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DSO Spotlight: Adria Dental Group
The dental market in Eastern Europe, particularly in Croatia, is experiencing steady growth. This is largely driven by rising dental tourism, increased demand for cosmetic and restorative treatments, and growing investment in private clinics. Some key factors shaping the Croatian dental market:
- Croatia is a prominent destination for dental tourism, attracting patients from neighboring countries and Western Europe due to high-quality care at competitive prices.
- The country’s EU membership and relative proximity to countries like Italy, Austria, and Germany make it accessible to Western Europeans seeking more affordable treatment options.
- Croatia boasts a well-trained dental workforce due to strong dental programs at local universities.
The trend toward consolidation, prominent in other European markets, is increasingly evident in Croatia. Dental support organizations (DSOs) and dental groups are actively exploring opportunities in this market, pursuing growth through direct investment or strategic partnerships with established local providers. Notably, Adria Dental Group (ADG) is one of the key players capitalizing on this trend, working to expand its presence and impact within Croatia’s dental sector.
In just over three and a half years since its establishment, ADG has become the largest dental group in Croatia and Southern and Southeastern Europe. With over 700 employees, an annual revenue of 60 million euros, and the region’s largest dental laboratory, ADG is also poised for continued expansion across the broader region through both organic (de novo) growth and acquisitions. It is non-branded.
The founder of Adria Dental Group is Provectus Capital Partners, the largest independent private equity firm in Southeastern Europe. ADG has spearheaded the consolidation of the domestic dental sector, with an investment of EUR 60 million to date. The company’s operating profit margin is expected to surpass 20% in 2024.
ADG operates 13 dental clinics across 16 areas, 9 dental laboratories, and more than 150 state-of-the-art dental offices. With a direct presence in Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy, the group serves over 55,000 patients annually and performs more than 240,000 dental procedures each year.
ADG recently announced its strategic investment in Implant Centre Martinko, a clinic based in Zagreb, Croatia. This expansion marks ADG’s twelfth acquisition in the past three years, expanding its presence to Italy alongside its existing operations in Croatia and Slovenia.
Implant Centre Martinko operates across three locations, including its primary clinic in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, with nine treatment rooms. In Italy, the clinic is present in Trieste with four offices and in Milan with three. Recognized for its expertise in dental implantology, prosthetics, and aesthetic dentistry, Implant Centre Martinko has been instrumental in positioning Croatia as a top destination for premium dental services in Europe.
This investment represents a pivotal strategic move for ADG, marking its entry into the Italian market and further solidifying its leadership position in the region. It unlocks new avenues for growth, as ADG continues to evolve with a strong emphasis on advancing dental technology and providing innovative clinical care to improve patient outcomes.
Gordan Muškić
“Dental medicine is rapidly digitizing, which is transforming the dental sector. Modern dental medicine is based on digital technologies that, on the one hand, significantly increase productivity and quality of service, but on the other hand, require huge investments, both in technology and in people, which can only be supported by a financially strong company.
In ADG, we have invested in the best clinics, the best technologies and equipment, and we can proudly say that we have a quality of service that is at the highest level, and here we can measure up to the most developed markets in the world. We still see a lot of room for growth, both in the domestic market and in the markets of the wider region. We are pleased to have shown that Croatian dental medicine, which is very high in quality in the EU, can also make a business step forward and position itself as a strong and innovative regional leader,” said Gordan Muškić, President of the Management Board of ADG.
ADG consists of Arena Dental, Salona Dental, Rident, Dentum, Fiziodent, Dentex, Dragaš Dental Design, Primadent, Dental Center Dr. Kovačič, Implant Center Frankić, Kalmar Implant Dentistry and Implant Center Martinko. In April of this year, ADG opened a dental laboratory in Kastav, which has an annual production of over 12,000 crowns and is an additional guarantor of the highest quality of service on which ADG insists and on which they base their ambitious growth plans.
Andrija Petar Bošnjak
“In our clinics, we perform procedures of varying complexity, but we specialize in the most complex procedures, and the surgical technology used in our clinic exceeds the capacities of similar groups in the world. Our digital protocols significantly shorten the time the patient spends in the office, and they also reduce the number of necessary visits by 50 percent. Due to the high quality of service, we are recognized as a center of excellence in this part of Europe, and our offices and the new dental laboratory in Kastav have the status of reference centers for testing the latest materials and technology of the most eminent manufacturers in dental medicine.
We are striving to be recognized as the best employer in the dental sector in Croatia, with material conditions that are above the market average, we invest a lot in educating people. In the first 10 months of this year alone, we realized over 1200 hours of education, and we launched a scholarship program for dental students, as well as the internal ADG Academy, where we plan to educate dental experts outside our group. Investing in the education of domestic experts can unlock the potential of Croatia as one of the important exporters of dental services to the EU,” said Andrija Petar Bošnjak, Chief Medical Officer of ADG.
ADG’s model ensures consistent service and cutting-edge technology across its clinics in Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy, benefiting both employees and patients.
Ivana Murati Petrović
“ADG’s business organization as a dental service organization (DSO) supports our vision of continuously raising the quality of service through the application of cutting-edge technology and the best materials, in all markets in which we operate. Our great strength is that the patient can get the same quality of service, as well as the best material and technology at all our locations, in Croatia, Slovenia and Italy.
With the introduction of the DSO model, we have brought a corporate structure to dental medicine in the region. Such an organization brings many advantages, primarily to our employees and patients, because our clinics are equally focused on a high-quality working environment for employees, and top service for patients, both domestic and patients coming from European countries,” said Ivana Murati Petrović, Director of Operations at ADG.
In just a few years, Adria Dental Group has rapidly established itself as a dominant force in the dental sector, becoming the largest dental group in Croatia and Southeastern Europe. Through strategic investments, acquisitions, and a focus on innovation, the European DSO has expanded its reach across multiple countries while consistently improving service quality and patient care. With a commitment to cutting-edge technology and a strong emphasis on employee development, the dental group is poised for continued growth and success in both the domestic and international markets. This dedication to excellence sets ADG apart as a leading example of what’s possible in the evolving dental industry.
