Vol. 2 · Issue 14 · August 2026
Monthly Intelligence

Where Dental Leaders Go
to Make Smarter Decisions.

Behind-the-scenes access to what is happening inside dental groups right now, delivered to your inbox each month.

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DSO CompassNow
What AI Is Doing to Jobs in Dentistry Right Now
The conversation has moved...
DSO CompassFeb
DSO vs DPO Structures
What the structure really changes...
DSO CompassJan
Who Actually Got It Right in 2025
A look back at the decisions...
DSO CompassDec
Solving Problems vs Adding Software
A hard look at what dental groups...
DSO Compass Download • March 2025
What AI Is Doing to Jobs in Dentistry Right Now
This Month
What AI Is Doing to Jobs in Dentistry Right Now
The conversation around AI and dental jobs has moved from hypothetical to operational. We break down what is actually changing on the ground inside dental groups today.
Also Inside
DSO vs DPO Structures and What They Really Change About Technology
Read Full Issue →
DSO Strategy· Technology & AI· Operations· M&A Intelligence· Leadership· Dental Tech· DSO Strategy· Technology & AI· Operations· M&A Intelligence· Leadership· Dental Tech·
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14Issues Published
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100%Dental Industry

"Too many are hammers looking for nails, a solution out looking for the problem it fits."

Mike Baird — CEO, Accelerate Dental — from the latest issue

March 2025#09
AI & Workforce

What AI Is Doing to Jobs in Dentistry Right Now

The conversation around AI and dental jobs has moved from hypothetical to operational. What is actually changing on the ground inside dental groups today.

February 2025#08
Structure

What DSO vs DPO Structures Really Change About Technology

The structure of your organization changes more than your org chart. It changes what technology can actually do inside your business.

January 2025#07
Year in Review

Who Actually Got It Right in 2025

A look back at the decisions, implementations, and strategies that actually produced results for dental organizations in 2025.

December 2024#06
Technology

Are We Solving Problems or Just Adding More Software?

A hard look at whether dental groups are buying technology that actually solves operational problems or just layering complexity on top of complexity.

November 2024#05
Strategy

Stop Buying Tech Without a Framework

Most DSOs buy technology reactively. This issue breaks down what a real evaluation framework looks like and why most groups skip the most important step.

September 2024#04
Operations

Stop the Buzzwords, Start Solving Problems

AI, automation, interoperability. The dental industry loves a buzzword. This issue cuts through the noise and gets specific about what actually moves the needle.

October 2024#03
Community

Help Shape What is Next for Conferences and Tech

We asked the DSO community what they actually want from industry events and technology vendors. The answers were blunt, honest, and worth reading.

August 2024#02
Strategy

Stop Buying Tech the Old Way

The way dental groups have historically evaluated and purchased technology is broken. This issue makes the case for a fundamentally different approach.

July 2024#01
AI & Operations

AI Ops: The DSO July Snapshot

Our inaugural look at how artificial intelligence is actually being deployed inside dental service organizations, not the hype, but the operational reality.

DSO Strategy
Structure, growth, and governance
AI and Technology
What is actually working on the ground
Operations
Workflow, staffing, and efficiency
M&A and Finance
Deals, capital, and growth models
I get a ton of emails every day but I always make sure to read your newsletter.
Rezwan Manji
CEO, Imagen Dental Partners
I stop what I am doing and read every word of your newsletter when it hits my inbox.
Dr. Scott Dudley
CEO, Branin Dental
Really the best dental newsletter out there.
Dr. Matt Allen
Co-Founder & CEO, DifferentKind
Matthew McGaw
Matthew McGaw
Founder, DSO Compass

Advisor, operator, and intelligence source for DSO leaders and dental technology companies.

Built for the People Running Dental Groups

DSO Compass Download is a monthly newsletter covering the intersection of strategy, technology, and operations inside dental service organizations.

We write for operators, not observers. Every issue is built around what is actually happening inside dental groups right now, not what vendors want you to believe.

Who is this newsletter for?
DSO executives, group practice operators, dental tech leaders, and investors who want unfiltered intelligence on the dental group market.
How often does it publish?
Once a month. We would rather publish one sharp issue than fill your inbox with filler.
Is it really free?
Yes. Subscribe and get every issue delivered directly to your inbox at no cost.
What makes it different?
It is written by someone who works inside the industry every day as an advisor and operator, not a journalist covering dental from the outside.
Also From DSO Compass
Podcast
DSO Compass Off Script

Unfiltered conversations with the people building and running dental groups. Hosted by Matthew McGaw and Clayton Russell.

Spotify Apple Podcasts
Podcast
The DSO Technology Show

Brian Colao and Matthew McGaw break down the technology decisions shaping dental group organizations.

Spotify Apple Podcasts