Here are eight statistics and trends showing how the DSO landscape is evolving:
1. Dentists with less experience are more likely to be affiliated with a DSO.
2. Though only 16.1% of dentists in the U.S. were affiliated with a DSO in 2024, the share represents an 8.9-percentage point increase from 7.2% in 2015.
3. Nevada and Colorado are tied for the highest percentage of dentists who are DSO-affiliated, both with 27% of dentists in the state being so affiliated.
4. California, Florida and New York are among 12 states that have seen the most DSO activity in the last three years.
5. Some dental specialties, including orthodontics and oral surgery, have a significantly higher rate of DSO affiliation than periodontics and prosthodontics.
6. Female dentists are slightly more likely to be DSO-affiliated, but only by a few percentage points.
7. Six DSOs have gained new investments this year to help support their growth, several of which specialize in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
8. Six DSOs were recently ranked among the most acquisitive private equity-backed healthcare services platforms since 2021.
