OC Business Journal

Pacific Dental fights back, outperforms in 2020

The pandemic drew attention to the mouth-body connection, a point that is likely to lead to new innovations and greater use of digital technologies such as cameras and 3D printing, according to Pacific Dental Services CEO Stephen Thorne.

For example, one research study showed people with advanced periodontal disease were nine times more likely to die from COVID-19, he said. Beyond the coronavirus, research has also proven links between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

“More people are coming in because they want to get their teeth cleaned, they want their oral health taken care of, because they know it affects the rest of the body,” Thorne told the Business Journal.

As a result, Pacific Dental Services is back to growth and expects to exceed $2 billion in annual sales this year, Thorne said.

For perspective, the company aimed to grow 25% to $2 billion in 2020 before the pandemic hit. It took a $250 million hit in the second quarter of 2020 alone and adjusted its goal to about $1 billion. The company didn’t fare as poorly as expected and ended the year with 1% decline, Thorne said.

With $1.6 billion in 2020 revenue, the company ranked No. 11 among OC’s largest private companies last year, according to last week’s Business Journal list.

In addition, as part of its push to more closely align dentists and medical professionals, Pacific Dental Services is investing about $120 million in the “first true electronic health and dental record,” Thorne said.

The software project, for which a timeline was not revealed, will allow physicians and dentists to view patient records on one platform, in turn increasing the chances of preventing and detecting diseases early on.

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