From Roll-Ups to Real Value: How AI Is Changing the Future of Dental DSOs
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Watch on YouTube
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Listen on Apple PodcastsPrivate equity in dentistry has changed dramatically over the past decade. Simply buying more practices is no longer enough.
In this episode of Healthcare Intelligence, Charlene sits down with David Eslinger, DDS, MBA, Founder of Practice Worth, to discuss what today’s dental leaders need to know about scaling practices, creating operational value, and preparing for the next generation of AI.
They discuss:
- Why the old DSO consolidation playbook no longer works
- The operational changes PE-backed groups are making today
- AI’s growing role in revenue cycle management and dental diagnostics
- Why technology adoption is becoming a competitive advantage
- Common mistakes dentists make when valuing their practices
- How Practice Worth helps owners better understand their business value
Whether you’re a dentist, DSO executive, investor, or healthcare operator, this episode offers practical insights into where the industry is headed.
About the guest
David Eslinger
David E. Eslinger, DDS, MBA is the Founder of Practice Worth, a private valuation platform that turns a practice's profit-and-loss statement into a broker-ready valuation using the same DSO-comparable EBITDA methodology a buyer would apply. A dentist with an MBA and 40 years in dentistry, he has spent his career valuing practices on the buy side of dental M&A, and is Managing Partner of Eslinger Dental Consultants, where he sources acquisitions and evaluates recapitalizations for PE-backed DSOs.
His executive career spans the DSO landscape: as Chief Executive Officer of Elite Dental Partners, he grew the Chicago-based startup to 20 locations and $22M in revenue in its first year. He served on the board of Pure Dental Brands, led development at Midwest Dental, worked hands-on with more than 250 offices as Clinical Director of Operations at Heartland Dental, and consulted clinically at Carestream Dental.
He began chairside as an owner/dentist, building and eventually selling a multi-office group across Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. He holds a DDS from the University of Missouri–Kansas City and an MBA.