DSOs will continue to struggle with hiring in 2023 as the demand for services continues to grow, one exec predicts.
Barry Lyon, DDS, is a chief dental officer for the division of orthodontics and pediatric dentistry at Sarasota, Fla.-based DSO Dental Care Alliance. He recently spoke with Becker's about the challenges facing DSOs during the second half of 2023.
Editor's note: This Q&A is part of a weekly series featuring Dr. Lyon focused on topics in the dental industry and DSO field. This response was lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What do you predict DSOs will be most focused on for the second half of 2023? What challenges will they face?
Dr. Barry Lyon: DSOs are constantly facing challenges due to the dynamic nature of the business of dentistry. The second half of 2023 will likely mirror the first half.
Every DSO and every private dental practice continue to face the frustrating task of recruiting, training and retaining employees, whether they are clinical or clerical. According to the American Dental Association, more than 70 percent of owner dentists claimed hiring administrative staff was challenging and more than 50 percent of owners said recruiting associate dentists was challenging. This has driven dental practices to create positive work environments to increase employee loyalty and retention.
The pent-up demand for dental care since the pandemic has shown little signs of diminishing. As a result, competition for hiring providers is keen among DSOs. This double-edged sword of increased needs for dental services against a shortage of providers has kept DSOs constantly seeking providers to meet that demand.
DSOs are also facing external challenges as all aspects of healthcare are constantly evolving. Regulatory issues, insurance company policies, changes in patient demographics, including the aging of baby boomers, require DSOs to constantly adapt to developments and trends.