“The Long Recovery: A 2026 Mid-Year Update”

Brian Colao authored The Lead Magazine article, “The Long Recovery: A 2026 Mid-Year Update.” The article examines the state of the dental support organization (DSO) industry midway through 2026, describing the market as continuing its “muted recovery” while restructuring for future growth. Brian Colao discusses the current DSO M&A market, noting that activity remains modest due to factors including interest rates, global uncertainty, inflation, and ongoing debt restructuring. He also highlights the growing adoption of technology across the industry, particularly diagnostic AI and revenue cycle management solutions, while noting that DSOs continue to face challenges in selecting and implementing technologies that provide meaningful returns.

Colao explains that he remains cautiously optimistic about increased DSO M&A activity in the second half of 2026, particularly if interest rates decline. He expects technology adoption to continue and anticipates measurable returns through reduced overhead and increased EBITDA. He also emphasizes that DSOs that differentiate themselves through strong organizational culture, specialty integration, and effective use of technology may increase their enterprise value, while disciplined approaches to M&A and technology implementation will be key to capitalizing on future opportunities.