Mr. Chris Bentson Chris Bentson grew up in Overland Park, Kansas. He attended Baylor University and received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1984. Over the past 35 years, Chris has been working with orthodontists regarding the business aspects of their practice. In 1988 he joined OPMS, an orthodontic practice management company based in Atlanta, and was part owner. The company was purchased in 1996 by Kodak and what is now Carestream Health. From 1996-2002, Chris served in various executive management positions and participated in the acquisition and integration of several orthodontic, general dental, and oral surgeon practice management companies.

 

In 2003, Chris founded Bentson Copple Patterson & Associates, LLC (formally Bentson Copple & Associates, LLC) based in Greensboro, North Carolina. The company serves the orthodontic community by performing practice valuations, providing recruiting services, and negotiating transactions with both buyers and sellers within the United States. The company is recognized as an educational business expert in the specialty of orthodontics.

 

Chris spends much time working in the orthodontic industry. He joined the AAOF (American Association of Orthodontists Foundation) Board in 2016 and served as AAOF President in 2023-2024. He was awarded the 2022 “Outstanding Contribution to the Specialty Award” by a non-orthodontist from the AAO (American Association of Orthodontists), one of only six awardees in the history of the AAO. Chris is also an expert guest lecturer in two of eight modules in the Wharton Business School’s AAO partnership course: “Mastering the Business of Orthodontics” program which has been taken by over 1,500 orthodontists to date. His modules cover the topics of Practice Level Financial Management and Financial Acumen and Practice Transition Planning. He served on several special committees at the request of the AAO’s Board of Trustees and was a founding member of the AAO-FTT (Future Think Tank).

 

In addition, he is a frequent guest lecturer, having presented over 300 lectures, at AAO meetings, regional orthodontic society meetings, orthodontic resident programs, study clubs, and orthodontic user meetings. Chris has authored dozens of articles published on the business of orthodontics in numerous orthodontic trade publications.