American Dental Partners, Inc. Announces Stock Repurchase Program.

WAKEFIELD, Mass.--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 17, 1999--

American Dental Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADPI) announced today that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program under which the Company may purchase up to $5 million of its outstanding common stock in the open market at price levels and at times the Company deems appropriate. The Company will fund the repurchase through borrowings under its existing credit facility or internally generated cash.

"The Board's decision to authorize this repurchase program is based on the belief that the Company's stock is currently undervalued and the repurchase of shares is an excellent use of capital," said Gregory A. Serrao, Chief Executive Officer. "Since going public in April 1998, we have achieved our operating plans and growth objectives, but despite these achievements, the Company has not been rewarded in terms of stock price," added Mr. Serrao. "We intend to remain disciplined in building the Company's balance sheet and in using our capital to achieve acceptable returns on capital. We believe we can achieve our operating plans and growth objectives over the next year without having to access equity capital and we intend to use internally generated cash and our current bank line to fund our growth," concluded Mr. Serrao.

American Dental Partners, Inc. is one of the nation's leading dental practice management companies. As of September 30, 1999, the Company was affiliated with 18 dental group practices and operated 132 dental facilities with more than 1,150 operatories located in Alabama, Arizona, California, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Note: Some of the information in this press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project," and similar expressions, among others, identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statement was made. Such forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied. Certain factors that might cause such a difference include, among others, the Company's risks associated with its acquisition and affiliation strategy, management of rapid growth, dependence upon affiliated dental groups, dependence upon service agreements, government regulation of the dental industry and year 2000 compliance issues. Additional risks, uncertainties and other factors are set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-56941).