Celebrating 10 Years of Dental Leadership
Ten years ago, dentistry offered two distinct paths: private practice on one side and corporate dentistry on the other—with very little in between. We believed there was a better way. From the beginning, we believed dentists are the natural leaders of the dental practice and that, together, we could build something transformative. Looking back on what we’ve built over the past decade, we are filled with gratitude, humility, and an incredible sense of pride.
A Vision for Something Different
Lightwave Dental was founded on a simple but powerful belief: exceptional patient care begins with exceptional dental leadership. Yet too often, private practice dentists carry the overwhelming responsibility of being both a full-time clinician and a small business owner. In traditional corporate models, many dentists sacrifice clinical autonomy and have little influence over the direction of the organization.
We set out to create something different—a dentist-owned and dentist-led organization that removes the burden of business ownership while empowering doctors to thrive clinically while executing on their personal, professional, and financial goals. That vision remains at the heart of everything we do today.
From Eight Practices to a Thriving Community
When Lightwave launched in 2016, we began with just eight practices in Virginia, a small team, and an unwavering belief in what was possible. Those early years required countless miles on the road—over 48,000 in a single year—traveling each week from Virginia Beach to Leesburg to spend time alongside our doctors and teams.
By bringing together exceptional dentists, learning from one another, sharing best practices, and building our strategy through doctor leadership, we planted the seeds of what has grown into one of the premier dental organizations in the United States.
Over the past decade, that belief has grown into something remarkable.
Today, Lightwave includes more than 100 dental practices across Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. We are a truly multi-specialty organization with nationally respected clinical leaders in general dentistry, orthodontics, pediatrics, endodontics, periodontics, and oral surgery.
Together, we support more than 260 dentists while maintaining one of the highest doctor engagement and retention rates in our industry—with more than 95% of our doctors choosing to continue building their careers at Lightwave each year. Across our organization, more than 1,800 talented team members have helped us achieve a world-class Employee Net Promoter Score of 50 or higher for five consecutive years.
The Dental Leadership Organization
One of the defining moments in our journey came in 2020, following our partnership with CarolinasDentist and Dr. Cameron in 2019. Together, we introduced the industry’s first Dental Leadership Organization (DLO)—bringing to life his vision centered on dentist ownership, dentist leadership, and long-term partnership.
The DLO isn’t simply how we’re organized—it reflects who we are. We believe the strongest dental organizations are built from within by developing dentists into leaders who mentor others, shape strategy, and help define the future of our profession.
Nothing better illustrates that philosophy than the success of our partner practices.
When CarolinasDentist joined Lightwave in 2019, the organization consisted of six practices, 16 dentists, and 150 team members providing just over $16 million in annual patient care services. Today, it has grown to 20 practices, 55 dentists, and more than 400 team members, delivering over $70 million in annual patient care services.
Soon after, Triangle Family Dentistry and Carolinas Orthodontics & Children’s Dentistry joined the Lightwave family with 10 practices, 19 dentists, and 160 team members providing just over $19 million in annual patient care services. Today, those organizations have grown to 23 locations, 60 dentists, more than 400 team members, and over $65 million in annual patient care services.
While these stories are extraordinary, they represent just a few of the many examples across Lightwave. Every region, every practice, every partner doctor, every practice manager, and every support team has contributed to this success through leadership, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
That is what Lightwave is all about: expanding exceptional patient care through beautiful, modern practices led by people who are deeply invested in their patients, their teams, and one another.
Advancing Clinical Excellence
Our impact extends far beyond growth in practices and revenue.
Over the past decade, we’ve welcomed hundreds of outstanding doctors into the Lightwave community. Together, we’ve expanded access to multi-specialty care, embraced leading-edge digital technologies, strengthened collaboration across disciplines, provided countless hours of volunteer and community service, locally and internationally, and continually raised the standard of care for the patients and communities we serve.
We’ve also invested deeply in the growth of our clinicians through continuing education, leadership development, mentorship, and collaboration. As our doctors have grown, so has our ability to deliver more comprehensive care, better patient outcomes, and a culture where clinical innovation is not only encouraged—but expected.
This is what happens when dental leadership scales.
Lives are transformed—not only for our patients, but for our doctors, our teams, and the communities we proudly serve.
Looking Ahead
To every team member and every doctor who has been part of this journey—whether you’ve been with us since day one or joined us just last week—thank you!
You are the reason Lightwave exists. You are the reason we continue to grow. And you are the reason our future has never been brighter.
As we celebrate our 10th Anniversary, we’re excited to spend the next year honoring where we’ve been while looking ahead to where we’re going. Guided by this year’s theme—Fueled by Vision. Driven by Traction—we’ll celebrate the people, partnerships, and purpose that have made this journey so special.
While our purpose has never changed, our updated “why” statement reflects our optimism about our future:
We believe innovation and passion have the power to transform lives.
The first ten years have exceeded anything we could have imagined.
The next ten will be even more exciting.
Thank you for believing in this vision and for making Lightwave what it is today.
We are just getting started.
With gratitude,
Justin Jory
Chief Executive Officer
Clifton Cameron
President & Chief Clinical Officer