Let’s cut through the polite chatter and get real: the letters DSO either make dentists foam at the mouth in rage, or shrink back in fear. The myth is that DSOs are villains—giant, soulless corporations hell-bent on stripping independent practices of their dignity, profits, and patient trust.
Sound familiar?
It’s the story that’s been whispered in study clubs, at CE events, and even in dental schools. And it’s dead wrong.
Here’s the truth: DSOs aren’t the enemy. They’re the future. And the sooner you face that reality, the sooner you can stop making emotional, fear-based decisions that could cost you millions of dollars, your sanity, and—ironically—the very independence you think you’re protecting.
The Fear: “If I Sell, I Lose Control.”
Wrong.
The real danger is NOT selling—or worse, selling without knowing the rules of the game. Thousands of dentists sit on valuable practices, clinging to outdated models, terrified that working with a DSO means surrender. What they don’t realize is that by the time they “finally decide,” their practice value has already declined. Their leverage is gone. Their choices are gone.
And control? They never had it in the first place. Insurance companies dictate reimbursement. Payroll dictates monthly stress. Landlords dictate overhead. You’re already being controlled—you just don’t want to admit it.
The Facts: DSOs Pay for What Matters (If You Know How to Position It)
DSOs aren’t charities. They’re backed by private equity. That means they have deep pockets—and they’re hungry. But don’t mistake hunger for stupidity.
They don’t pay for “potential.” They don’t pay for “future growth.” They don’t care about how many CE courses you’ve taken, or how fancy your diplomas look on the wall.
They pay for one thing: profitability.
If your books are sloppy, if your hygiene department is underperforming, if your associate contracts are a mess—you’re not a gold mine, you’re a fixer-upper. And DSOs will gladly pay you fixer-upper prices.
That’s how dentists lose seven figures or more in a single negotiation. Not because DSOs are predators, but because dentists walk into the game with blindfolds on.
The Fear: “My Patients Will Suffer.”
This is the emotional dagger that keeps dentists stuck. The fear that by selling, they’re betraying the trust of patients they’ve cared for decades.
But here’s the real betrayal: allowing your practice to stagnate. Patients today demand better technology, better financing options, better convenience, and a better experience. DSOs know this and they invest heavily to deliver it.
When done right, selling to a DSO isn’t about abandoning your patients—it’s about finally giving them the resources you couldn’t afford on your own.
The Facts: Life After the Sale Isn’t a Death Sentence
Dentists picture a nightmare: working as a glorified employee, chained to quotas, stripped of autonomy, and grinding until retirement.
That’s Hollywood drama, not reality.
The truth? The smartest dentists negotiate terms that fit their lifestyle. Some work part-time. Some transition out over a few years. Some cash out entirely and walk away to a beach house. Others stay on and thrive, enjoying dentistry without the crushing weight of payroll, overhead, and endless HR headaches.
But notice the keyword: negotiate. If you don’t know how to structure the deal, you’ll get exactly what you feared. If you do, you’ll have more freedom than you ever thought possible.
Dentistry is consolidating whether you like it or not.
The independent, single-owner model is dying. Not today, not tomorrow—but faster than you think. The dentists who adapt, who learn how the game is played, who maximize their practice value and negotiate intelligently… they win.
The ones who cling to fear? They lose. And not just money. They lose control, options, and peace of mind.
This isn’t about selling your soul. It’s about selling smart.
Here’s What To Do Next
If you own a dental practice, you need to get crystal clear on what it’s really worth—and what it could be worth in the hands of the right buyer. You need to know the rules of the DSO game before you step onto the field.
Because here’s the truth: DSOs aren’t monsters. They’re just sharks. And sharks aren’t dangerous—unless you dive in bleeding.
If you want the unvarnished facts, the kind nobody else in dentistry is brave enough to tell you, reach out. Don’t wait until fear robs you of options.
Your practice is either your greatest asset—or your greatest liability. The choice is yours.
To your unstoppable success,
Your Team at Everything DSO