Featured Perspectives

The dental industry’s economics look nothing like they did in 2019. For many practice leaders, the more pressing question isn’t when things will return to normal, but whether they ever will. In the past few years, labor costs have increased…

Rising labor costs and workforce shortages are squeezing DSOs’ growth plans — but three executives say the fix isn’t more hiring or acquisitions. It’s building a team that actually wants to stay. Three DSO executives recently spoke with Becker’s to…

Oral surgery and orthodontics keep coming up as the specialties DSOs can’t stop circling — but three dental executives say it’s not the specialty itself that makes a practice worth acquiring. It’s the funnel behind it. Three executives recently spoke…

While the dental M&A comeback is not expected to slow down anytime soon, some executives are predicting that buyers will be more selective and strategic with their deals over the next five years. Three executives recently spoke with Becker’s to…

Salivary diagnostics, oral bacteria linked to cancer and a growing focus on the mouth-body connection are pulling dentistry into the center of U.S. healthcare, according to one DSO executive. Joe Feldsien, senior vice president of integrated care at Henderson, Nev.-based…

While many DSOs chase growth through acquisitions, Chicago-based Aspen Dental is sticking to a different playbook: building practices from the ground up and letting consistency — not consolidation — drive expansion. Aspen Dental has opened offices in several states this…

What separates the dental groups pulling ahead from the ones falling behind isn’t which one has the best AI tool, according to dental leaders. DSOs are racing to adopt the newest AI, automation and 3D printing technology. But the leaders…

DSOs are facing a new hurdle this year as states look to increase oversight of their activity and transactions or ban their practice ownership altogether, threatening their ability to affiliate with practices and expand access to dental care. Several states…

After a prolonged period of tight credit markets and stalled PE exits, the dental industry’s capital markets are showing signs of life, but the money isn’t flowing everywhere. Three recent deals — Smile Doctors’ $125 million raise, Lone Peak Dental…

The number of DSO-affiliated dentists could continue to grow as dental school graduates look for career stability and growth opportunities offered by these organizations. Barry Lyon, DDS, recently spoke with Becker’s about the factors driving DSO affiliation among young dentists.…