Frequently Asked Questions

No. Locally Owned Care does not claim that corporate ownership is bad or that local ownership is better. It verifies a single fact: whether a practice is majority-owned by clinicians who practice there. Patients can decide for themselves what weight to give that information.

No. Verification requires meeting the ownership standard and submitting documentation. The fee covers administrative costs. Practices that do not meet the standard cannot be verified regardless of payment.

Locally Owned Care was founded by a practicing orthodontist who experienced the gap between patient assumptions and actual ownership structures firsthand. The registry operates independently and is not affiliated with any dental organization, DSO, or industry group.

Verification is revoked immediately upon ownership change. The practice's status in the registry changes to "Revoked," and all badges must be removed within 48 hours (digital) or 14 days (physical). There is no grace period or "formerly verified" status.