02/06/2026
As an independent, non-corporate dentist, it’s good to see more transparency for patients. You should know who really owns the practice that you are going to.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14S1mHfSYmZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Who really owns your dentist? A site called WhoOwnsMyDentists.com tracks over 5,000 U.S. dental offices that are affiliated with corporate dental groups known as DSOs. The map shows how fast dentistry is shifting from solo, dentist-owned practices to investor-backed platforms, mostly funded by private equity.
The idea is simple: dentists sell part or all of their practice, get a payout, and let the DSO handle billing, marketing, HR, and systems so they can focus on patient care. Legally, the dentist still controls the clinical side, but the business is run by a corporate management company. On paper, that means independence. In reality, the people who control the money often shape how the office runs.
Some DSOs preserve a practice’s culture. Others turn offices into chains. Deals can include long contracts and performance targets that affect both income and autonomy.
The site isn’t anti-DSO. It’s about transparency. Dentistry is quietly becoming a corporate healthcare market, and now you can actually see it on a map.