campaign, donating 50% of proceeds from teeth whitening product sales to the Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas chapter to help grant wishes for children.
• American Dental Association (ADA)minorOthersDr. Ellis is a member of the American Dental Association, Missouri Dental Association, and Greater St. Louis Dental Society. ADA membership provides access to resources, continuing education, and professional standards.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• MB2 Dental Solutions: PE-backed dental partnership organization that affiliates with single and multi-location dental practices. Comparable as a buyer/partner for independent practices like Ellis Dental, with overlapping general, cosmetic, and specialty service offerings.
• Aspen Dental Management: One of the largest DSOs in the U.S. with hundreds of branded offices providing general, cosmetic, and specialty dentistry. Comparable as a multi-service general dentistry operator competing for the same patient pool, though at significantly greater scale and with PE backing.
• Pacific Dental Services: Dental support organization supporting hundreds of dental practices across the U.S. with comprehensive general and specialty services. Comparable as a scaled general dentistry platform with modern facilities and modernized patient experience focus.
• Dental Care Alliance: DSO affiliated with hundreds of dental practices offering general dentistry, specialties, and advanced services. Comparable as a consolidator of independent practices and a direct competitor for patient acquisition in regional markets.
• Heartland Dental: The largest dental support organization in the U.S., supporting thousands of doctors across general and specialty dentistry. Comparable as a multi-location general dentistry platform and a likely competitor/buyer for independent practices in the St. Louis market.

Emerging players

• Gen4 Dental Partners: Dental partnership organization partnering with high-quality general dental practices. Comparable as a strategic/affiliation partner targeting successful independent practices similar to Ellis Dental.
• Marquee Dental Partners: Dental partnership organization scaling general and specialty dental practices in the Southeast and Midwest U.S. Comparable as a regional DSO active in the Midwest that competes for talent and patients with independent practices like Ellis Dental.
• Imagen Dental Partners: PE-backed DSO partnering with general and specialty dental practices. Comparable as a potential acquirer/partner for Ellis Dental, with a similar model of preserving practice-level clinical autonomy.

Direct peers

• ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers: National network specializing in dental implant treatments and full-arch restorations. Comparable as a direct competitor in Ellis Dental's implant service line, particularly for higher-acuity implant cases.
• Affordable Dentures & Implants: Multi-location dental practice network specializing in dentures and dental implants. Comparable as a focused service-line operator in implants and tooth replacement, directly overlapping with Ellis Dental's implant offering.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ellisdental
• Instagraminstagram.com/p/DZZ5Q_dlY0J
• Xx.com/ellisdental
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ellis-dental

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Ellis Dental