Christine Diehl, RDH, BGS didn’t choose the DSO life, the DSO life chose her. One day, she was working in the private practice that she called home for many years. The next? That practice was sold to a Dental Service Organization, done deal, no heads-up given.
“Shock” is an understatement.
But here’s where Christine’s story takes a turn most people don’t expect: her professional life actually got better!
Christine had heard the rumors. Who in dentistry hasn’t? But once the dust settled, she found herself with something she’d rarely had in private practice: real benefits! Medical insurance. PTO. Pet insurance. Upgraded equipment. Standardized infection control protocols. All this, and a clear path for professional growth.
She also got early access to laser and AI technology, tools that genuinely elevated her patients’ level of care.
The more she talked to colleagues in the DSO world, the more she realized that a lot of what people “knew” about DSOs just wasn’t true. And Christine being Christine, she decided to do something about it!
When Periodontal Staging and Grading rolled out, the resources available to explain it were, frankly, a mess. Christine and a co-worker put their heads together and created a clean, easy-to-follow reference chart and posted it to the Facebook page they’d launched for DSO hygienists, “DSO Hygiene Excellence.”
That chart took on a life of its own. A dental hygiene instructor later told Christine that a student brought it in to show the class. She was surprised to see it on a slide during a CE course given by a nationally known speaker. No byline, no credit, but Christine says she finds it deeply rewarding anyway. Quietly helping an unknown number of hygienists? That’s a win!
Not content to stop there, Christine launched “The DSO Hygienist” podcast to keep spreading the positive word. Two episodes per month featuring guests from across the dental world. This podcast hits a wide range of topics that any hygienist can benefit from. Christine will tell you that hosting this podcast nurtures her artistic side, while simultaneously pushes her past her comfort zone. She has learned more about the technical side of podcasting than she ever dreamed possible and has grown to love it.
Her newest venture is a book, “Heart of the Handoff.” Inspired by a friend whose entire team quit within 90 days after being sold, Christine wrote a practical guide for dentists and practice leaders on how to actually retain their teams through transitions. Think: real communication strategies, patient loyalty, and a roadmap for not losing everyone the moment the ink dries.
Her consulting branch, “DSO Team Transitions (Develop, Support, Optimize), brings that same expertise directly to practices navigating the process of buying and selling.
Christine is a Thought Leader with Teethcloud.org. She has presented on national stages, including “Dentistry’s Got Talent” at Smiles at Sea and The Dental Festival and has served as a panelist at Women in DSO. She has held leadership positions at IDHA and HyPac and has served on multiple dental advisory boards.
Her advice to fellow hygienists? Get uncomfortable. Attend conferences. Find your people. “We all have talents that can be used in a number of different ways,” she says.
Her favorite event? Women in DSO. This conference is built to mentor women into leadership roles, while celebrating clinical excellence. Basically, Christine’s natural habitat.
“The DSO Hygienist” podcast is available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.
“Heart of the Handoff” is available now on Amazon.
www.dsoteamtransition.com
400 E. Randolph St., Suite 3115
Chicago, IL 60601(800) 550-4342www.idha.netmail@idha.net© 2026 IDHA – Illinois Dental Hygienists' Association
