ADPI American Dental Partners, Inc. (MM)

American Dental Partners, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADPI) announced today that Arizona's Tooth Doctor for Kids has been re-accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care ("AAAHC").

Arizona's Tooth Doctor for Kids is a dental group practice that provides dental care to children through seven locations and two mobile dental units in metropolitan Phoenix and Globe, Arizona and participates in health plans contracted with the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System ("AHCCCS"), the state's Medicaid program. "Arizona's Tooth Doctor for Kids' accreditation is well-deserved and is recognition of its dedication to clinical excellence and the quality patient care it provides to the children of Arizona," said Gregory A. Serrao, Chief Executive Officer.

American Dental Partners encourages its affiliated dental groups to pursue AAAHC accreditation as a means to set and maintain measurable quality benchmarks and achieve a higher standard of patient care. Dr. Jesley C. Ruff, Senior Vice President and Chief Professional Officer of American Dental Partners, works with the Company's affiliates in the pursuit of accreditation. "We hope that by having our affiliated dental groups be part of a select group of dental practices accredited by the AAAHC, American Dental Partners will be at the forefront of promoting clinical excellence in the dental profession," said Dr. Ruff. "While AAAHC accreditation is a rigorous and demanding process, we believe it will help our affiliated dental groups continue to recruit high quality professionals and enhance relationships with patients and local dental communities," Dr. Ruff added.

The AAAHC was formed in 1979 to assist ambulatory health care organizations improve the quality of care provided to patients. Accreditation is a voluntary process through which ambulatory health care organizations are able to measure the quality of their services and performance against nationally recognized standards. Currently accrediting over 4,600 organizations, the AAAHC is the leader in ambulatory health care accreditation. 

American Dental Partners is one of the nation's leading business partners to dental group practices. The Company is affiliated with 26 dental group practices which have 278 dental facilities with approximately 2,387 operatories located in 21 states. 

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: With the exception of the historical information contained in this press release, the matters described herein contain "forward-looking" statements that involve risk and uncertainties that may individually or collectively affect the matters herein described, including but not limited to the Company's risks associated with overall or regional economic conditions, dependence upon affiliated dental practices, contracts the affiliated practices have with third-party payors, government regulation of the dental industry, impact of health care reform, dependence upon service agreements and the impact of any terminations or potential terminations of such contracts, business interruptions, the outcome of pending litigation and the Company's acquisition and affiliation strategy, which are detailed from time to time in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

CONTACT: American Dental Partners, Inc.
         401 Edgewater Place, Suite 430
         Wakefield, MA 01880
         Phone: 781/224-0880
         Fax: 781/224-4216
         
         Gregory A. Serrao
         Chairman, President and
         Chief Executive Officer
         781-224-0880
         
         Breht T. Feigh
         Executive Vice President,
         Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
         781-224-0880