2026 Dental Industry Outlook Report for DSOs and Dental Groups
The dental industry is entering 2026 at a clear inflection point. Growth remains possible, but the margin for imprecision has narrowed. Capital decisions carry more weight. Operational choices compound faster. And technology decisions now influence not just efficiency, but confidence in data, performance, and an organization’s ability to scale without disruption.
The 2026 Dental Industry Outlook Report was created for dental support organization (DSO) and dental group leaders who are navigating that reality. Rather than offering predictions for their own sake, the report brings together real performance data and firsthand perspectives from across the dental industry—operators, advisors, and technology leaders who are working through these challenges every day.
Get the full report and explore the data, insights, and perspectives defining dentistry in 2026.
What’s Inside the Dental Industry Outlook Report
Across the report, one theme comes through consistently: Growth is still the goal, but how organizations achieve it is changing. Same-store growth, operational discipline, and technology standardization are no longer optional. They signal maturity. They influence investor confidence. And they determine whether teams spend their time managing systems or focusing on patients and outcomes.
Technologies like AI, automation, and modern cloud platforms have moved from promise to practice. These tools are already being used to reduce administrative burden, strengthen revenue cycle performance, improve case acceptance, and give leadership clearer visibility into their organizations. When implemented thoughtfully, these modern solutions can transform how organizations operate at every level.
Dental Industry Leaders and Perspectives
The 2026 Dental Industry Outlook Report brings together a wide range of voices, each examining the industry through a different operational, financial, or strategic lens. Together, these articles highlight the priorities facing organizations this year.
Dentistry Is at an Inflection Point
By Eric Giesecke, CEO, Planet DDS
Growth opportunities remain strong, but the margin for imprecision has narrowed. Higher-stakes decisions around capital, operations, and technology are redefining how dental organizations build disciplined, connected systems that scale effectively.
Growth Is Getting Harder. That’s a Good Thing
By Mike Huffaker, CRO, Planet DDS
For years, dental group growth rewarded speed and accumulation over operational strength. As capital tightens and expectations rise, durable performance now depends on same-store results, disciplined standardization, accountable leadership, and technology that is fully adopted across the organization.
Product as an EBITDA Multiplier
By Nathan James, CPO, Planet DDS
As economic pressure intensifies across dentistry, EBITDA can no longer be treated as an outcome—it must be engineered. Technology standardization, RCM optimization, workflow automation, API-driven integration, and AI modernization serve as practical drivers of operational and financial leverage.
Discipline, Differentiation and Durable Growth: The 2026 Playbook for DSOs
By Brian Colao, Director, Dykema DSO Industry Group
As competition intensifies and capital markets begin to ease, 2026 will reward organizations that execute with precision. Same-store growth, technology adoption, cultural strength, and disciplined expansion strategies will separate leaders from the rest.
Key Trends Shaping Dentistry and DSOs
By Andrew Smith, CEO, Association of Dental Support Organizations (ADSO)
The dental industry enters 2026 amid policy shifts, affordability pressures, and accelerating technology change. These forces are influencing both patient experience and organizational strategy during a period of transition.
2026 Outlook for DSO Sales and Recapitalizations
By Rich Blann, Managing Director, DC Advisory
After several years of declining transaction activity, the DSO market shows signs of recalibration. Recent deal trends offer insight into what sales and recapitalizations may look like in 2026.
Financial KPIs Every Dental Business Owner Must Know
By Ken Kaufman, Co-Founder, AccruDent
As dental businesses grow, financial literacy must grow with them. Clear visibility into the right KPIs is essential to understanding overall financial performance.
The True Cost of Modern Dental IT
By Tom Barberio, CIO, Thinc Forward
Modern dental IT carries both cost and opportunity. Insights drawn from more than 10,000 technology deployments highlight the financial and operational realities DSO leaders must consider.
AI and Changing Patient Expectations Drive Rapid RCM Innovations
By Drew Hamilton, Chief Revenue Officer, DentalXChange
Advancements in AI and shifting patient expectations are accelerating change across dental revenue cycle management (RCM). Innovation is reshaping how organizations approach RCM strategy and execution.
