When it comes to deciding where to invest, some DSO leaders look to market trends outside the dental industry, like car sales, real estate and travel. 

Effingham, Ill.-based Heartland Dental is the largest DSO in the U.S., supporting more than 1,700 practices. Here are 16 of the company's biggest moves and accomplishments since 2019:

Houston-based Main Street Capital Corporation completed a portfolio investment in a DSO based in the Midwestern U.S.

New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Dental365 added a practice in Huntington, N.Y. to its network.

Boca Raton, Fla.-based Sage Dental recently opened an office in The Villages, Fla.

Here are three updates on Dallas-based MB2 Dental that Becker's has reported on since Feb. 9:

Dallas-based MB2 Dental teamed up with Global Corporate Real Estate & Facilities, a real estate management firm.

Effingham, Ill.-based Heartland Dental recently added a Maryland dental practice to its network. 

Dallas-based MB2 Dental closed on a $2.344 billion unitranche debt facility to fund acquisitions and future growth.

Roseland, N.J.-based Abra Health Group, a dental and medical support organization, recently opened a dental and pediatric primary care facility in Newark, N.J.

Here are 10 notable DSO moves that have taken place so far in 2024:

Aspen Dental recently agreed to a settlement to resolve claims that it violated Florida telemarketing laws, topclassactions.com reported Feb. 13.

Here are seven facts DSO leaders should know, including the percentage of affiliated dentists and how DSO activity could evolve in 2024:

Fort Worth, Texas-based Five Point Dental Specialists recently received investments from Tecum Capital and Hilltop Opportunity Partners.

Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Peak Dental Services selected Pearl as its exclusive dental AI provider.

Salt Lake City-based SPP Dental Partners recently expanded its network in California.

Over the last 18 months, there has been a noticeable deceleration in the trend of general dentists aligning with Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) and multi-location practices.

Dallas-based MB2 Dental has added eight practices to its network since Jan. 19, according to its website.

Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Imagen Dental Partners added a Florida practice to expand its network.

Here are eight recent headlines on Heartland Dental, the Aspen Group and Pacific Dental Services, the three largest DSOs in the U.S., that Becker's has reported on in the past month: