The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the overall economy generally and the dental economy specifically. This essay focuses on dental service organizations (DSOs) amidst the pandemic. After summarizing a previous article focused on navigating career decisions with DSOs, the status of the broader and dental-specific economy is described as of the early summer of 2020. The purpose of this study is to identify and describe these key strategies DSOs implemented to survive and in some cases thrive amidst the challenges of the pandemic: national problem solving, emergency appointments, tele-dentistry, internal compliance, PPE and strategic alliances, staffing and staff support systems and team and patient communication. Initial recovery data provides evidence for the success of these strategies. While considerable uncertainty still defines the pandemic and its impact on the dental economy, DSOs have successfully weathered the storm through the strategies implemented.

COVID-19 pandemic; Dental economy; Dental careers; Practice management; Dental service organizations