Same-Store Growth Is Hiding in the Tech You Already Own
By Jill Nesbitt, Founder & Senior Consultant, Optimize Dental Consulting
Many organizations pursue new tools in search of growth, while meaningful opportunities already exist within current systems. Clear wins can often be found without adding new technology.
Why Dental Leaders Need Context, Not Just Reports
By Neal Golding, Founder & President, JellyFish RAS
Executives may ask for more data, but what drives decisions is clarity. Actionable, easy-to-understand insights matter more than additional reporting volume.
Practice Blind Spots That Quietly Stall Orthodontic Growth
By Jill Allen, Founder & CEO, Jill Allen & Associates
Orthodontic practices often stall not because of clinical performance, but due to operational blind spots that compound quietly over time. These issues frequently surface across start-ups, acquisitions, and established practices.
Do You Know How Work Really Happens in Your Practice?
By Margaret McGuckin, Founder, i3 Ignite
AI can’t improve workflows that organizations don’t fully understand. Clear visibility into patient-facing processes helps surface issues, clarify ownership, and support consistent execution.
Solving the Execution Gap in Technology Implementation
By Jack Warwick, Senior Manager, ProspHire
Adopting systems is only part of the challenge. Execution across integration, centralization, workflow standardization, and process optimization ultimately determines success.
How to Catch a Thief in Your Practice
By David Harris, CFE, CEO, Prosperident
Embezzlement remains one of the most persistent and costly risks facing dental organizations, often going undetected until significant financial damage has already occurred. Strengthening internal oversight and awareness is critical to protecting financial performance.
Root Canal of Ransomware?
By Gary Salman, CEO, Black Talon Security
Cybersecurity is no longer just a compliance requirement. Robust protection safeguards sensitive data, preserves patient trust, and plays a strategic role in controlling operational technology risk.
Private Equity Expectations for IT
By Chris Gibson, Market President of Dental, Ntiva and The Purple Guys
As DSOs and dental groups scale, investor scrutiny around IT maturity, security, and reliability intensifies. Five core considerations now shape how organizations are evaluated heading into 2026.
The 5 Most Expensive Commercial Insurance Mistakes DSOs Make
By Carrie Millar, Vice President of Business Development, Dentist Insurance Services
Insurance oversights often surface during growth, acquisitions, or audits—when the cost of mistakes is highest. Common missteps continue to compound risk and expense over time.
What Will Define Successful Dental Practices in 2026
By Patrick Jacobwith, CEO, Sunset Technologies
In a year where uptime, security, and data integrity increasingly define organizational strength, operational risks and competitive advantages come into sharper focus.
Top 5 HR Blind Spots for Dentistry in 2026
By Ari Oromchian, CEO, HR for Health
As labor laws expand and enforcement tightens, HR missteps are becoming more costly for dental organizations. Five areas stand out as priorities dentistry leaders should be watching closely in 2026.
Best Practices for Growing Personally and Professionally
By Thomas Passalacqua, Certified Executive Coach, Ascend Professional Pathways
Reaching the next stage of professional growth often brings emotional and mental challenges alongside opportunity. Internal dynamics play a significant role in how individuals move forward.
The Data Behind the Insights
The 2026 Dental Industry Outlook Report is grounded in Planet DDS analysis of data from more than 5,200 practices using Denticon, spanning general dentistry, specialty dentistry, emergency dental clinics, and mobile dentistry clinics.
This dataset reflects a broad cross-section of dental care delivery models. Individual practice results vary based on patient demographics, provider mix, and payer composition, and certain analyses draw from subsets of the overall sample, such as year-over-year (YoY) growth comparisons.
In addition to Denticon data, the report includes analysis from more than 2,800 practices using Cloud 9 orthodontic practice management software, offering insight into orthodontic performance trends.
Turning Dental Industry Insights into Action
The 2026 Dental Outlook Report reflects a simple reality: the organizations best positioned for what comes next are focused, intentional, and connected. They align data with decisions, clinical care with the business that supports it, and leadership with the teams delivering care every day.
Whether planning for growth, evaluating technology investments, or tightening operational discipline, this report offers clarity and perspective grounded in real-world experience and performance data.
Download the 2026 Dental Industry Outlook Report to explore the full insights or contact Planet DDS to learn how modern dental software can support the next phase of your organization’s growth.
