2009-10-05 23:00:02 -

WAKEFIELD, MA -- (Marketwire) -- 10/05/09 -- American Dental Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADPI) announced today that Valley Dental Group has been re-accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care ("AAAHC").



Valley Dental Group, founded in 1974, is a dental group practice located in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area. "Valley Dental Group's accreditation is well-deserved and is recognition of their commitment to high quality standards and clinical excellence," 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 the highest possible 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 3,800 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 242 dental facilities with approximately 2,131 operatories located in 18 states.



"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: With the exception of the historical information contained in this news release, the matters described herein contain "forward-looking"
statements that involve risk and uncertainties that may individually or collectively impact 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 its 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 SEC reports, including the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

Contacts:
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

American Dental Partners, Inc.
401 Edgewater Place, Suite 430
Wakefield, MA 01880
Phone: 781/224-0880
Fax: 781/224-4216