Dental Practice Struggles with Growth, Loan Trouble, and Litigation

Originally published by Meghan Morris for Crain’s Chicago Business.

A growing dental practice with offices in the Loop and the northern suburbs is grappling with an alleged loan default, partner infighting and even a broken marriage, highlighting the challenges doctors face in managing the rapid expansion of their businesses.

Aria Dental grew quickly after it was founded in 2008 by Drs. Meenal Goel and Dimple Tejani, expanding to a downtown and suburban location with 10 dentists, 20 employees and a taxable income of $2 million last year, according to a complaint filed against the practice on Nov. 12. The practice, incorporated as Innovative Dental Group, was managed by a separate company owned by the dentists’ husbands, which compensated each of them around $22,500 per month, according to the complaint filed in Cook County Circuit Court.

But the threads of the fast-growing business began to unravel, underscoring how many doctors and dentists are unprepared when conflicts arise.

“I don’t think they realize this is a business,” said Chicago attorney Neville Bilimoria, chairman of the physician services group of law firm Duane Morris LLP, who is not involved in the case.

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