Distributor comparison · Updated 2026
Henry Schein vs Patterson vs Benco vs Darby vs Net32
An honest comparison of the five distributors most U.S. dental practices buy from. We're a dental GPO, so our bias is on the table. The goal here is to help you pick the right vendor mix, not push you to one.
At a glance
| Distributor | Type | Catalog | Pricing model | Rep model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Schein | Full-service distributor | 120,000+ SKUs | Rep-negotiated; varies by account size | Dedicated field rep |
| Patterson Dental | Full-service distributor | 100,000+ SKUs | Rep-negotiated; CEREC-tied incentives | Dedicated field rep |
| Benco Dental | Full-service distributor | 90,000+ SKUs | Rep-negotiated; family-owned, more flexible | Dedicated field rep |
| Darby Dental | Catalog/online distributor | 60,000+ SKUs | Published catalog pricing + monthly promos | Inside sales (no field rep) |
| Net32 | Marketplace | 500+ vendors aggregated | Marketplace bidding (buyers see multiple sellers per SKU) | No reps; chat support |
Henry Schein
Full-service distributor · 120,000+ SKUs · Ordering: Henry Schein Connect / Snap
Best for
Multi-location DSOs and large practices that want a single-vendor relationship.
Watch-outs
List pricing is opaque; small practices typically pay 20-30% more than larger groups for identical SKUs.
Patterson Dental
Full-service distributor · 100,000+ SKUs · Ordering: Patterson Connect
Best for
Practices investing in CEREC, Eaglesoft, or other Patterson-exclusive technology.
Watch-outs
Pricing on commodity supplies is rarely the best in market; equipment financing is a separate negotiation.
Benco Dental
Full-service distributor · 90,000+ SKUs · Ordering: Benco.com
Best for
Independent practices that value rep relationships and faster turnaround on credits/returns.
Watch-outs
Smaller geographic footprint than Schein/Patterson in some regions; deep brand selection but fewer private-label options.
Darby Dental
Catalog/online distributor · 60,000+ SKUs · Ordering: Darby.com / phone
Best for
Practices that prefer transparent published pricing and don't need an in-office rep.
Watch-outs
Equipment service network is thinner than full-service competitors.
Net32
Marketplace · 500+ vendors aggregated · Ordering: Net32.com
Best for
Practices comfortable shopping SKU-by-SKU for the lowest unit price.
Watch-outs
Multiple sellers means multiple shipments and return policies; no consolidated invoicing or formulary controls.
The honest answer: use a mix.
No single distributor wins on every SKU. Henry Schein and Patterson have the broadest catalogs and the deepest equipment service. Benco competes hard on service for independent practices. Darby is fast and transparent for routine consumables. Net32 occasionally has unbeatable spot prices on commodity SKUs.
The best procurement strategy for an independent practice is to maintain accounts with two or three distributors, then add a dental GPO that negotiates pricing across multiple distributors so you stop trading vendor loyalty for unit price.
FAQ
Which dental supply distributor is the cheapest?
Net32 frequently has the lowest unit price on commodity SKUs because it is a marketplace where vendors compete in real time. However, Net32's total cost of ownership is often higher than a GPO-priced order from Henry Schein, Patterson, Benco, or Darby once you factor in shipping, fragmented invoicing, and time spent comparison-shopping. Practices that want the lowest negotiated unit price across all major distributors typically join a dental GPO.
Is Henry Schein or Patterson better?
They are roughly comparable on catalog breadth and rep model. Patterson has stronger CAD/CAM and practice-management ties (CEREC, Eaglesoft); Henry Schein has a broader global supply chain and deeper specialty offerings. On pricing, both are rep-negotiated and an independent practice will typically beat their best self-negotiated rate by joining a GPO.
Can I use multiple distributors at once?
Yes, and most practices do. Distributors compete on different SKUs, so spreading your spend often produces the best blended cost. A GPO membership amplifies this strategy because the GPO's negotiated pricing applies across multiple participating distributors, so you can keep using the best vendor per SKU without sacrificing volume pricing.
What about reliability and order accuracy?
Henry Schein, Patterson, Benco, and Darby all run their own distribution networks with high fill rates (typically >95% on stocked items). Net32 reliability varies by individual seller. Some are full-service distributors, others are smaller resellers with longer lead times.
Why do small practices pay more than DSOs at the same distributor?
Distributor pricing is volume-based. A 50-location DSO buying $500K/year of supplies negotiates a price tier that a solo office buying $40K/year cannot match on its own. A dental GPO solves this by aggregating the buying power of hundreds of independent practices into a single contracted volume.
Stop guessing which distributor is cheapest.
TGP's GPO pricing applies across multiple distributors. Send us a recent invoice and we'll show you exactly how much you'd save without changing a single vendor.