Dykema DSO Conference 2025: Dental City’s Key Takeaways

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Dykema DSO Conference 2025 was an exciting and energizing event for the Dental City team. We came away with fresh ideas on how to better support professionals during a time of profound industry transformation, a theme that was front and center throughout the conference.

The traditional dental model, once dominated by independently operated practices and driven mainly by clinical strategy, is giving way to a more consolidated, business-oriented model fueled by technology and efficiency. At Dykema, we witnessed firsthand how quickly this industry shift is happening and how it will continue to reshape the roles of dental professionals, manufacturers and distributors alike.

While the conference covered a wide range of topics, a few stood out as particularly noteworthy for us:

• Procurement platforms becoming an essential part of practice operations
• AI tools offer powerful solutions to optimize practice operations
• The Heartland Dental RFP
• Changing leadership and increasing medical industry influence

Procurement Platforms are Here to Stay

What was once an optional tool is now a critical piece of DSO strategy.  Procurement platforms have evolved into “one-stop-shops” where DSO’s can efficiently manage all their supply needs in one place—from purchasing to invoicing—helping to reduce the overhead costs associated with supplies.

For us at Dental City, this confirms a shift we’ve already been leaning into: moving from purely transactional sales to being true solution partners. Procurement platforms can streamline the process, but when logistical or technical challenges arise, DSOs need experts who can step in with answers. That’s where our people-first approach provides value a platform alone can’t deliver.

The AI Revolution for Practice Optimization

One of the most exciting parts of the conference was seeing how quickly AI tools are moving from “future potential” to everyday reality. Two areas stood out to us:

• Diagnostics: AI diagnostic tools can identify caries and other patient issues earlier and more accurately than the human eye—enabling dental professionals to provide a superior level of patient care.
• Insurance Claims Management: An AI voice bot company called Stratus offers a solution for busy practices to fight against denied insurance claims that might otherwise be written off, helping recoup lost revenue and increase profitability.

We had the pleasure of meeting the founder of Stratus, Cairo Murphy, in the airport while waiting for our flight home. We had an amazing conversation with him, and the interaction was a valuable lesson learned: you never know who you will meet or where, so always be open to new conversations and experiences—even in the middle of a busy airport.

The Heartland Dental RFP

One of the most talked about topics was Heartland Dental’s revolutionary RFP (Request for Proposal). As one of the nation’s largest DSOs, Heartland is making a push to transform the traditional supplier relationships of the past.

The Heartland RFP provides a glimpse into a possible future of the industry that would alter the manufacturer-supplier-organization relationship completely.

For Dental City, this was a powerful reminder: adaptability is essential. DSOs are asking bold questions and pushing for new models, and we see this as an opportunity to innovate alongside them—finding creative ways to bring even deeper value than simply supply transactions.

Changing Leadership and Medical Industry Influence

The impending retirement of Henry Schein CEO Stanley Bergman leaves the door open for new leadership in and influence on the industry. Whoever takes his place will have ample opportunities to help steer the industry in fresh directions.

The prevailing rumor is that Bergman’s successor may come from the medical industry, which could accelerate the “medical influence” already making its way into dentistry as the industry becomes increasingly consolidated and corporate-owned with an emphasis on streamlining operations and reducing costs.

This change sparked plenty of hallway conversations at Dykema, and for us it underscores the importance of staying nimble.

Dental distributors like Dental City must be ready to adapt quickly, offering problem-solving support as DSOs grow larger and more complex. At the same time, we recognize the unique nuances of the dental industry—such as Dental GPOs—that require a tailored approach beyond what traditional medical models provide.

Bottom Line: Adapting to Change is Not an Option

If Dykema 2025 made one thing abundantly clear it’s this: to thrive in the dental industry, you must be willing to adapt. Procurement platforms, AI technology, bold moves from DSOs like the Heartland Dental RFP, and potential increase of medical influence all come together to further the industry transformation that was already well underway.

For Dental City, adapting isn’t just an option – it’s our promise. We’ve committed to meeting these changes head-on, growing as a solutions partner and helping our dental customers succeed in this new era of dentistry.

We have to say thank you to Brian Colao and the entire Dykema team. Attending this show continuously over the past number of years, seeing its growth and feeling the energy as it shows our industry is in a great place with great leadership is inspiring. We are looking forward to next year and the many great events in-between.

To experience the future of dental distribution for your practice, Dental City can help with all your procurement solutions in a customized fashion. Contact us at 1-800-353-9595 or visit us at Dentalcity.com. We are excited to help dental practices optimize their supply ordering process.

 

Get an inside look at supply chain modernization, robotics, and tech shaping dentistry in this Group Dentistry Now Podcast episode—featuring a tour of Dental City’s warehouse.