DSOs have become a driving force in the dental industry over the last few years, but their success doesn't always come easy.
Two DSO leaders weighed in to answer: "What is the most challenging part of running a DSO?"
Editor's note: Responses were edited lightly for clarity and brevity.
Raju Paulose. CFO of Dental Views: Managing and maintaining profitability with the rise of labor costs due to inflation. Due to the shortage of dental staff, labor costs are continuously rising. Hygienists and dental assistants are in huge demand. This is true for several markets across the United States. For states like California and Arizona, the reimbursement from insurances haven't gone up to catch up this added cost. This brings down the profitability of the DSO locations.
Ariel Wiener. COO of Affinity Dental Management: In general, but especially in today's environment, the most challenging part of running a DSO is talent management. Whether it's retaining our phenomenal team members or bringing on board new talent, we make every effort to stay true to why we exist as a company — to care and empower so that we instill trust and enrich the lives of our team and patients. Keeping our "why" as our compass enables our teams to make decisions that enhance our company's ability to find creative ways to keep morale high and attract new talent by leveraging internal support and maximizing external relationships. The rewards we see of happy teams and happy patients far surpass any challenges.