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You Should Know: Synergy Dental Partners by Kyle Patton, Associate Editor, Dentaltown Magazine

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What is your background in dental?
Shah-Khan: I am a practicing general dentist in Charlotte, North Carolina. I have practiced in various types—from a solo practice to a three-doctor practice, to large group practices—over the past 13 years.

This gives me a broad-ranging view of many different practice types. I graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry in 2002. I have served on the board of directors of the UNC School of Dentistry's Dental Alumni Association, as well as on the board of directors for the Charlotte Dental Society.

I have been a member of the Spear Education Faculty Club as well as Cerec doctors.com Academy. Between me and my cofounder, Dr. Rick Offutt, we have great combined experience in clinical practice, practice ownership, practice building, dental business development and management, associateships, academics and dental consulting.



What is Synergy Dental Partners?
Shah-Khan: Synergy is a dentist-owned and -operated group purchasing organization (GPO). Our goal is to band independent practitioners together across the nation and leverage their purchasing power to negotiate pricing for dental supplies, implants, lab services, and consulting services, as well as other relevant goods and services that can help practices to reduce their overhead by saving on the supplies and services that are useful to them.

What is the philosophy at Synergy?
Shah-Khan: Synergy is committed to the preservation of the independent dental practitioner. We try to level the playing field so that independent dental practices can achieve cost savings that were previously reserved for large group or corporate dental practices.

By helping dental practices control overhead, we aspire to keep our members competitive in an ever-changing environment where the fragmented nature of dentistry is working against the independent dental practitioner. We also accomplish this in a business-as-usual approach for the practice, where utilizing our services does not disrupt or really change how a practice operates on a daily basis.

What's the best-kept secret at Synergy?
Shah-Khan: I think the best-kept secret about Synergy is that there are no secrets. Synergy is an extremely transparent company that presents opportunities to our members in an open and equal manner. We require no contracts from our members, nor do we set spending minimums. You can buy one thing, or use our entire family of vendors.

Naturally, the more of our vendors that you use, the greater savings you will achieve … but in order for our model to work, this has to be a win for everyone involved. The "secret" to Synergy's success is that we are owned and operated by practicing clinicians who are in the trenches with other doctors on a daily basis and understand the pressures that they are facing.

We are constantly working to find new opportunities for our members, but we will only use partners that we believe are beneficial for our members. Unlike other GPOs, we don't collect a monthly or annual fee, nor do we ask for a percentage of a doctor's annual collections in order for him or her to become a member. We find that those models do not necessarily have the practitioner's best interest as the main motivating factor.

What kind of service should dentists expect?
Shah-Khan: When a client reaches out to us electronically or by phone, either Dr. Offutt or I will contact him or her directly.

The client will receive an electronic welcome packet that has information about Synergy and all of our vendor partners. We will always offer to provide a price comparison for the practice so that she or he can gain an understanding about the savings that the practice can achieve through Synergy.

The client will also receive a phone call from Synergy as well as a mailed welcome packet. After a member registers, we will enroll him or her with all of our vendors and have the Synergy representatives at each vendor reach out to the office to further explain the savings opportunity.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Shah-Khan: Being a dentist-owned and -operated company, Synergy understands what pressures the doctors are facing. We are committed to preserving the independent dental practitioner and developing Synergy into a nationwide community of practitioners where there are resources for doctors and administrators to improve their practice environment and profitability.

Synergy is constantly striving to provide enhanced resources for the doctor. We are constantly evaluating potential partners and channels that will help our members. We are on the verge of very exciting things that can change the face of private practice as we know it. Our field is rapidly evolving and Synergy is committed to keeping its members ahead of the wave of change so they can continue to enjoy the practice of dentistry in the manner that they always have.

How can a dentist begin working with you? Shah-Khan: Take a look at our website, thesynergydentalpartners.com. Doctors will find information and a free online membership form they can fill out, if interested. Alternatively, they can contact our CDO, Dr. Rick Offutt, at roffutt@thesynergydentalpartners.com, or (704) 609-8939.


Dentaltown Magazine
September 2025
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