Episode 2 – Why Dentists Should Not Sell to a DSO

In this podcast episode, Bob and Nate discuss the reasons why dentists should not sell their dental practices to Dental Support Organizations (DSOs). Nate emphasizes the importance of owning a business and the wealth generated by owning productive assets, such as a dental practice. He also highlights the unique nature of dentistry, where the dentist's trained mind and hands are the product. Bob and Nate discuss the benefits of owning a dental practice, including control over how the work is done, freedom to manage time, and the ability to create and maintain the practice's culture. They acknowledge that owning a business comes with increased responsibility, but they believe it's worth it for those who have the desire and courage to take on the challenge.

Bob and Nate mention that many aspects of practice management that DSO’s tout they can take off a dentist-owners plate, such as accounting, payroll, HR support, and marketing, can be delegated or hired out. They stress the importance of investing in oneself and seeking coaching and consulting help to build a team that supports the dentist's vision while retaining ownership and control of the practice.

They share examples of successful dentists who have built thriving practices by delegating non-clinical tasks and focusing on their clinical expertise. They also discuss the downside of not delegating and being the bottleneck in practice growth. Ultimately, their experience shows selling to a DSO will almost always lead to making less money while having less control over the practice, and ultimately giving control of the dental industry to non-dentist business people who are ultimately in it to harvest profits, not care for patients or create healthy relationships with doctors or their teams.

Overall, the episode encourages dentists to retain ownership of their practices, embrace the challenges, and build a team that allows them to maintain control while enjoying the financial benefits of ownership. With any questions, please email us at questions@justsaynotothedso.com.