The evolution of dentistry has required DSOs to rethink their value proposition to doctors as well as their approach to patient care. Making the appropriate investments now will help determine who the real winners in dentistry are.
Rock Dental Brands CEO Kristi Casey recently spoke with Becker’s to discuss how artificial intelligence, doctor support and medical-dental integration will help separate top-performing DSOs.
Editor’s note: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What trends are you following in the DSO space right now?
Kristi Casey: There’s a lot of things happening in this space. I think we’re going to look back five years from now and realize three things have really changed. First, I don’t think AI will replace dentists, but I think it will replace uncertainty, so we’re really investing in, how do we use those capabilities? The winners won’t be the organizations with the most AI tools, they’ll be the ones that use AI to help doctors make better decisions, anticipate problems before they happen [and] remove friction from the practice — not replacing work, but making it smarter.
The second thing is I think the definition of a DSO has changed. Historically, DSOs have been judged by how many practices they acquire — how big can you get, how fast can you get big? — and I think they will increasingly be judged by how well they improve the practices they support. I think that’s a very different value proposition.
The third is exciting to me, and somewhere we’ve invested heavily — oral health will finally become part of the broader healthcare conversation. So we’re already seeing recognition that oral health is connected to heart disease, and we’ve really invested in how we become part of that message. The organizations that embrace that responsibility of bringing the whole connected wellness together and invest in prevention will save the future of healthcare, not just dentistry.
At the Becker's 5th Annual Future of Dentistry Roundtable, taking place September 14-15 in Chicago, dental leaders and executives will gain insights into emerging technologies, practice growth strategies and the evolving landscape of dental care delivery, with a focus on innovation, patient experience and operational excellence. Apply for complimentary registration now.
