Aspen Dental Management, Inc. is a dental support organization. American Securities led a recapitalization of the company in 2015; in 2017 Ares Management and Leonard Green & Partners increased their ownership to a majority, leaving American Securities a minority (about 20%) investor. Aspen Dental is included here because of that shared-owner relationship — not as a general critique of the company.
California (2026). The California Attorney General announced a $2 million settlement (plus $300,000 in patient restitution) resolving allegations that Aspen Dental violated the state’s ban on the corporate practice of dentistry, gave clinical staff financial incentives tied to sales, and used misleading “accepts all insurance” advertising.
Massachusetts (2023, and an earlier 2014 action). A $3.5 million settlement over charging for services advertised as “free” and a false “accepts all insurance” claim; the 2014 action addressed similar “free” exam and radiograph charges.
New York (2015). A $450,000 settlement over the corporate practice of dentistry and fee-splitting, including revenue targets tied to treatment sales.
These are the documented parallels to the billing, advertising, and clinical-control concerns raised about SimonMed. Each is sourced below.