ADAPT Blog

Would you like to step into a fully decked-out practice earning $250-450K annually, with full autonomy to practice the way you want, equity buy-in opportunities, and an unlimited CE allowance?  

I recently attended a conference where I was impressed by the quality of the clinicians and the support provided to offices that are members of one particular group practice. By accepting only the best of the best, both in practices and in dentists, this group of doctors ‘wowed’ me in a big way.  

At ADA Practice Transitions, we are always interested in exposing dentists to new opportunities that might suit their needs. When I learned that this impressive group was looking for experienced, ownership-minded doctors in three locations, I immediately wanted to share it with our dentists. 

Each of the following 3 practice opportunities offers: 

• Stable staff 
• Unlimited CE 
• Opportunity for equity buy in
• Fully updated technology 
• Stable patient base
• Health and malpractice insurance
• HR, IT, marketing, and financial support
• Access to practice management experts who can help you optimize the practice 
• A network of colleagues with vast experience available to provide mentorship and on-demand clinical advice

Are you wondering about what comes first (or next) in your dental career? Whether you’re just starting your career or looking for a change, you don’t have to settle. After all, you’ve invested a lot of time, money, and energy to reach this point! It’s worth taking the time to find the right fit.

Our new eBook can help you weigh your options. Download it now to explore:

This stellar, 7-operatory practice is 100% fee for service — and ready for a successor! This small-town family practice focuses on personalized, comfortable general dentistry plus implants, Invisalign, cosmetic dentistry, and sedation. That makes for loyal patients and a healthy bottom line. 

The owner has committed to best practices and current technologies, including cone beam imaging, CAD/CAM, CEREC, dental lasers, digital radiography, and an in-house lab. The spacious, well-maintained, modern facility is right on Main Street, yet set back among plenty of parking and great landscaping. The office has attractive finishes throughout, and the operatories overlook nearby wetlands along the gorgeous Maine coast. 

Patient reviews rave about the compassionate, skilled staff, and the dedicated team enjoys time together in and out of the office. 

The current owner is approaching retirement and wants to find someone ready to take over when the time is right. Choose the timeline that’s right for you!

What does it take to find the right fit for your practice transition?

It all comes down to finding someone who shares your mission, vision, and values. That’s true whether you’re an associate looking for a practice or a long-time owner trying to find a successor. 

So how do you assess mission, vision, and values during your search process? They can be hard to articulate — particularly if you haven’t been practicing very long — but in-depth discussions can reveal your preferences and priorities. 

Before you get to the point where you’re signing a letter of intent or an associate contract, spend time together in the practice. (Preferably, that means shadowing the practice and doctor at least three times — while patients are being seen — to get a true feel for how the practice runs.) Observe closely to make sure you’re on the same page about:

• The level of care being delivered
• How you interact with patients, specialists, and the community
• Treatment planning
• How you manage and work with staff

I recently discussed all this with Patrick Chavoustie of the Dental Brief Podcast.

If you own a practice, you’ll eventually need an exit strategy. And it’s wise to start thinking about your preferences long before you think you’ll need to sell. After all, sometimes life happens and forces you to act sooner. 

It can feel daunting to think about walking away from the practice you’ve spent decades building. How will your patients be cared for? What about your loyal staff? 

And what about YOU? What will you do during your retirement?

Relax. You have options — probably more than you realize! Retirement doesn’t always have to look like a 100% sale in which you hand over the keys and never look back. Today, many doctors are approaching their retirement as a years-long transition period during which they can do more of what they love — and leave behind the things they don’t prefer. That can take a lot of forms, including practicing part-time, teaching/mentoring, helping underserved populations, or making a fresh start in an entirely new-to-you practice. Your options are limited only by your imagination!

I recently joined Kelly Tanner on the Dental Handoff podcast. We spent a lot of time discussing why it’s so important to cultivate the type of practice that staff will WANT to stay in. 

After all, dentistry is about relationships. And if you want to build long-term relationships with your staff, you need to be the type of leader that inspires respect. 

So how can you “own the operatory” in a way that makes your practice a great place to work?

Kelly and I discussed this at length, including:

• Learning to “read the room,” or understand the non-verbal cues your staff (and patients!) are sending 
• Why great leaders should keep an open mind and encourage staff to share their ideas
• How to nurture the staff development that is vital to a strong, stable practice
• Ways to create an atmosphere where team members will strive to improve the practice — together

We also talked about how important it is to choose the right staff for your practice, whether you’re hiring an associate or auxiliary or looking for your successor. When you find someone who “meshes” with the staff and practice, you increase the likelihood of long-term satisfaction for all involved — doctors, staff, and patients. 

