Brian Colao on The DSO-Success Secrets of 2026 and Mistakes to Leave Behind in 2025

For many dental professionals, 2025 was the year of survival. And, thriving in 2026 is going to take a complete shift on every front - leadership, technology adoption and strategy. In the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker starts the new year by sitting down with Brian Colao, Director of the DSO Industry Group at Dykema, for a candid retrospective on 2025's "muted recovery" and what's really coming next. Brian breaks down why same-store growth stalled for many (spoiler: it's not always about the technology), reveals the anatomy of struggling DSOs, and shares the counterintuitive moves top performers are making right now.

Tune in for actionable strategies to position your organization for the growth that 2026 promises to bring.

#dentaleconomist #dentaleconomist #dentaltechnology

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Chapters:

00:00 Intro: Brian Colao's Third Time on the Dental Economist Show
05:50 2025 Recap: Why M&A Momentum Stalled Despite Optimism
08:20 Are Tariffs the Real Culprit Behind Deal Slowdown?
13:16 The Education-Integration-Implementation-Adaptation Growth Cycle
18:43 AI Fatigue: Filtering Noise from Real Innovation in Dentistry
24:47 The Two Culprits Behind Failing DSOs
29:27 The Focus Problem That’s Killing DSOs
31:18 2026 Outlook: Steady M&A Returns and the Year of Redemption
38:51 Fear vs. Action: Why Some Groups Invest During Downturns and Win
41:57 What's Coming to Dykema in 2026?
45:24 How Brian Became a Force in the DSO Community
50:30 Key Takeaways: Your Roadmap for 2026 Success

Connect with the team:
👉 Mike Huffaker on LinkedIn:   / huffaker  
👉 Brian Colao on LinkedIn:   / brian-a-colao-303619122  
👉 Dykema Website: https://www.dykema.com/
👉 Planet DDS Website: https://www.planetdds.com/

You can also listen to our podcast here:
👉 Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3SeeOfY
👉 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3tMmaO7
👉 Fame Host: https://bit.ly/4aQNQ51

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Whether you’re leading a DSO, building the next big dental SaaS tool, or redefining patient experience, this show is where the smartest minds in dental business come to talk strategy!