WINDSOR, Colo. — Dr. Judson Valstad was looking for a way to scale back on his workload.

In late 2020, the northern Colorado independent dentist thought he found the solution when he was recruited to join a local start-up geared toward helping practices like his. The company would essentially take over the business operation, convert his staff members to employees of the dental support organization (DSO) and make dentists like him partners in the DSO.

Valstad and seven other dentists between Colorado and New Mexico signed on with Ssun Health, founded by Eric Nuss, between late 2019 and mid-2021. Eric Nuss

But within the next 18 months, that business would crumble as staff would complain of not being paid or receiving 401k money. Vendors also were not paid and leases were not honored.

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