Matt Ornstein
Dentists deserve growth without giving up control.
The Spark: Seeing Opportunity in Dentistry
Matt Ornstein has always had an eye for strong business opportunities. He noticed a gap in the dental industry: dentists were running successful practices but were weighed down by business operations, marketing, HR, compliance, finances, and recruitment.
From a purely business perspective, the traditional DSO model seemed incomplete. Dentists were being bought out and converted to employees, often losing equity, control, and team cohesion. Matt saw a market inefficiency: practices that could thrive under better management, yet preserve autonomy, were being undervalued.
The Moment It Clicked
In 2015, Children & Teen Dental Group (C&TDG) presented itself as a strategic investment opportunity. Matt recognized its growth potential and became an owner/investor, seeing a way to build a business that worked for both dentists and investors.
Through ownership, he gained firsthand insight into what dentists actually want:
- Retain equity and control
- Keep their brand and team intact
- Enjoy clinical autonomy while freeing themselves from business headaches
- Grow their practice strategically with new specialties
He realized that by creating the right structure, ODP could deliver these outcomes while also creating a scalable, profitable business model.
From C&TDG to Oak Dental Partners
On August 30, 2021, Children & Teen Dental Group officially announced a name change to Oak Dental Partners. By that time, the company had grown to 25 affiliated pediatric dental and orthodontic offices across Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Pennsylvania. The rebrand reflected a larger vision: expanding into adult and family dentistry, and building a platform that could scale while meeting the needs of dentists and patients alike.
As owner, Matt helped define Oak Dental Partners’ unique approach:
- Partnership, not buyout: Dentists retain equity and a voice in decisions.
- Absolute clinical autonomy: Dentists lead patient care without interference.
- Business support for growth: Marketing, HR, recruiting, compliance, and operations are managed by Oak, letting dentists focus on care.
- Retention of brand and team: The practice’s identity and staff are preserved.
The Oak Dental Partners Advantage
Business-first, people-focused
Matt recognized that a smart business model also had to deliver value to the people running it. By combining operational efficiency with genuine respect for dentists’ autonomy, Oak created a repeatable, scalable framework that attracts top practices.
Strong culture and values
Oak thrives on integrity, accountability, and collaboration — values that keep teams motivated and ensure patients receive top-tier care.
