Patients Deserve To Know Who Owns Their Dentist | Opinion
Summary
The article explains that many dental offices are increasingly owned by corporations or investors, which can affect how dentists work and how patient care is managed. It argues that patients should be clearly informed about who owns their dental practice before treatment starts.Key Facts
- Corporate ownership of dental practices is growing, with 16% of U.S. dentists linked to dental support organizations in 2024.
- Private equity ownership of dental offices nearly doubled from 6.6% in 2015 to 12.8% in 2021.
- Corporate owners often focus on financial returns, which can influence dentists’ treatment decisions toward more procedures or higher volume.
- Dentists working under corporate ownership report low morale and high turnover, which affects patient experience.
- About 23% of dentists left insurance networks in 2026, partly due to low reimbursement rates that have not kept up with inflation.
- Independent dental practices have different priorities because owners live in their communities and answer to neighbors.
- The author suggests a solution where dental practices must clearly disclose who owns them to patients before treatment.
- Transparency about ownership would help patients make informed choices about their dental care providers.
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