The Dental Care Market 2025

The dental industry is consolidating, but market shifts are changing the rules for those rolling up practices looking to package and exit.

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Consolidation now requires integration across a portfolio to drive the enterprise value needed to move that portfolio to a private equity sponsor.

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‍Five years ago, an operator could get away with packaging up 25–50 practices and turning them over to PE to integrate and optimize. As is typically the case, PE learns that EBITDA growth is in the operations, and operations is hard, therefore shifting the onus to the operator to create value in the portfolio before entertaining the transaction.

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Now, dental operators must be adept at integration across people, process, and technology. No small feat—but to make investors whole, it’s the only way.

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As an institutional investor in B2B vertical SaaS, I see the dental industry going through a common tech consolidation cycle.

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Core systems lead the charge, in this case, Practice Management Software (PMS) becomes the technology backbone of the practice. Then smaller tech solutions flood the market to fill the gaps in the core solution. The stack starts to bloat, raising costs and complexity.

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As in other industries, the tech leaders in the space do a great job of influencing process in the form of “best practices.” The best of them build armies of raving fans (power users) who become the mouthpiece in the practice for the adoption of new solutions. That’s great for the software company—but not always for the business. When an operator decides to roll up practices, this problem compounds, as you now have conflicting opinions about the right solution moving forward.

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The next phase is tech consolidation, which typically looks like a series of M&A transactions led by the system-of-record tech (PMS), trying to roll up smaller solutions into their platform to acquire customers, transition them to their core, and generate the perception of a fully integrated solution. There are varying degrees of success here. But the reality is, most companies are not going to acquire the best-of-breed solutions—those are expensive transactions. And just like the DSOs rolling up practices, tech companies are building enterprise value for their investors. The result is often a half-baked solution that isn’t much more than a customer grab.

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So, what’s the solution?

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First, look at best-of-breed solutions focused on delivering tangible ROI for your portfolio, those that facilitate the consolidation of people and process through a seamless technology experience.

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Second, examine their partner ecosystem. The best companies create deep partnerships that bring together the best of the best across specialized use cases. These partnerships go beyond tech integration. They extend into go-to-market strategy, deploying a value-based model that highlights the levers they can pull in your portfolio, the outcomes of pulling them, and the roadmap to get there. These partnerships often lead to M&A transactions that create outsized outcomes for both stakeholders and customers.

DSOs are at a crossroads when it comes to delivering enterprise value to their investment partners. The only path forward is an integrated portfolio, built on solutions that drive revenue, production, and efficiency across the enterprise—setting the standard for people, process, and technology.

As an investor and operator in Peerlogic, our charge is to serve 1 million patients through our AI-first solutions and deliver $1 billion in incremental revenue for dental practices. We do this through a truly integrated, value-first solution—one focused on meeting the DSO market where they are: building integrated portfolios that deliver enterprise value at the next turn.

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Having a superior patient experience isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s the difference between a booked appointment and a missed opportunity.

Today’s patients expect clarity, and convenience, and they expect immediately. They want answers fast, reminders that don’t interrupt their day, and the freedom to communicate on their terms.

The takeaway: the best way meet the myriad of (expanding) patient needs is to do so through text.

The data back it up: patients overwhelmingly prefer text-based communication for everything from scheduling to follow-ups. It’s faster, easier, and puts them in control.

The best front-office systems are meeting that need. Not with voice bots or ticketing systems, but with conversational AI built around how people actually behave, supported by real humans.

Here's what else patients are looking for, according to the data.

1. AI That Listens and Learns, Not Just Talks at People

The power of good conversational AI isn't in replacing your front office. It’s in capturing what patients say, why they say it, and what needs to happen next.

Up to 30% of new patient inquiries go unanswered because of missed or mishandled calls.
One in three patients will not call back. That’s lost revenue that never hits your schedule.

AI built to understand, not just react, helps teams:

• Recognize common questions and concerns
• Follow up with the right patients at the right time
• Turn more calls into booked appointments

2. Voice AI Is Failing the Patient Experience

Most voice bots aren’t designed for empathy. They’re designed to deflect.

Seventy-nine percent of consumers prefer a human for healthcare questions.
Voice bots consistently score lowest in patient satisfaction across all channels.

