The rapport and trust that dentists create with their patients is the key to private practice thriving amidst DSO and private equity consolidation in the industry.
That relationship and closeness that cultivates in a private practice setting over decades can often outlive the turnover that DSO practices can experience.
While consolidation and affiliation is on every dentist’s radar, those in private and solo practice are not overly concerned with their survival. In fact, these two dentists who recently connected with Becker’s are confident in private practice thriving for years to come.
The percentage of dentists who are affiliated with a DSO nearly doubled from 2015 to 2024, with affiliation climbing towards 30% in some states, according to data from the American Dental Association. In 2024, 16.1% of dentists in the U.S. were affiliated with a dental services organization, an 8.9-percentage point increase from 7.2% in 2015.
Note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: Do you believe solo/private dental practices will continue to be viable in the long term?
Lee Harris, DDS. Owner of Harris Dental Solutions (Los Angeles): I absolutely believe that solo and private dental practices will always play a significant part of the public’s access to dental care for many reasons. Primarily, dentistry is a very personal connection based upon trust between doctor and patient.
In many DSO models, there is significant turnover that interferes with building these trusted relationships. Along the same lines, the majority of solo practices have long term dental hygienists that are the glue that bind patients to dental practices.
James Kiehl, DMD. Owner of Southcoast Dental (Wareham, Mass.): I firmly believe that solo dental practices will remain viable well into the future. My first reaction to this question was, I certainly hope so — having just invested in building a solo practice from scratch after more than 20 years in dentistry. But beyond personal stake, the case is compelling on its own merits.
Practices that stay relevant by continuously investing in updated technology will always have a place in this profession. More importantly, the owner-dentist in a solo practice maintains a closeness with patients that larger group settings simply can’t replicate — and that proximity means problems get identified and addressed before they become serious.
At its core, though, what sustains a solo practice is something no corporate model can manufacture: the genuine relationship patients have with the dentist and hygienist they’ve trusted for years, seen every four to six months, and come to think of as part of their lives. That bond is powerful, and patients feel it. Long live the solo practice.
