Dentaltown June 2018 - 56

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56

JUNE 2018 // dentaltown.com

Providing legal support. Do you
know or even want to know the legal
implications of treating patients?
For many dentists, this is also a
disgusting and time-involving part of
practice that can be reduced by being
in a DSO. Also, help will be available
for you if and when you have a legal
challenge.
Negotiating with dental suppliers.
DSOs can reduce the cost of practicing by negotiating with distributors
and obtaining price reductions.
Reducing many other frustrating
business situations. The responsibilities previously mentioned are greatly
reduced for practitioners when they
have DSOs handling much of the
actual work to accomplish whatever
needs to be done. However, there are
myriad other day-to-day time-consuming tasks that can be reduced by
being in a DSO.
Creates a professional community.
Not all dentists need or desire a
so-called "community" with which
to associate. Many are involved with
their dental societies or study clubs to
satisfy this need. However, DSOs can
provide a community for you.
Provides mentors. Within the DSO
community, there is the opportunity
to find mentors in almost any area of
dentistry.
Allows greater focus on patient care.
By removing the administrative tasks
already noted in this article, practitioners are able to concentrate their
time and efforts on actual patient
care.
Provide access to state-of-the-art
technology. You know the high cost
of the many types of technology
available for dentists. Some of the
DSOs provide up-to-date, high-cost
technology that most private practitioners would hesitate to purchase.
Assists you with keeping up with
change and innovations in the

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profession. With significant help
reducing administrative tasks comes
also an emphasis of DSO owners on
keeping their practices up-to-date
on materials, devices, techniques,
concepts and political activities.
Provides a jump-start to a new
practice. New dentists often have
a difficult time jumping into the
responsibilities associated with
starting a practice. DSOs can offer
significant help to bridge the gap
between dental school and the "real
world" of practice.
Facilitates easier exit from practice.
Not only can DSOs help to start a
practice, they can also facilitate exit
from practice. A dentist can "retire"
without retiring by slowing down and
working fewer days. Some dentists
can also sell their practice to a DSO
when the time comes to retire.
Provides significant help to new dentists. Young dentists have enormous
education debt. Working in a DSO
at a time when running a practice is
a formidable task for a new dentist
helps pay off school debt, builds
practice speed, increases procedure
diversity and builds self-confidence.
Encourages and provides continuing
education. Some DSOs provide continuing education for their dentists.
This is an essential need that some
private practicing dentists postpone.
Offers greater ability to serve
income-challenged patients. The
DSO concept has helped to improve
access to care for low-income patients.

Limitations
and dentist
frustrations
with DSOs
* You may not
be your own boss.
One of the significant
reasons some dentists
elect dentistry as their career is to be
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown June 2018