But success isn’t guaranteed when you find the right person; rather, you should also lay out an integration plan that will help the entire practice through the transition. A good integration plan will ensure that everyone is prepared so that the new team member feels confident treating patients from their very first day.  

Whew! Give yourself a great big pat on the back. The last four years have been TOUGH!

You may have passed your national boards and your requirements are almost complete. You feel as prepared as possible for your licensure exams — maybe you have even already passed them already!

Before you jump on that flight to the Caribbean, take some steps to ensure you are prepared for the next step in your career. For most new graduates, that will be some sort of clinical position, usually as an associate.

So how can you make that transition from student to professional as seamless as possible?

Step 1: Continue to improve your hand skills and speed

Many recent grads worry, “How am I going to increase my speed and justify my salary? Especially since I had to hand off all my patients to other students who need the requirements.”

For sale: this award-winning practice has strong financials, loyal patients, and room to grow! Voted as a “Readers’ Choice” by the local newspaper for two years running, the team has a well-deserved reputation for delivering quality dentistry in a comfortable, 6-operatory environment.

This practice is ideal for a young, ambitious dentist with at least three years of experience who wants to own a successful practice that is poised to expand. 

The owner is ready to sell and has a valuation in hand, but he’s willing to stay on to provide mentorship that helps you succeed. Choose to buy or lease the building. 

The team currently works out of four of the spacious clinic’s operatories, with the other two fully equipped rooms used for overflow. The ambiance promotes patient comfort, and patients love watching the four birdfeeders (stocked daily) outside the operatories. Each treatment room has a TV. Great signage and ample parking make patient visits easy, as does the proximity to a local school: kids simply walk over for treatment. The practice is a longtime supporter of local schools. 

You could easily expand the schedule into the underused operatories, especially if you have oral surgery and endodontics experience. (These procedures are currently referred to nearby specialists.)

The loyal, dedicated staff are all cross-trained for maximum efficiency, and patients appreciate seeing familiar faces at every visit. 

When you buy this practice, you’ll enjoy the benefits of a small-town practice: a large patient base (18,000 county residents served by four dentists) with no DSO competition and low overhead. Yet you’ll be near a city of 250,000, which could allow the best of both worlds: an easy commute between small-town dentistry and big-city life.

What does it take to become a successful practice owner? And why can it be “easier” in a small town?

Dr. Kristen Sciolino recently sat down with The Dental Brief Podcast to share her story. Hear about her path from social work to dental practice ownership — all while raising two small children. 

During her D4 year at the University of New England, Dr. Sciolino created an ADA Practice Transitions profile. She wanted to find a small-town practice that she could buy within a few years. 

She landed in Lincoln, Maine, where Dr. Joe Thibodeau was beginning to plan for retirement. The two shared complementary philosophies of care and similar timelines and goals — it was the perfect match. Less than two years after graduating, Dr. Sciolino bought Lincoln Smiles, the million-dollar practice, from Dr. Thibodeau. Today, she’s thriving as he eases into retirement. 

Why small-town practices can be lucrative

So what makes a small-town practice such a great choice for someone who wants to own?

Join this busy suburban small-group practice to take your career to the next level. In this full-time associateship, you’ll learn from two experienced dentists while using the latest technology to treat a loyal patient population. You’ll even have an equity opportunity!

This freestanding 7-operatory practice has been serving the community for over 40 years. Yet the owners have never had to advertise — rather, strong patient relationships and word-of-mouth referrals keep the schedule plenty full! In fact, demand has grown so much that there’s currently a 3-month wait for appointments, so you’ll be busy right away. 

The owners are looking for a new team member who is willing to work hard, listen, and treat each patient’s individual needs. 

As the owners say, “Dentistry doesn’t leave room for boredom. The advances in techniques and technology keep us excited and motivated to do more and different procedures. We enjoy helping our patients to achieve good oral health and always strive to do our best every day. Our patients and staff are like family. Focusing on the individual needs of our patients allows us to project our caring nature as well as maintain our loyal patient base.”

The staff are loyal too, as everyone is treated with kindness and respect. The team has frequent lunches, celebrates birthdays and holidays, and enjoys office parties and outings throughout the year.

The strong team effort extends into the community through volunteer efforts with local charities. The practice supports local schools and churches, Toys for Joys, and even the local zoo. The team also provides free dental care at a local dental hygiene school.

The practice is updated with the latest technology, including a CBCT / 3D Pano, digital radiographs, paperless charts, diode lasers, electric handpieces, intraoral cameras, two Digital Cerec scanners, and a Cerec MCX milling unit.