DENTAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
Five Biggest Challenges Facing Dental Service Organizations
Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) are evolving rapidly, and this growth has a significant impact on the future of dentistry, but it also brings a unique set of complex challenges. ​​
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1. Talent Acquisition, Retention, and Succession Planning
Challenge:
Recruiting and retaining top clinical and administrative talent remains a persistent challenge, especially as the workforce ages and new graduates seek different work-life balances and cultures. Succession planning is critical to ensure continuity and growth.
How AKRI LENS Helps:
AKRI LENS analyzes organizational culture, team engagement, and leadership pipelines to identify gaps and opportunities for building scalable recruitment, onboarding, and professional development systems. This strategic approach empowers DSOs to create environments where talent thrives, future leaders are cultivated, and consistency of patient care is standard.
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2. Maintaining Affiliate Satisfaction and Clinical Autonomy
Challenge:
After acquisition or affiliation, keeping newly joined practices happy and productive is vital. Depending on the specific DSO’s acquisition strategy, does it have standardized processes for adding new members, or does it allow them to preserve each office’s unique culture and clinical autonomy?
How AKRI LENS Helps:
AKRI LENS system analyzes the onboarding and integration process, highlighting opportunities to build trust, foster open communication, and support clinical teams. This intentional approach ensures affiliates feel valued, supported, and aligned with the DSO’s mission.
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3. Adapting to Patient-Centered, Value-Based Care
Challenge:
The future of dentistry is shifting toward preventive wellness and value-based care, requiring DSOs to educate patients, track outcomes, change reimbursement models, and recognize new sources of income. This transition demands a broader scope of care and services: new workflows, metrics, and patient engagement strategies.
How AKRI LENS Helps:
AKRI LENS helps DSOs reimagine patient journeys, implement outcome-based metrics, and align team actions with patient-centered goals. DSOs can differentiate themselves and build lasting patient loyalty by focusing on long-term value and health outcomes.​
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4. Integration of Technology and Data Analytics
Challenge:
The rapid pace of technological change—AI, digital dentistry, automation, and teledentistry—requires significant investment and organizational adaptation. Many DSOs struggle to integrate new systems across multiple locations, risking inefficiencies and inconsistent patient experiences.
How AKRI LENS Helps:
AKRI LENS enables DSOs to assess technology adoption, develop integration strategies, identify gaps, and develop scalable, data-driven solutions. By aligning technology initiatives with strategic objectives, DSOs can improve care quality, operational efficiency, and patient satisfaction. When these processes work together, people will be more productive, experience less stress, and deliver more consistent care.​
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5. Economic Pressures and Cost of Capital
Challenge:
The uncertainty of the economy—interest rates, inflation, and increased costs for wages and materials—is squeezing margins and making it harder to fund growth and acquisitions.
How AKRI LENS Helps:
AKRI LENS provides a framework for financial analysis, helping DSOs prioritize high-impact investments, eliminate inefficiencies, and align resources with strategic goals. These tools help DSOs stabilize operations and drive sustainable growth by focusing energy and capital where it matters most.​​
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