Healthcare is personal. Patients want to be heard. And that starts with real conversation.

3. Texting Isn’t Just Easier. It’s What Patients Prefer

Here’s where AI can actually enhance the experience. When used correctly, it supports fast, frictionless communication.

Eighty percent of patients say they prefer texting for appointment reminders and updates.
Practices that use intelligent SMS workflows report over 25 percent higher confirmation rates.

Texting isn't impersonal. Poor automation is. When integrated into the right workflow, text becomes a natural extension of your practice.

4. Insights That Drive Real Action

The best conversational AI doesn't just automate. It informs.

With the right platform, teams gain visibility into:

• Call trends and communication breakdowns
• No-show patterns and missed opportunities
• Patient behavior and follow-up needs

Practices using conversation-level insights are reducing no-shows by up to 20 percent and recovering revenue without adding staff.

When AI helps your team connect, follow up, and improve communication in ways patients actually value, everyone benefits. It's not about replacing your people. It's about giving them the tools to do their jobs better.

If you're ready to stop automating for automation’s sake and start connecting in ways that matter, it's time to rethink what AI can do.

Close the Loop. Reopen the Conversation.

Texting isn’t just for reminders. It’s your biggest re-engagement channel hiding in plain sight.

In today’s patient journey, text is the gateway, not the destination. It opens the door for appointment confirmations, reschedules, follow-ups, and most importantly: revenue recovery.

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That’s exactly why call tracking matters.

It’s not about surveillance or control. It’s about clarity. When you know what’s happening on the phones, you can better support your team, serve your clients, and keep your schedule full.

What Is Call Tracking?

Call tracking is the ability to see and understand what’s happening with your clinic’s phone activity.

That includes:

• Total incoming calls
• Call volume trends (by time or day)
• Which calls went unanswered
• Which voicemails were returned
• How often calls lead to booked appointments

At Peerlogic, call tracking is built into your phone system—no extra apps, tabs, or reporting tools. The insights are already there, working in the background while your team focuses on patient care.

Why It’s So Helpful in Veterinary Settings

Unlike dental or primary care, veterinary clinics often deal with higher call urgency. When a pet parent calls, it’s not just to schedule a cleaning—it’s often something emotional or time-sensitive.

Your team wants to help. But when the front desk is overloaded, voicemails and missed calls can quietly pile up.

That’s where call tracking makes a difference. It helps your team:

• Spot peak call times and adjust staffing
• Prioritize urgent follow-ups
• Reduce double work (no need to manually log voicemails)
• Focus on care, not chaos

It’s not about doing more. It’s about making what you’re already doing easier and more effective.

Real-Life Benefits for Teams and Clinics

Veterinary clinics using Peerlogic’s call tracking system report more control, less burnout, and stronger client relationships.

Here’s how:

• Team empowerment: Staff know which calls need a response. No more sticky notes or missed voicemails.
• Better client experience: Pet parents feel heard, even if their first call wasn’t answered—thanks to AI-powered text follow-ups.
• Operational insight: Managers can see what’s really happening at the front desk and make informed adjustments.

Many clinics also find they’re able to recover lost revenue simply by following up more consistently. It’s not about pushing more appointments—it’s about not losing the ones already calling.

What Call Tracking Looks Like in Practice

With Peerlogic, there’s no complicated dashboard to learn. You get:

• A simple view of your daily call volume
• Instant access to which calls were missed
• Built-in tools to follow up (automatically or manually)
• Optional AI support that texts clients who didn’t reach a human

If a client calls to reschedule a vaccine or refill a medication and nobody’s available, the system makes sure they still get a response. No dropped balls. No lost trust.

How to Get Started

1. Talk with your team. What’s the current process for missed calls and voicemails?
2. Identify the gaps. Are voicemails being returned quickly? Do you know how many are missed daily?
3. Enable tracking. With Peerlogic, this happens automatically as part of your phone setup.
4. Review and adjust. Use the data to guide small improvements—more support at peak times, faster follow-ups, or even automated messages for common requests.

Final Thought: Tools That Help You Do What You Do Best

Call tracking isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing better, with less stress.

Your team wants to deliver a great experience. Your clients want to feel supported. Your practice wants to grow sustainably.

Call tracking helps all of that happen, one small insight at a time.

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