Although private equity is facing a few setbacks in dentistry, investments continue to fuel growth in the industry.
Seven updates:
1. Dental industry deals saw a 37.2% drop in 2025, primarily in endodontics and periodontics, according to PitchBook’s “Healthcare Services Report” for the fourth quarter of 2025. All dental specialties saw a drop in private equity deals, except for oral surgery, which saw an 9.1% increase.
2. A proposed amendment to Illinois HB 5000 would require any transactions involving healthcare facilities or provider organizations to be subject to the state’s reporting requirements. Entities that own or control healthcare business, such as private equity firms, that have an annual revenue of $10 million or more from Illinois patients, are included under the amendment.
3. Exit value remained low for healthcare service deals in 2025, according to Pitchbook’s 2025 “U.S. Private Equity Momentum” report.
4. Private equity’s growing presence in healthcare and dentistry is fueling concerns among providers and patients, according to Barry Lyon, DDS.
5. Despite increased scrutiny from legislators and clinicians, private equity investors are expected to fuel continued growth and consolidation in the dental industry, according to Geith Kallas, DDS.
6. Miami-based Viper Partners, an investment banking firm focused on the dental and healthcare industries, committed “significant nationwide capital” for the dental space in 2026. The company shared several predictions for this year, including major capitalizations of private equity-backed DSOs and expanded access to debt financing for practice acquisitions and add-on growth.
7. Avante Capital Partners and Brightwood Capital Advisors provided a debt facility to Detroit-based Motor City Dental Partners earlier this year. The financing will be used to support the DSO’s expansion efforts, refinance its existing debt and strengthen its balance sheet.
