Our Mission
At DntlDirect, we believe dental care should be simple, transparent, and accessible to everyone. We're revolutionizing dental coverage by removing the complexities of traditional insurance and replacing them with straightforward, affordable membership plans.
Our approach is rooted in four core values:
• Simplicity: No confusing jargon or hidden clauses
• Transparency: Clear pricing and benefits upfront
• Integrity: Honest service with no surprise fees
• Compassion: Care-focused solutions for real people
Our Story
Founded by dentists who experienced firsthand the frustrations of traditional insurance,
DntlDirect was created to offer a better way.
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Dr. Kyle Gernhofer
Co-Founder
- Dr. Kyle Gernhofer is a dentist, entrepreneur, and Navy veteran from Traverse City, Michigan. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and completed a General Practice Residency at Naval Medical Center San Diego. He later served aboard the USS Tortuga (LSD-46), where he provided comprehensive dental care to Sailors and Marines and helped coordinate a multinational medical and dental humanitarian mission in Southeast Asia. For his leadership and for maintaining the highest dental readiness among ships in the Pacific Fleet, he received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
- After separating from the Navy, Dr. Gernhofer practiced at Mission Boulevard Dental Group in San Diego County for 10 years treating thousands of patients, contributing to the practice’s reputation as one of Southern California’s highest rated dental offices.
- In addition to launching DntlDirect with Dr. Alison Komarek, Dr. Gernhofer serves as CEO of DenScore, a dental navigation platform that helps patients make smarter dental care decisions. He has also served as a Senior Dental Consultant for a Medicare Advantage health plan and has been featured in publications including ADA News from the American Dental Association, Becker’s Dental + DSO Review, Health.com, Yahoo Finance, and others.
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Dr. Alison Komarek
Co-Founder
- Dr. Alison Komarek is a dentist, healthcare executive, and entrepreneur. She earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. After dental school, Dr. Komarek completed a General Practice Residency at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Ann Arbor, MI where she gained expertise in treating medically and dentally complex patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings within the VA, University of Michigan Hospital, and University of Michigan Children’s Hospital.
- After residency, Dr. Komarek practiced dentistry for 13+ years in a variety of settings including private practice, a tribal health clinic, the VA Healthcare Center in Minneapolis, and the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. This broad experience gave Dr. Komarek incredible perspective on the variety of challenges that patients, providers, and health systems face and led her to transition to the business side of healthcare to apply her provider perspective to the strategic effort of addressing healthcare challenges on a broader scale. Dr. Komarek has held senior leadership roles in Product & Experience Management, Payer Strategy, and Customer Success at UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement and Optum. Her focus is on relentless improvement and she is passionate about creating innovative technology, products, and processes while ensuring that patient care remains at the heart of every business decision.
- In 2025, Dr. Komarek partnered with Dr. Gernhofer to apply their broad skillsets and shared passion to co-found DntlDirect