
Dental service organizations acquire dental practices and offer invaluable support for crucial administrative tasks. When you join a DSO, you become part of a group practice instead of working independently.
As a dentist, belonging to a DSO is a weight off your shoulders. It lets you focus on caring for your patients while the DSO manages your business aspects — from recruitment, compliance and legal support to accessing the latest technology and encouraging professional networking.
DSOs own and run dental practices, implementing various managerial tasks like administration, marketing and purchasing. Being part of a DSO can make your practice more profitable and efficient.
DSOs offer a broad spectrum of services, covering your practice’s essential aspects. Services differ among organizations, but most provide the following:
DSOs free your time to see more patients and focus on growing your professional skills. Partnering with a DSO helps your dental practice operate more efficiently and ensures everyone knows their role.
Because DSOs offer a range of vital solutions to dental practices, more dentists have started welcoming their support.
Before joining a DSO, you should understand what they do.
Joining a DSO can be a game-changer for dentists. According to statistics from the American Dental Association, 13% of dentists nationwide belong to a DSO — a number that continues to grow. The stats also show that 23% of dentists affiliated with a DSO graduated from dental school over a decade ago.
Some dentists understand that their professional training does not always translate to business expertise. For others, joining a DSO relieves some of the financial burden as they manage dental student debt and incur the costs of owning private practices.
Some of the many advantages of contracting with a DSO include:
Though being part of a DSO is potentially beneficial, dental professionals should be aware of some possible pitfalls:
If you are considering joining a DSO, always ensure you fully understand what the DSO offers, what they expect from you and what the benefits and drawbacks might be.
For some dentists, having a private practice makes a lot more sense, as there are clear advantages to private practices:
Partnering with a DSO can be a rewarding and fruitful experience. The most crucial aspect of joining a DSO is finding a partner who aligns with your visions and goals, and that peace of mind is invaluable as you enter a new agreement.
Dentists enjoy multiple benefits when joining a DSO, but keep these factors in mind.
Of course, you should also consider if having a solo practice is better for your career goals. When you run a private practice, every decision lies with you, allowing you freedom. It also gives you firsthand business experience and skills. You may desire the sense of accomplishment from being in business for yourself, reaping more profits from your hard work.
With these elements in mind, partnering with a DSO can transform your practice. DSOs are pivotal in shaping the dental industry. By professionally managing administrative aspects, DSOs can help you enhance patient experience, keep your practice compliant, bring in more patients and raise the standard and quality of your offerings by equipping you with the latest technology.
DSOs are at the forefront of revolutionizing the dental industry. As the industry and organizations continue to progress, we may see more of these trends:
Whether you are a sole practitioner or considering joining a DSO, you can find a reliable partner with ProDentUSA.
We work with dentists and dental specialists to develop all the tools you and your patients need. ProDentUSA only uses the highest-grade steel to manufacture our affordable, durable products. With ProDentUSA’s quality equipment, your practice can spread smiles one instrument at a time. Browse our extensive range of designed-to-last tools or contact our helpful team for more information.