Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) are transforming the dental industry, with more dentists affiliating with DSOs than ever before. According to the ADA Health Policy Institute, 13% of U.S. dentists were part of a DSO dental organization in 2022—a notable rise from 8.8% in 2017. The trend is even more pronounced among early-career dentists, with 27% of those who graduated in the last five years choosing DSO affiliations.
But as DSO networks grow, so do the challenges of keeping them running smoothly. Dental equipment isn’t just part of the practice—it’s the heartbeat. Downtime, repair delays, and inconsistent maintenance can ripple across entire networks, disrupting schedules, frustrating teams, and impacting patient care. Addressing these challenges isn’t just a top priority—it’s an essential need.
That’s where Tekagogo steps in. Our Preventative Maintenance Program helps DSOs and dental offices protect the heartbeat of their practices with proactive solutions that reduce downtime, lower repair costs, and simplify asset management.
In this blog, we’ll explore the top challenges facing DSO dental networks today and how Tekagogo can help keep your operations running seamlessly.
Challenge #1 – Managing Assets
For DSO dental networks, managing equipment across multiple locations can feel like juggling too many moving parts. Each office has its own mix of tools, service timelines, and maintenance needs, making it easy for repair histories to get lost or maintenance schedules to fall behind. Without a streamlined system, these gaps can lead to unexpected breakdowns and inefficiencies that ripple through the entire network.
Tekagogo’s real-time asset management tool simplifies the process by giving DSO dental networks centralized oversight of their equipment. With cloud-based storage, you can access repair histories and track service timelines with ease, ensuring nothing gets overlooked. This visibility allows you to plan maintenance more effectively and keep your network running smoothly, no matter how many locations you manage.
For Example: Imagine a scenario where an office’s sterilizer breaks down just before a busy week of appointments. Without a clear record of when it was last serviced or repaired, the team is left scrambling to diagnose the issue and find a solution. Meanwhile, another location within the network faces similar problems with an aging vacuum pump. Multiply this across multiple offices, and the cost of delays, emergency repairs, and downtime quickly adds up.
Tekagogo’s asset management feature eliminates this guesswork by providing a centralized platform to track equipment. With cloud-based storage, DSOs gain full visibility into repair histories, maintenance timelines, and service statuses, allowing them to address small issues before they become big disruptions. This kind of proactive oversight helps keep equipment functioning properly and ensures smoother operations throughout the network.
Challenge #2 – Minimizing Equipment Downtime
When critical equipment breaks down, the impact is immediate and far-reaching. Patient appointments get delayed or canceled, staff schedules are disrupted, and revenue takes a hit. This is especially damaging during peak insurance seasons, when many patients rush to use their benefits before they expire. Even a single location experiencing downtime can create ripple effects, straining resources across the entire network as teams scramble to find workarounds or reschedule patients.
Tekagogo’s Preventative Maintenance Program helps DSO dental networks avoid these costly disruptions by prioritizing proactive care. With pre-scheduled quarterly or semi-annual checkups, equipment stays in top condition year-round, reducing the risk of unexpected breakdowns.
And for those urgent situations that can’t wait, Tekagogo offers flexible same-day or scheduled dental equipment repair services, along with after-hours and weekend availability. This ensures that downtime is kept to a minimum, helping DSOs keep operations running smoothly and maintain their focus on delivering exceptional patient care without interruptions.
Challenge #3 – Reducing Repair Costs
When it comes to equipment repairs, waiting until something breaks can be an expensive gamble. Reactive repairs often come with higher costs, from emergency call-outs to major part replacements that could have been avoided with routine care. Over time, neglecting regular maintenance allows minor issues to worsen, leading to escalating expenses and shortened equipment lifespans.
Tekagogo offers a smarter approach:
- Discounted Service Rates: DSO dental networks pay a nominal annual fee to enroll in the Preventative Maintenance Program, then enjoy discounted service rates on all repair orders.
- Proactive care: The Preventative Maintenance Program reduces the risk of emergency repairs.
- Regularly scheduled maintenance: Catch issues early, keep equipment in peak condition, and extend its longevity.
- Cost-effective solution: Protect your bottom line while ensuring consistent, reliable performance across all locations.
By focusing on proactive maintenance, Tekagogo helps DSOs save money and avoid the pitfalls of reactive repairs.
Challenge #4 – Ensuring Operational Efficiency at Scale
Scaling operations across multiple locations is no small feat, especially for DSO dental networks. Without a consistent and reliable maintenance system in place, operational efficiency often suffers. Larger networks frequently encounter a patchwork of service providers, resulting in uneven care, varying response times, and unpredictable service quality. These inconsistencies can disrupt operations, frustrate teams, and negatively impact patient experiences.
Tekagogo solves this challenge with its nationwide network of highly qualified technicians. Serving most major metro areas like San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas, and beyond, Tekagogo ensures consistent, high-quality service across all locations. Customizable scheduling allows DSOs to tailor maintenance plans to their specific needs, keeping operations running seamlessly no matter how many locations are involved. With Tekagogo’s reliable solutions, DSOs can scale confidently without sacrificing efficiency or care.
How Tekagogo’s Preventative Maintenance Program Solves DSO Dental Network Challenges
Running a DSO dental network means managing complex systems, high expectations, and countless moving parts. Equipment downtime, asset mismanagement, and inconsistent care can create major obstacles, but Tekagogo’s Preventative Maintenance Program is designed to address these challenges head-on.
Here’s a recap of how the program works to keep your network running smoothly:
- Proactive Care: Regular maintenance ensures that small issues are addressed before they become costly emergencies, reducing downtime and repair expenses.
- Scheduled Convenience: With quarterly or semi-annual checkups, DSOs can plan ahead and stay on top of maintenance without disrupting daily operations.
- Asset Management: Tekagogo’s centralized platform allows DSO teams to monitor equipment status, repair histories, and future appointments for complete visibility.
- Cloud-Based Data Storage: Long-term access to equipment records provides peace of mind and simplifies decision-making for future maintenance and upgrades.
- Nationwide Network of Teks: DSOs benefit from consistent, high-quality service in major metro areas, ensuring efficiency and care across all locations.
By protecting the heartbeat of your practice, Tekagogo helps DSO dental networks maintain seamless operations, improve patient care, and strengthen their bottom line. With a Preventative Maintenance Program that combines proactive solutions with flexibility and transparency, DSOs can focus on what matters most—delivering exceptional care and growing their networks.
Take the next step toward operational efficiency—schedule a demo today and see how Tekagogo can transform your DSO maintenance strategy.