Dental Service Organization

A “DSO” is a Dental Service Organization, or Dental Support Organization, that provides independent business support and management for dental practices in a non-clinical manner. The creation of DSOs have allowed dentists to maximize their practice from a clinical perspective while relying on the DSO to handle the “business side” of their operations through professional office management. The services typically provided by a DSO entail, billing, collecting, bookkeeping, advertising, marketing, accounting, human resources, staffing, to name a few.

Several state dental associations have attempted to introduce legislation to restrict DSOs from providing services to dental practices. The main reason has been that they have felt that DSOs have overstepped the line between arms-length provision of bona fide management services and into ownership. Because most states prohibit non-dentists from owning dental practices and require licensed dentists to own dental practices, state dental associations have attempted to re-establish the line to protect the integrity of the law.

As a result, it has become imperative for DSOs to hire legal counsel experienced with DSO transactions to ensure compliance with the law, and to prevent the DSOs from overstepping the line. In addition, it has become imperative for dental practice sellers who are transacting with DSOs to hire experienced legal counsel with knowledge of DSO structures.

Cohen Law Firm, PLLC has transacted hundreds of DSO purchases and sales, and has many relationships in the DSO industry. Cohen Law Firm, PLLC knows the pitfalls DSO transactions and can make the process cost effective. They don’t have to bill the client to learn how the deal works, and they operate with maximum efficiency.