ADAPT Blog

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?

Today, we’re thrilled to update one of the very first success stories for ADA Practice Transitions^TM! 

Back in 2019, Dr. Joe Thibodeau was beginning to think about slowing down and selling his practice. But he wanted to ensure the patients in his Lincoln, Maine practice would be cared for long after he left. 

“As busy as this office is, slowing down meant putting a lot of patients off,” Dr. Thibodeau says. “I felt I couldn’t do that.”

After striking out with a practice management company, he turned to ADA Practice Transitions. He created a free profile that articulated his style of dentistry, his timeline, and his goals. 

Watch the video: Dr. Sciolino and Dr. Thibodeau

“The big companies, you pay a big chunk of money off the bat just to get the process started,” Dr. Thibodeau says. “That’s difficult to swallow. I don’t think I got my money’s worth – I did not get one hit, and I had to contact the company or else I did not hear from them.”

Meanwhile, Kristen Sciolino was beginning to job hunt during her D4 year at the University of New England. However, she wasn’t just looking for a first job; rather, she wanted to find a place where she could build a career and eventually buy out the owner. When she heard about ADA Practice Transitions through an on-campus event, she created a profile that showcased her goals and desire to live in a small town. 

ADA Practice Transitions matched the pair based on shared goals and a similar approach to dentistry. The two hit it off right away.

“We really meshed from the start, and it felt very easy,” Dr. Sciolino says, noting she could immediately see herself working in the practice. “Personalities vary significantly, as well as ideas on how to practice,” she explains. “ADAPT isn’t just matching you with an area. It’s matching you with a person, a practice, and a mindset, so you’re not going into a situation where you and your potential boss or coworker don’t mesh.”

As Dr. Ancy Verdier finished up his periodontics residency at Tufts University, he — like many younger dentists — looked for associateships in the big city. He wanted to be near family in his hometown of Scarsdale, NY but assumed he had to be in Manhattan to practice the kind of dentistry he loved. 

Dr. Verdier was soon working at group practices in Manhattan and the Hamptons, building a great reputation and treating celebrity clients. He even built his own practice from scratch in the Hamptons while still working in other practices and teaching.

Dr. Katie Satula’s busy practice has a well-earned reputation for family-friendly dentistry. The practice has been a fixture in Hales Corners, Wisconsin for over 30 years, treating several generations. [Pictured from left: Drs. Raimann, Satula, Ebert, and Mueller. Drs. Raimann and Mueller were the original owners of the practice and are now enjoying their retirements.]

“I love being your local family dentist who sees a little one for their first appointment, all the way to their great-great grandma and everyone in between,” says Dr. Katie.

When the practice’s senior dentist began planning to retire, Dr. Katie knew she needed to find an associate.

Dr. Charles Schmidt’s practice was booked out for weeks. Just as several local dentists were retiring, the Lancaster, New Hampshire area was growing. Both Dr. Schmidt and his associate were busy and getting busier!

Dr. Schmidt needed to hire another associate to keep up with this growth. But he wanted someone who would fit into the practice and the town. After all, this small-town practice is built on relationships, with a close-knit, down-to-earth team. His ideal hire would understand small-town life and be eager to build patient relationships while becoming part of the local community.

With the help of ADA Practice Transitions (ADAPT), he found just the right person.

Dr. Sara Makary has worked in several different settings during her career. With each change, she’s gained new skills and experiences that have helped her become a well-rounded practitioner.

But change is never easy. That’s why Dr. Sara advises other dentists to stop and really think about their next move.

Note: this is part one of a two-part interview with Dr. Sara Makary. Be sure to check out the second part, How to Decide If It's Time to Make a Change. 

When Dr. Sara Makary started her career, she followed a path taken by many of her peers: a job in corporate dentistry. “I thought this is probably a good way to get introduced to dentistry, to patients, and have a safety net of providers around me,” she said. “As a fresh graduate, we walk into uncertain territory. When you get out of school, your security blanket gets stripped off very fast.”

Drs. Bob and Heather Heil owned two successful Wisconsin practices. After a tragic fire destroyed one of their practices, they began looking for another to help meet their personal financial goals. Despite years of searching and working with brokers, they didn’t find just the right place until Dr. Bob joined ADAPT.

Dr. Gagnon needed another dentist in her practice after her father retired. Dr. Sikora wanted her first associateship out of dental school to include plenty of hands-on mentorship – in a state where she had no connections.

Dr. Jessica Sikora had never been to Maine until 2016 when she visited and interviewed at the University of New England College of Dental Medicine.

“I immediately fell in love with the area,” said the Honesdale, Pennsylvania, native.

She’d also fallen in love, after four years of dental school, with the idea of practicing in her new state.