Dental groups and DSOs are expanding quickly. Consolidation in the industry is accelerating, and patient expectations for a consistent experience across every location are higher than ever.
But growth brings challenges:
- Multiple systems across locations
- Inconsistent workflows
- Mounting pressure to scale while staying compliant
Technology should make growth easier. But that only happens if it’s designed to scale. As Planet DDS points out, “The DSOs that standardize their technology infrastructure now will have a significant competitive advantage.”
Why Do “All-in-One” Dental Software Solutions Fall Short?
Some vendors promise an “everything in one box” platform. Sounds convenient, right? In reality, no single vendor can be the best at practice management, imaging, patient engagement, billing, AI, and analytics all at once.
Here’s what happens when DSOs buy into all-in-one claims:
- Practices get locked into rigid systems with limited flexibility
- Innovation slows because you’re stuck with what one vendor builds
- Adding new functionality often requires expensive workarounds
That “simpler” approach ends up creating technical debt – and makes it harder to adapt long term.
Why Do DSOs Need Both Flexibility and Security?
The most successful groups recognize that flexibility – the ability to choose best-in-class solutions – must come with security. That’s where official, API-based integrations are critical.
Planet DDS frames it this way:
“With DentalOS and our amazing partners, we are enabling groups to build their business, their way.”
An open ecosystem ensures:
- Choice – Pick the right partners for engagement, imaging, RCM, AI, and more
- Security – APIs provide compliant, reliable connections
- Scalability – Add new tools or locations without re-building your entire stack
And given that healthcare data breaches cost the industry an average of $10.93 million per incident in 2023, pairing flexibility with security isn’t optional – it’s essential.
How Do Ecosystems Unlock Agility for Multi-Location Groups?
Planet DDS has built a partner ecosystem with more than 60+ API partners (and growing). That means DSOs can integrate everything from:
- Billing (DentalXChange)
- AI & analytics (Peerlogic, IntelePeer)
- Patient engagement (Solutionreach)
The result is a cohesive, connected technology stack that’s both flexible and secure.
As the Planet DDS CRO explained:
“We can’t build the best of everything … so we focus on building the best practice management and imaging solutions, then allow our customers to connect to other best-in-class solutions through a modern, robust API infrastructure.”
For DSOs, this is a win-win: Planet DDS focuses on core PMS and imaging, while trusted partners like Solutionreach bring engagement tools that scale.
How Does Solutionreach Help Multi-Location Practices Scale?
Solutionreach is built with growing dental groups and DSOs in mind. We’re already powering engagement for multi-location practices because we:
- Offer centralized management tools for multi-location practices and DSOs.
- Enable consistent communication while supporting customization by site.
- Deliver scalable integrations that grow as you add new locations.
- Provide features DSOs need most to reduce no-shows and streamline communication – Recalls, 2-way texting, multi-location scheduling, bulk review management, insurance workflows, and more.
- Charge no integration fees – critical for multi-location groups where fees add up fast.
And with nearly a decade as an official Planet DDS partner, Solutionreach isn’t just another software add-on – it’s a trusted part of the Planet DDS ecosystem.
How Can DSOs Build a Tech Stack That Truly Scales?
The future of dental groups depends on building technology that is flexible, secure, and designed for scale. DSOs that rely on closed, rigid systems will find themselves stuck.
Instead, ask yourself:
- Do our systems scale as fast as our growth?
- Are we locked into one vendor’s limitations?
- Are our engagement tools officially recognized by our PMS?
For DSOs ready to grow with confidence, the answer is clear: build an ecosystem-based stack with trusted partners.
👉 Discover how Solutionreach powers multi-location growth as Planet DDS’s trusted partner
