UPDATE 1-Smile Brands seeks $143.75 million IPO

* Files for IPO of up to $143.75 mln

* Proceeds to redeem and purchase stock, repay loans

NEW YORK Dec 21 (Reuters) - Smile Brands Group Inc filed for an initial public offering worth up to $143.75 million on Monday.

The Santa Ana, California-based company is the largest U.S. provider of dental support services based on the number of offices served, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company provides nonclinical staff, services, facilities and equipment to more than 1,100 dentists and hygienists in more than 300 offices nationwide.

The U.S. dental services industry is worth about $102 billion, the company said in a regulatory filing.

Healthcare, technology and new media are sectors that are widely expected to produce more IPOs in 2010.

Smile Brands reported revenue $346 million in the nine months ended Sept. 30, up 2.6 percent from a year ago. The company reported net income of $41.8 million, up from $3.5 million in the same period a year ago.

The company said it plans to use proceeds from the offering to redeem and purchase stock and repay loans.

Smile Brands is owned by private equity investors Freeman Spogli & Co and Gryphon Investors, the California State Teachers' Retirement System and A.S.F Co-Investment Partners.

It plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange, but did not provide in its regulatory filing the number of shares will sell, an expected price range, or a symbol.

Underwriters for the offering are led by Credit Suisse and Jeffries & Co. (Reporting by Clare Baldwin; editing by Andre Grenon)