There are several factors dentists should consider when deciding which DSO to affiliate with, according to Barry Lyon, DDS.
Dr. Lyon, a chief dental officer for the division of orthodontics and pediatric dentistry for Dental Care Alliance, recently spoke with Becker's about what dentists should look for to secure a successful DSO partnership.
Editor's note: This Q&A is part of a weekly series featuring Dr. Lyon focused on topics in the dental industry and DSO field. This response was lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What are the main things dentists should look for in a DSO?
Dr. Barry Lyon: Dental practice owners make a lot of decisions. One of the most important is, which DSO does the dentist affiliate with? While not quite on the same level as selecting a spouse, making the wrong selection can be costly, frustrating and demoralizing. What makes a good match?
Consider there are various DSO models. Some buy 100% of the practice, some by only a portion, some are specialty only, while others are general dentistry only. These are just a sample of the DSO types. Regardless of the type of affiliation, all DSOs provide essential business support services to one degree or another. The selling dentist’s business needs often dictate the best type of DSO and the best match.
On a more granular level, dentists wishing to sell should consider the DSO’s reputation, their growth history, their stability, the compensation structure, whether the practice will be rebranded, how much support the office staff will receive, how clinical decisions will be influenced, and their success with similar practices. This list goes on and on and requires the selling dentist to do their homework.
It is essential to consider what practice life will be like after the sale. Look past the money and consider what day-to-day life will be like. Support, stability and growth of the practice are essential to a successful affiliation.