ADAPT Blog

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.

Maybe you’ve found a practice that looks great on paper: the location, the salary, the number of operatories. 

How do you know it’s the practice where you can become the dentist you’ve always dreamed of being?

I hear of too many cases where dentists jump at the first associateship they’re offered, simply because the salary sounded right — then six, nine, or twelve months later they realize it’s just not a great fit. Maybe they’re working too many hours, or they’re doing nothing but prophys when they thought they would be learning implants.  

So how can you avoid this fate?

When you’re evaluating a practice, slow down and take the time to determine if it’s the right one for you. After all, you worked hard to get through undergrad and dental school. It’s worth a little extra effort now to make sure you’re choosing the right practice for your next step. 

I recently spoke with Rolando Mia of Empowered Dentistry about exactly this topic. Listen to our episode of the Dental Voice podcast or read on for some of the advice I shared. 

The last three years have been unlike anything you could have ever prepared for. From mandatory shut-downs to PPE shortages to the Great Resignation, your practice has weathered it all. Congratulations on making it through!

But now that things may have settled a bit, have you thought about how your practice is really doing?  

The end of the year is a great time to catch your breath and reflect on where your business is and where you want it to go. 

Let’s look at how to go about a comprehensive dental practice business review. 

If you’re considering buying a practice, what’s most important to you?

Make this 5-operatory family practice your own! Serving the community since 1994, the brick office is located in a residential neighborhood. You’ll be within walking distance of the historic downtown filled with restaurants and shopping, yet have easy access to the interstate. 

The seller currently works three days a week (by choice) out of three operatories, giving you plenty of potential to expand the schedule and treatment offerings to bring in new patients. 

The real estate is also for sale: a stand-alone brick building with roomy operatories and lots of windows. The patient areas are easily accessible (no stairs), and there’s ample on-site parking.  Upstairs, you’ll find a finished doctor’s office, a full bath/shower, and plenty of storage. The building has been upgraded and well maintained, with a new roof, flooring, AC, and alarm system.  

The doctor is ready to sell, but willing to stick around to ensure a smooth transition and help retain the life-long patients.

Whether you prefer to focus on bread-and-butter dentistry or want to expand into more complex procedures, check out this busy, 20-operatory practice! You’ll join two other general dentists and one pediatric dentist serving 6,000+ patients. With such a diverse patient pool and doctors dedicated to mentorship, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to fine-tune your hand skills while learning more advanced techniques. 

Make a great living in this full-time associateship while surrounded by supportive colleagues who work well together. Earn a great salary and benefits, including daily guarantee, 401k with match, profit sharing, disability/life insurance, and more. 

Plus, the fully updated practice is located in a gorgeously rehabbed 1860s mansion that blends vintage architecture with modern technology. Crown molding surrounds the rooms, while a beautiful fireplace and extravagant chandelier are juxtaposed with brand-new modern Aidec chairs and cabinetry. All the patients comment on the design, and the building even received a historic award from the state. The operatories are bright with big windows, making an absolutely beautiful space to work in.

You’ll be productive from your first day. Word-of-mouth referrals continue to attract new patients who face wait times of 16+ weeks. Start with bread-and-butter dentistry, then choose to stay in your comfort zone or grow into more specialized procedures: your call!

Want a turnkey practice in a fast-growing area with a low cost of living? This state-of-the-art family practice needs YOU! The 5-operatory family practice has built a great reputation for delivering honest, trustworthy care. Now, the retiring owner is ready to hand over the reins to someone who will serve this great (and growing) population. 

The practice’s experienced team currently delivers the full range of general dentistry, plus pediatric and sedation dentistry, treatment for TMJ/TMD, sleep apnea treatment, and snoring prevention. They also provide a full suite of implant dental services, such as regular dental implants, mini implants, and implant-supported dentures.

The seller explains, “The strength of our practice is in our mission statement and that is to provide superior dental treatment to our patients with careful attention to their individual needs and comfort in a state-of-the-art facility. Our patients should feel confident that they are receiving treatment from a caring professional team that exhibits honesty, empathy, and trust. We strive to educate our patients and enable them to be committed to attain a lifetime of optimal oral health. We are committed to the highest degree of personal and professional growth through continuing education.”

The office is well situated in a medical district with easy highway access. Currently open four days a week, you can add hours to draw new patients. 

And in this growing area — recently named the 2022-2023 Best Place to Live in the nation by US News and World Report — you can tap into plenty of demand!