InterDent, Inc. Adds Seven Dental Practices in Detroit, Michigan; First Transaction for InterDent as A New Corporate Entity.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--March 12, 1999--InterDent, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Gentle Dental Service Corporation (Nasdaq:GNTL) and Dental Care Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq NM: DENT), today announced it has added seven dental practices and a dental laboratory, with combined annualized net patient revenue under management of approximately $6 million, located in and around Detroit, Michigan. The addition includes the purchase of certain assets as well as the assumption of outstanding receivables and certain liabilities.

Prior to this transaction, four of the seven facilities were affiliated with InterDent through a third party. By contracting with these practices directly, InterDent will benefit from a higher margin contribution from these centers.

Michael Fiore, Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of InterDent, stated, "This accretive addition is further reinforcement of InterDent's strategic plan to build geographically-based networks in strong demographic markets, as it strengthens our existing position in the Detroit area. We are also adding several experienced practitioners who are familiar with the geographic region and will be joining our Regional Operations and Development Team."

Dr. Steven Matzkin, Co-Chairman, President and Chief Dental Officer of InterDent, Inc., added, "We are particularly pleased to welcome on board Dr. Ross Johnson, whom I have worked with for many years, and who will become InterDent's Dental Director for the state of Michigan. The addition of the dental laboratory enhances the services we can offer to our affiliated dentists in the region. The laboratory is also an important part of the package of services we intend to offer non-affiliated dentists as part of our Internet services strategy."

In a related press release yesterday, InterDent announced it had received shareholder approval for its planned merger. InterDent today announced financial results for its Gentle Dental and Dental Care Alliance wholly-owned subsidiaries. InterDent will begin trading on the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol DENTD on the first day following the consummation of the merger.

InterDent is the largest provider of dental management services in the US. The company provides dental management services to 183 locations in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Hawaii, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Indiana. Presently, InterDent has over $210 million in annualized net patient revenues under management. The company is continuing to expand by building a fully integrated support environment utilizing advanced information technologies to enable dental professionals to provide patients with high quality, comprehensive, convenient and cost effective care.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Those risks and uncertainties include InterDent's ability to close and absorb future acquisitions, the economic climate in the Company's service areas, potential changes in government regulation and in the dental insurance industry, actions by competitors, and other factors disclosed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements should be considered in light of these risks and uncertainties.