Rock Dental Brands: How to Choose the Right DSO

In this episode, Dustin Burleson sits down with the powerhouse leadership team behind Rock Dental Brands to answer one of the most pressing questions in modern dentistry and orthodontics: How do I avoid choosing the wrong DSO? You’ll hear directly from CEO Kristi Casey, Chief Development Officer Spencer Lunghino, and Co-Founder Dr. Mark Dake as they share a transparent look into the origins, philosophy, and strategic direction of Rock Dental Brands. Together, they bust myths around private equity, clinical autonomy, and growth timelines—and reveal what doctors should really be asking before joining a DSO. If you're a dentist, orthodontist, or specialist considering your next move, this episode is a must-listen.   What You’ll Learn:The real story behind private equity in dentistry—where the money comes from and how it worksWhy not all DSOs (or equity structures) are created equalHow Rock Dental Brands evolved from a doctor-led support model to a nationally respected DSOThe biggest myths around clinical autonomy, ownership, and growthWhy Rock's equity model is designed to treat doctors fairly—and how that differs from joint venturesHow to reverse-engineer a smart partnership decision using Charlie Munger’s “invert and avoid” philosophyWhat questions to ask during DSO due diligence (and how to avoid future regret)   Key Quotes: “We were built to be proud of the work we’re doing 50 years from now." —Dr. Mark Dake “You're not giving up control of your practice. You're gaining part of 110 practices.” —Kristi Casey   Connect with Our Guests:Spencer Lunghino – spencer.lunghino@rockdentalbrands.comrockdentalbrands.com   Resources Mentioned:GreyFinch Practice Management SoftwareDentiCon by Planet DDSVistria Group – Private equity partner of Rock Dental Brands   Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and subscribe to The Burleson Box on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Your support helps us bring powerful conversations like this to more listeners in healthcare leadership.   *** The Burleson Box is brought to you by Stax Payments: Save Big on Transaction Fees: Boost Your Bottom Line with Stax Payments. Did you know that your practice can start saving thousands of dollars on your monthly processing costs with our preferred payments partner, Stax? Simplify your practice operations and provide a quality patient experience. Healthcare practices like yours need a way to accept payments simply and securely. That's where Stax comes in. Stax helps you manage your entire payments experience from within one platform. You can safely accept touch-free payments in-person, online, or over the phone, securely store and manage patient information with layered security and Level 1 PCI compliance.
Take advantage of a simpler, more transparent way to process your payments with competitive flat-rate pricing, provided exclusively through Stax. No additional fees or contracts required! Power your practice and get paid faster with simple, safe and secure payment solutions. Have questions? Schedule time to speak with a dedicated payment consultant to learn more. Click Below to Lear More Today: StaxPayments.com/burleson-seminars ***   Go Premium: Members get early access, ad-free episodes, hand-edited transcripts, exclusive study guides, special edition books each quarter, powerpoint and keynote presentations and two tickets to Dustin Burleson's Annual Leadership Retreat. http://www.theburlesonbox.com/sign-up   Stay Up to Date: Sign up for The Burleson Report, our weekly newsletter that is delivered each Sunday with timeless insight for life and private practice. Sign up here: http://www.theburlesonreport.com   Follow Dustin Burleson, DDS, MBA at: http://www.burlesonseminars.com