A model for integrated care

How Red Mountain Endodontics, Superstition Springs Endodontics, East Valley Periodontics, and Mesa Implants & Periodontics are redefining collaborative specialty care in Mesa, Arizona

When the term “Integrated Care” was introduced at the 2023 Specialized Dental Partners Vision Summit, it struck a chord with those in attendance. But for Drs. Steven Frost of Red Mountain Endodontics, Christopher Kayafas of Superstition Springs Endodontics, Scott Price of East Valley Periodontics, and Jonathan Peterson of Mesa Implants & Periodontics, it wasn’t a novel concept — it was validation.

“That’s what we’ve been doing all along,” Dr. Price recalled.

In Mesa, Arizona, Integrated Care isn’t a buzzword, it’s a daily reality. Four leading specialty practices — Red Mountain Endodontics, Superstition Springs Endodontics, East Valley Periodontics, and Mesa Implants & Periodontics — have organically developed a care model rooted in collaboration, trust, and a shared commitment to clinical excellence. Now aligned under the Specialized Dental Partners umbrella, their partnership offers a glimpse of what’s possible when specialists remove barriers and prioritize the patient journey together.

Defining integrated care

For Dr. Chris Kayafas of Superstition Springs Endodontics, integrated care is simple in concept but profound in impact:

“Integrated care is a model that enables trusted specialists to work together in a more efficient way to provide effective, patient-centered care.”

That efficiency is built on proximity, communication, and culture. In Mesa, those pieces have come together over years of collaboration. What makes this model exceptional is not the business structure; it’s the everyday commitment by clinicians to make specialty care more accessible, intuitive, and unified.

A legacy of collaboration

The roots of this care model stretch back more than 2 decades. For years, East Valley Periodontics and Superstition Springs Endodontics co-hosted “Spring into Dentistry,” a CE and golf event designed to connect general dentists and specialists in a relaxed, relationship-building environment. 

“It wasn’t just about CE or fun,” said Dr. Price. “It was about trust — about strengthening the connections that make collaboration possible.”

That trust flowed naturally into clinical workflows. Over-the-shoulder consultations became routine. Referrals moved faster. When East Valley Periodontics opened a second location within Red Mountain Endodontics’ building, those same values transferred effortlessly into a new space, setting the stage for the collaborative care model Mesa is now known for.

Proximity with purpose

Having specialists under one roof has transformed patient care.

“We were literally passing patients down the hallway,” said Dr. Price. “If someone needed a consult, it could happen instantly.”

This “hand-off in real time” model means patients can be seen by multiple specialists, sometimes on the same day. It removes common delays, like waiting for an outside referral or scheduling an entirely new visit. The result is faster diagnoses, quicker pain relief, and significantly higher patient satisfaction.

“From the patient’s perspective,” said Dr. Kayafas, “It feels like one unified team is taking care of them. That’s a powerful experience.”

Case in point: a seamless hand-off

Dr. Kayafas recalled a recent case involving a patient with a cracked root and severe pain. The patient’s general dentist typically worked with a periodontist who only visited their office once a week. 

“This patient couldn’t wait,” said Dr. Kayafas. “We called EVP, and they saw her that same day. The tooth was extracted, the site was prepared for an implant, and the patient left our building completely relieved.”

Such outcomes are common in Mesa. They aren’t the result of luck; they’re the result of coordination, proximity, and a culture that prioritizes immediate, compassionate care.

More than just logistics

In a world where specialty referrals often mean navigating insurance, scheduling delays, and duplicated paperwork, the Mesa model offers a welcome alternative. There is a focus on patient experience. Patients are seen faster, experience fewer handoffs, and receive care from a cohesive, aligned team.

For Dr. Peterson, creating a positive patient experience goes beyond clinical outcomes. It’s about building trust through listening, creating consistent “WOW” moments, and guiding patients through their care journey in a way that feels personalized and respectful.

He recommends pre-appointment welcome calls, phasing large treatment plans across multiple visits, and celebrating small wins in hygiene. These intentional touchpoints improve comfort, case acceptance, and retention — while reinforcing the specialist’s role as a partner in the patient’s long-term health.

“Never let the patient leave your office without a pre-appointment for the next visit,” Peterson advises. “You are a guide — a Sherpa — on their journey to better oral health.”

Backed by Specialized Dental Partners

The Mesa group’s integration has been further strengthened through its affiliation with Specialized Dental Partners. With Specialized Dental Partners, practices gain access to operational and administrative support — HR, marketing, finance, and more — while maintaining complete clinical autonomy.

“They don’t tell us how to practice,” said Dr. Kayafas. “They help us do more of what we’re best at — treating patients.”

That support has freed up time and energy for the doctors to deepen collaboration, innovate in their workflows, and build experiences that feel seamless to patients.

“We were already working together,” added Dr. Price. “Now, with SDP’s help, we’re doing it better and smarter.”

Overcoming the challenges

Despite the cultural and operational alignment, the team acknowledges that technology integration remains a challenge. Many periodontists and endodontists use different practice management systems, making it difficult to share notes, images, and intake information smoothly.

“The easy part has been working with these amazing specialists,” said Dr. Kayafas. “The harder part is making integrated care fully operational behind the scenes.”

Efforts are ongoing to align intake forms, image sharing, and documentation. The goal? A single streamlined experience that’s as frictionless on the back end as it is in the operatory.

“Patients shouldn’t have to fill out their medical history three different times,” he added. “That’s not what great care looks like.”

Educating together, growing together

One standout benefit of the partnership is the ability to educate as a team. The practices regularly co-host CE events, dinner lectures, and appreciation nights for local referring providers. These events not only elevate community awareness but showcase how integrated care creates stronger outcomes.

“Our CE nights are a reflection of how we practice,” said Dr. Price. “Collaborative, accessible, and grounded in what’s best for the patient.”

A blueprint for the future

What’s happening in Mesa isn’t just a success, it’s a scalable model. Other practices across the Specialized Dental Partners network are beginning to replicate its principles: co-location, unified communications, shared case management, and patient experience grounded in empathy and intention.

“This is the future of specialty care,” said Dr. Price. “Not because it’s more efficient — but because it’s better for patients.”

Dr. Peterson agrees. From small gestures to large systems, each component contributes to a care experience that is more human, more accessible, and more complete. 

“By focusing on how we make patients feel,” he writes, “we elevate not just outcomes — but trust, connection, and lifelong health.”