The percentage of dentists who own their practices fell to 73 percent in 2021 from 84.7 percent in 2005, the American Dental Association said March 10.
The number of dentist-owners and solo practices is falling, while the number of practices owned by DSOs is rising. The percentage of dentists affiliated with a DSO rose from 8.8 percent in 2017 to 10.4 percent in 2019.
The findings are part of several changing demographics in dentistry noted by the ADA, including a decrease in the age of dentists and an increase in female and minority dentists.