SALT Dental Partners Builds Q3 Momentum with First Partnership in Illinois and Indiana, New Specialty Service Lines and Partner Summit 2026
At SALT, we set big goals. We think of the journey to becoming the best in our industry as climbing a mountain: every milestone is another step toward the summit, and no one reaches the top alone. That is the heart of Summit Ready, the mindset that guides how SALT and its partner doctors grow together. Being Summit Ready means hard work: a big, bold commitment, a robust gameplan, disciplined preparation and a team that climbs together. Q3 put that standard into action across the organization.
New Partnerships
In July, SALT welcomed a multi-site pediatric dentistry and orthodontic practice serving families across Chicagoland and Indiana, marking the organization’s first partnership in Illinois and Indiana and its 12th partnership of 2026. The practice is led by growth-minded partner doctors with long-term aspirations to build with SALT.
On September 16, Flagship Orthodontics in Hanover, MD joined SALT. The practice serves the greater Baltimore area and sits alongside Chesapeake Pediatric Dental Group’s Hanover office, giving families in the community connected access to pediatric and orthodontic care.
Strategic Growth Across the Network
SALT partner practices expanded their reach and specialty services throughout the quarter:
Capital Kids Dentistry & Orthodontics
- Opened July 28 in Silver Spring, MD, extending the Capital Kids Dentistry brand into a complementary market and adding orthodontics to its service offering.
Alden Bridge Pediatric Dentistry
- Launched its orthodontics service line on August 20 in The Woodlands, TX, welcoming Dr. Lugo to lead orthodontic care within the existing office footprint.
- Completed a dedicated suite for oral surgery and periodontics and welcomed Dr. Levine as a full-time oral surgeon. The move brings oral surgery in-house and significantly expands availability.
“Every one of these milestones started with partner doctors who saw an opportunity to serve their patients more fully. Our job is to give them the gameplan, the systems and the support to move fast, and this quarter they did exactly that,” said Mark Schodrof, Chief Operating Officer of SALT Dental Partners.
Partner Summit 2026: Summit Ready
In September, SALT brought 200 partner doctors and leaders together in San Diego, CA for the 2026 Partner Summit. Built around the theme Summit Ready, the event drew a direct line between what it takes to summit Everest and what it takes to build a 1-of-1 DSO: a bold commitment, a robust gameplan, preparation and training, day-to-day discipline, the right gear in tools like Practice Health and Traction, and a team of blue-chip partner doctors supported by operations and HSO leaders.
The final element was execution. Partner doctors left the Summit with a clear message: execution is in each partner’s control, every partner is counted on to do the same, and the partnership is strongest because it is interdependent.
“Summit Ready is how we show up for each other. Our partner doctors are equipped, prepared and committed to the same climb, and that shared commitment is what sets SALT apart,” said Dylan Bates, Chief Executive Officer of SALT Dental Partners.
Leading From the Front
SALT’s executive team brought the Summit Ready mindset to the trail. Beginning September 17, CEO Dylan Bates, COO Mark Schodrof, Chief Strategic Officer Josh Yelsey, Chief Development Officer Fletcher Boyle and Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Tony Paventy took on 29029 TRAIL in Park City, Utah: three mountain marathons over three consecutive days covering 80 miles. It wasn’t easy, but they never shy away from doing hard things. The challenge reflected the same standard SALT asks of its partnership: commit boldly, train with discipline and get through hard things together.
Looking Ahead
SALT enters the fourth quarter with new markets, expanded specialty care and a partnership aligned around a shared summit. The organization continues to welcome growth-minded doctors who want to build with a doctor-led partner. We’re looking forward to finishing the year out strong.