... there are intangible benefits to continuing on as an associate in your formerpractice. If the seller still truly enjoys doing dentistry, practicing part time can help him or her transition from active practice to full retirement.Having been involved in dental practice transitions for 20 years, I frequently find that the seller would like to stay on and practice on a limited basis after the sale... More »

A significant number of dental careers begin with the purchase of a practice. This purchase is one of the most important financial decisions a dentist will make in his or her professional career. If you are entering into an arrangement to purchase a practice, whether now or in the future, you are entitled to the information you need to make an informed decision.Most practice sales are immediate sales.... More »

Having been involved in DENTAL PRACTICE TRANSITIONS for 20 years, I frequently find that the seller would like to stay on and practice on a limited basis after the sale. This can have several advantages for the selling dentist. Even when the need for money is not a factor, practicing part time in the practice the dentist formerly owned provides him or her with some income to help cover living... More »

As our dental staffs become better educated about their federally mandated  rights as employees, we can be certain that there will be an increase in associated litigations involving dentists.When selling a dental practice, the seller is not only approaching the end of his or her professional relationships with the patient base, but ending a relationship as the “employer” of a staff. These events... More »

With a book and a little bit of free time, it is possible for a dentist to perform his or her own electrical work. The problem with this approach to a dental practice sale is that disputes and liabilities resulting from the sale may be more significant than a blown electrical fuse or a little shock. Obtaining professional advice from a practice broker, attorney, and CPA is essential for structuring... More »

A knowledgeable buyer’s representative will help you interpret both accountingand practice-management information, as well as explain not only what the numbers mean, but what you will need to do to make the purchase of the practice work for you. A knowledgeable buyer’s representative can help keep you from making major mistakes. While the accounting numbers are important, you must also understand the... More »

The bottom line is that owners must carefully examine their reasons for adding a new dentist to the practice, as well as define what they want the associate to bring to the practice.I am unaware of any studies that are chiseled in stone regarding the percentages of success and failure rates when bringing additional dentists into a practice. However, such an arrangement appears to have a 90 to 95 percent... More »

The success of anything built or created depends on a solid foundation. It only follows that before adding an associate to your practice, you must set the stage for a positive outcome by planning carefully from the beginning.  Too often, the owner dentist and prospective associate leave their first meeting with a long list of unansweredquestions, frustrations, and a feeling of dwindling confidence... More »

What is the most important practice parameter you should constantly monitor, whether you have been in practice for two or 20 years? Based upon my experience as a practice appraiser and broker, it is practice overhead.  Why? Because if you are in control of your overhead, then you are in control of your practice. Being in control lets you weather the normal strains of private practice in relatively... More »

Given the information about the demographics and the saturation of specialists in metropolitan areas, the safest way to enter specialty practice in a major city would seem to be to join an existing practice.As they finish graduate programs and residencies, young dental specialists are confronted with the same dilemma every young dentist faces. Should I open and start a practice from scratch or join... More »