The current state of staffing in the dental industry has been influenced by DSOs, providing new dentists and other staff an option outside of private practice that offers a greater work-life balance.
The leaders featured in this article are all speaking at Becker's 2024 dental conferences. This includes our Spring Future of Dentistry Roundtable, which is set for June 19-21 at the Swissotel in Chicago, and the Fall Future of Dentistry Roundtable, which is set for Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago.
If you work at a DSO or dental practice and would like to be considered as a speaker, please contact Randi Haseman at rhaseman@beckershealthcare.com.
Note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What impact have DSOs had on the dental industry, and how will they affect the dental space going forward?
Maxine Feinberg, DDS. Dentist and Periodontist of Maxine Feinberg DDS (Cranford, N.J.): DSOs have had a profound effect on the dental landscape especially in terms of employment. Many dentists entering the profession choose the DSO environment over private practice because employment opportunities allow them to service their high debt burden. Many are also drawn to the perception that it will impinge less on their lifestyle.
Michelle Henry. Director of Dental Hygiene at Singing River Dentistry (Tuscumbia, Ala.): The DSO has had the opportunity to grow successfully due to meeting the needs of the current workforce generation. DSOs can meet the needs of new graduates as well as those getting ready to sell and retire. Millennials, Gen X and Gen Z will need financial stability, staff support, current technology and work-life balance. The private practice model will continue to struggle to meet the demands of these generations with insurance reimbursement, cost and work-life balance. Therefore, the DSO model will be very successful in shaping the future of dentistry.