After a slowdown in dentistry’s mergers and acquisitions space in the years following the COVID-19 boom, dental leaders are predicting an increase in activity this year.
Factors such as rising dental student debt, private equity dollars and demand for dental services are all shaping a potentially hot dental market.
Dental acquisitions will also continue evolving, with investors prioritizing scalability and sustainability, rather than solely revenue.
These three dental executives recently connected with Becker’s to share their expectations for dental M&A in 2026.
Editor’s note: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: Do you expect M&A activity in the dental industry to increase, decrease or stay the same this year compared to 2025? Why?
Jeffrey Carter, MD, DMD. Founder and Chief Medical Officer of US Dental Surgery Network (Nashville, Tenn.): The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed in July 2025, imposes new federal borrowing limits on graduate student loans starting July 1, 2026. The debt of the dental graduate will now be capped at $200,000 at a time where, in 2025, the average dental graduate’s loans are $315,000. New payment options will replace existing plans, including a standard fixed-term plan and an income-based repayment assistance plan.
High debt already influences dentists’ choices, with many opting for corporate roles over ownership. The new caps could amplify this, leading to more consolidation as graduates seek predictable incomes and deselect solo practice, academic careers and advanced specialty programs. Younger dentists favor DSOs for benefits like loan repayment assistance and work-life balance.
Over the next five years, as the first affected cohorts graduate around 2030, dental industry consolidation is likely to accelerate with an uptick in M&A.
Geith Kallas, DDS. CEO of Smile Makers Dental Center (Tyson’s Corner, Va.): The dental industry is gearing up for a surge in M&A activity in 2026, driven by technological innovation, demographic pressures and evolving client expectations. Investment firms are prioritizing acquisitions as a strategic imperative, with private equity firms actively investing in DSOs to fuel growth, efficiency and staff retention.
Consolidation is reshaping the industry, with larger firms absorbing smaller ones to achieve scale and resilience. Technological advancements, including AI, automation and digital dentistry tools, are becoming essential for operational efficiency and patient engagement. Private equity firms are prioritizing deals with standardized practice management systems, data analytics and revenue cycle management.
The global dental market is projected to grow, driven by increasing demand for aesthetic dentistry, rising prevalence of dental ailments and technological advancements. DSOs are poised to play a significant role in this growth, with private equity-backed DSOs consolidating the fragmented market through strategic acquisitions.
Francesca Pregano. COO of Smile Makers Dental Center (Tyson’s Corner, Va.): I believe M&A activity in the dental industry is likely to increase in 2026. However, I also believe the nature of acquisitions will continue to evolve. In my view, buyers will place greater emphasis on practices that deliver an exceptional patient experience and have strong, scalable systems in place, rather than focusing solely on size or topline revenue. Based on what we’ve seen over the past few years, those foundational elements often determine success or failure post-acquisition. As a result, I believe operational maturity, leadership depth and consistency of performance will be key differentiators in determining which practices are most attractive in the market.
