Reinventing Dentistry: How Direct Primary Care Inspired a Dental Revolution

What happens when two Tennesseans take a proven healthcare model and apply it to dentistry? In this episode of American Potential , host David From sits down with Tamara Stillwell, office manager and registered dental assistant at Athens Dental Center, to share the story of how she and her husband created the nation’s first full-service dental co-op. Frustrated by the limits of insurance—denials, delays, and skyrocketing costs—the Stillwells drew inspiration from direct primary care and built a membership-based model that puts patients and providers back in control. Discover how their United Dental Co-op helps patients save money, reduces stress for dentists, and restores the doctor–patient relationship to what it should be: focused on care, not paperwork. This conversation is about innovation, freedom, and opportunity in action—proving that when people see a problem, they can create solutions that work for everyone.