After years of research, retired dentist, Joseph Fendall Outten, DDS of Greenville, South Carolina and his daughter, Mary Cornelia Outten, a healthcare executive with over 35 years of experience in healthcare negotiations, created the Dental Advocacy Group.

The organization’s founding comes from Dr. Outten’s deep love for the practice of dentistry and quality treatment of dental patients.  Dr. Outten noticed that increased pressure from managed care entities, as well as franchise or corporate dental conglomerates, have changed the competitive landscape for the traditional, commmunity dental practice.

Dr. Outten believed that changes in competition and lower payer fee schedules were creating a pennies-for-profit environment which could result in the erosion of quality patient care.  The answer to this dilemma was to create an organization that could help community dentist by providing a better network of resources with higher payer fee schedulessupplier pricing based upon valuemarketing assistance, and help from non-competing dentists.

Cornelia spearheaded the Dental Advocacy Group’s formation as an innovative solution for community dentists.  She began utilizing a lifetime of contacts to develop relationships that would result in higher payer fee schedulesstress-free credentialingvalue driven dental supply rates, and specialized dental marketing.

Jim Bolt, DMD joined Dental Advocacy Group as its Chief Member Advocate.  Dr. Bolt, having been mentored by Dr. Outten from an early age, shares the same passion, energy, and concerns about the practice of dentistry.  Dr. Bolt has become the driving force behind engaging dental students and helping them better prepare for the practice of dentistry.  He also serves as a resource to the large and growing membership.

Today, the Dental Advocacy Group remains true to its founding and continues to help community dentists throughout the United States.