Most oral surgeons don’t wake up thinking about valuations, DSOs, or private equity. Your focus is typically on patients, surgery, your team, your business, and getting through an already demanding schedule.
But the reality is, the business environment around oral surgery is changing, and it affects you — because whether it’s today or 10 years from now, every practice eventually needs a transition plan.
The decisions being made today by large groups, investors, and sponsors are shaping compensation models, partnership opportunities, recruiting, and long-term career paths for oral surgeons across the country. Understanding what’s happening in the market isn’t about chasing a transaction; it’s about protecting your position, your income, and your options, so you can make informed decisions when the time is right.
The good news? Oral surgery remains one of the strongest and most resilient specialties in dentistry. While other areas of dentistry have cooled or corrected, the OMS sector continues to attract numerous buyers and offer meaningful opportunities for doctors at every stage of their career.
A few fundamental forces continue to support the OMS market. The right investors and platforms are putting real, long-term capital into oral surgery. In addition, younger surgeons are choosing stability and support over going at it alone. The simple fact is that what oral surgeons do is hard to replace.
Here’s more on these fundamental factors and how they’re keeping oral surgery in demand as we head into 2026.
1. High-Quality OMS Platforms Are Backed by Sophisticated Sponsors
The consolidation landscape by private equity in the OMS space is defined not just by strategic buyers, but by deep-pocketed private equity sponsors who understand the unique economics of oral surgery. These groups are building with intention rather than urgency.
Some examples include platforms like USOSM backed by Oak Hill Capital, Beacon Oral and Facial Surgery, supported by Blue Sea Capital, Oral Surgery Partners with investments from Sheridan Capital Partners, and Paradigm Oral Surgery supported by BlackRock.
These sponsors aren’t looking for quick wins. They bring long-term investment horizons, real operational support, access to experienced leadership and infrastructure, and a disciplined approach to growth and recapitalization.
They’re not just buying businesses. They’re building enduring platforms that reward clinical excellence while preserving autonomy.
2. Younger Doctors Are Reshaping the Labor Market
Young doctors are changing the way the OMS labor market works. Many new surgeons are navigating significant student debt while also facing the challenge of building a practice from scratch. For those coming out of residency, they often join a stable, well-run group that provides mentorship and opportunities for growth.
Top private equity groups are reeling in these new doctors by offering above-market starting salaries, structured performance-based incentives, and real equity participation in high-growth organizations. This tactic is reshaping career paths and strengthening the overall labor market. As these doctors gain experience, more of them are choosing to pursue ownership, often in partnership with established platforms rather than going at it alone.
“We’re seeing a generational shift in the dental workforce that’s reshaping how oral surgery practices recruit, retain, and structure opportunities for surgeons coming out of residencies or fellowships,” 7 Pillars’ Chief Development Officer, Brian Christensen said. “DSOs are offering young surgeons guaranteed salaries, relocation packages, and student debt repayment. These lucrative offers are making it harder and harder for private practices to compete with DSOs for top surgeon talent.”
3. Oral Surgeons Are Hard to Replace, and That Creates Value
OMS is one of the most secure and high-value specialties in healthcare.
Each year, only around 200 oral surgeons complete residency in the U.S., and the training pipeline is narrow, highly selective, and difficult to scale. Becoming an oral surgeon requires years of surgical training and hands-on experience that simply cannot be replicated quickly or in an affordable manner.
The result is a deeply specialized skill set and a breadth of procedures that very few doctors can perform. From complex extractions and pathology to trauma, reconstructive, and hospital-based cases, oral surgeons deliver care that goes far beyond the scope of general dentistry.
This stands in sharp contrast to more commoditized dental services, where procedures like aligner therapy or basic restorative work can be taught and scaled relatively easily in comparison to OMS. In a market where many dental specialties compete primarily on price and volume, oral surgery sets itself apart by combining high complexity with an irreplaceable value to patients. These are qualities buyers and investors continue to value at a premium.
The Bottom Line
The OMS market is strong, buyer quality is high, and top practices continue to command attention and premium valuations.
“Even if you’re not considering a transaction right now, staying educated about the market and your future options gives you a real strategic advantage,” Brian said. “Understanding how buyers and practice economics are evolving helps you make stronger decisions for your career and your practice.”
Whether you’re thinking about a strategic partnership, exploring growth opportunities, or just curious about what your practice could be worth in today’s market, now is the time to have that conversation. Our team of advisors can walk you through valuations, deal structures, and equity options, providing the guidance you need to make confident, informed decisions for your future.
Visit our website to begin a conversation with one of our advisors.