How DSO Transitions Are
Breaking Dental Teams
Episode 51
Key Revelations:
Losing a single hygienist during a transition can cost a practice $30,000-$120,000 in lost patients, recruiting, and temp coverage
Teams go through an actual grief process post-sale — and most buyers never account for it
"In-house" transition teams report to corporate, not to the team — creating a trust gap only an unbiased outsider can close
The first 90 days should be about listening, not changing — the fastest way to lose trust is to walk in guns blazing
The People Side of Every DSO Deal
AVAILABLE ON
"How much debt is too much for a growing DSO?"
💡 The “Ask Ken” Question:
Christine Diehl, a dental hygienist with 30+ years of experience, shares the uncomfortable truth about what happens when a dental practice transitions to a DSO—and why the biggest risk may not be the financial deal itself.
(E.
Top 3 Episodes Of The Dental Truth Project. Listen Now!
Ken's answer: Watch your Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) — net operating income divided by debt service. A ratio at zero means no cash cushion after debt payments, and banks won't touch that. Lenders typically want to see 1.25x to 2x coverage. Walk into any lending conversation already knowing your number, and you instantly signal you're a operator worth trusting.
When teams feel ignored, patients can follow them out the door. When buyers rush to change everything, they can destroy the trust and culture that made the practice successful in the first place. And losing just one hygienist could cost a practice anywhere from $30,000 to $120,000.
Christine reveals why the first 90 days after a transition can make or break the future of the practice—and why sometimes the best strategy is to change nothing.
Get early access to the 'Roll the Equity - How Smart Dental Founders Sell Their DSO'
Learn how sophisticated dental founders navigate a DSO sale
Selling your DSO is one of the most consequential decisions of your career. Roll the Equity: How Smart Dental Founders Sell Their DSOs is the playbook for founders who want to approach private equity transactions with clarity — not guesswork. Join the insider list to get first access when it drops.
NEW BOOK - COMING SOON
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