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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about how WhoIsMyDentist works, for patients looking up their providers and for dental professionals managing their listings.

For Patients

What is WhoIsMyDentist?
WhoIsMyDentist is a free, public reference platform that helps people understand who is providing their dental care and who owns or manages the practice behind it. We have mapped more than 260,000 dentists and 145,000 dental offices nationwide, organizing publicly available information into clear, structured profiles. No reviews, no paid rankings, just facts.
Why does dental office ownership matter?
Dentistry has seen a major shift over the past two decades, with large corporate groups and private equity acquiring thousands of practices nationwide. While the dentist in the room may be excellent, ownership structure can influence treatment protocols, staffing, and business priorities. We believe patients deserve to know this context before they sit in the chair.
What is a DSO (Dental Support Organization)?
A Dental Support Organization is a business entity that provides non-clinical support services to dental practices (billing, HR, real estate, and marketing), often in exchange for equity or revenue sharing. DSO-affiliated offices may be branded independently while still operating under a corporate umbrella. WhoIsMyDentist surfaces that connection when it can be established from public data. Read our full guide: What is a DSO?
How do I use the map?
The homepage opens on a national view where each state shows a single pie chart summarizing the mix of ownership types in that state. Click a state, or zoom in, and the pie disperses into individual office pins colored by ownership type. Click any pin to open that office profile. A live activity panel in the corner shows recent platform milestones and contributions.
How do I find a specific dentist or office?
Use the search bar at the top of the site. You can search by dentist name, office name, or location. Selecting a result takes you straight to that profile page, where you can see associated dentists, ownership context, location, and contact details.
Do you provide ratings or reviews?
No. We do not publish star ratings, paid rankings, or user-submitted reviews. Our mission is to present neutral, factual information. Offices that claim their profile can link their Google reviews, so patients can see them directly on the office page.
What do the ownership classifications mean?
Ownership classifications give context about how an office is structured. The same four categories and colors appear on the map, on profiles, and in the state pie charts:
  • Independent: owned and operated by the dentist(s) practicing there, with no DSO or external management affiliation.
  • Group: a dentist-owned group spanning two or more locations, independent of an external management organization.
  • Corporate: backed or managed by a Dental Support Organization (DSO) or private equity group.
  • Unverified: ownership information is pending review or could not be confirmed from available data.
Can I report incorrect or outdated information?
Yes. Signed-in users can submit corrections and ownership details directly from any office or dentist profile page. Submissions are queued for review before anything changes on the public listing. You can also reach us through the Contact page if you prefer.
Is WhoIsMyDentist free to use?
Yes. Browsing the map, searching, and viewing every profile is completely free, with no account required. Accounts are only needed to claim a profile or submit contributions.

For Dentists & Offices

How do I claim my dentist profile?
Open your listing and click "Claim Profile" to start. Provide your verification details and complete the quick anti-spam check, and we email you a link right away to set your password. There is no wait for manual approval: you can set your password and start editing your profile in the same visit.
How do I claim an office profile?
Open the office profile page and select "Claim Office." You must be signed in as a verified dentist. Unlike a dentist profile claim, an office claim is reviewed by our team before management access is granted, because it controls how a whole practice is represented. Including ownership or licensure context in the notes helps speed up that review.
What can I update after I am verified?
Verified dentists and office managers can update professional details, bio, headshot, contact information, hours, and associated dentists. Keeping your profile current ensures patients see accurate, up-to-date information about you and your practice.
Can I change my office's ownership classification myself?
Ownership classification is not directly editable, even by a verified owner. If you believe your office is classified incorrectly, submit the correct ownership details and they are routed to our team for review rather than applied automatically. This keeps the classification neutral and trustworthy for patients, and protects it from being changed to influence how a practice appears.
What are transparency points and the leaderboard?
Every accepted contribution, such as claiming a profile, adding a missing office, referring a colleague who claims their profile, or submitting verified ownership details, earns transparency points. Reaching milestones unlocks contributor tiers, and the public leaderboard recognizes the people helping build the most complete, accurate picture of dental ownership in the country.
Is there a fee to claim or maintain a profile?
Claiming your profile and keeping it up to date is free. We also offer Office Pro, a paid upgrade with enhanced visibility and profile controls for practices that want to stand out. You never have to pay to appear, correct your information, or be found.
How are claims kept honest?
Dentist profile claims are self-service and take effect immediately, protected by an anti-spam check and tied to the email you verify. Office claims and ownership changes go through team review. We monitor claims against public records, and anyone can flag a listing that looks wrong. If a claim is found to be inaccurate or fraudulent, we revoke access and correct the listing.
I am an independent dentist. Why is this platform valuable for me?
Corporate-backed practices often have large marketing budgets that push independent dentists off the first page of search results. WhoIsMyDentist gives independent dentists a dedicated, neutral space where patients who actively care about ownership can find them, without competing against ad spend.

Data, Policy & Support

Where does WhoIsMyDentist data come from?
Our core listings are built from publicly available records, primarily the National Provider Identifier (NPI) registry, alongside state dental licensing boards and business registries. We enrich this with accepted contributions from verified dentists and office teams. We do not purchase or rely on proprietary data brokers.
How often is the data updated?
Core reference data is refreshed periodically as new public records become available. Dentists and office managers who claim their profiles can make updates at any time. Direct profile edits publish quickly, while ownership changes and office claims are reviewed first.
How is my personal information handled?
We collect only what is necessary to operate the platform: account credentials, profile data you provide, and standard usage analytics. We do not sell personal data. Full details are in our Privacy Policy, linked in the footer.
How do I request removal or correction of my information?
Licensed dentists are listed as part of our public reference database, which is built from public records. If your listing contains inaccurate information, the fastest fix is to claim your profile and correct it directly. You can also contact us with a correction or removal request, and we will review and respond within a reasonable timeframe.
How can I contact your team?
Use the Contact page for questions, corrections, or business inquiries. For faster help with a claim, include the profile URL and any relevant context so our team can locate the record quickly.

Still have questions?

Our team is happy to help with profile claims, data corrections, or anything else.