Sell My Dental Practice

Selling a dental practice involves valuing tangible assets like digital X-rays and chairs, as well as intangible assets like your active patient count, hygiene recall system, and reputation.

Understanding Your Business Before Recommending a Business Broker

We start by analyzing your practice mix. Are you primarily Fee-for-Service (FFS) or PPO? Do you refer out most specialty work or keep it in-house? Do you own the real estate?

From there, we identify business brokers who specialize in the dental sector. Some are experts in selling solo practices to new graduates, while others work with Dental Support Organizations (DSOs) looking to acquire established groups.

Key Value Drivers for Dental Buyers

• Active Patient Count – Buyers look for a stable base of patients who have visited in the last 18 months, not just total charts on file.

• Hygiene Production – A strong hygiene department (30-40% of total revenue) indicates a healthy, recurring patient base and high diagnostic potential.

• Technology & Equipment – Modern offices with CBCT, Cerec, or digital scanners command higher prices than those needing immediate upgrades.

• Staff Retention – Your hygienists and front desk team are the face of the practice. Retaining them is key to patient retention post-sale.

Buyers scrutinize active Patient Count, payer Mix & Fee Schedules, and hygiene Recall Health.

Deep Dive: Recasting Your Dental Practice Financials

To get the highest price, we work with brokers who "recast" your P&L to show the true Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE) or EBITDA. In dental practice transitions, this involves specific adjustments:

• Owner Clinical Compensation: Your production is restated at associate rates (typically 28–32% of collections) so buyers see true practice profit after clinical replacement cost.
• Equipment & Technology CapEx: CBCT units, scanners, chairs, and operatory buildouts are one-time capital investments added back to normalized earnings.
• Personal & Family Expenses: Auto leases, family payroll, and continuing-education travel beyond requirements are adjusted out of operating costs.

Who is Buying Dental Practices?

Dental remains one of the most competitive acquisition markets in healthcare.

1. DSOs & Group Practices: Dental service organizations acquire practices collecting $1M+ with strong hygiene programs, often at premium multiples with equity components.

2. Associate Dentists: Individual dentists buy practices with 100% bank financing readily available — the classic transition, ideal for goodwill preservation.

3. Regional Micro-Groups: Dentist-owned groups of 3–10 offices buy nearby practices, blending DSO economics with private-practice culture.

Why Confidentiality is Critical

If staff hear the practice is transitioning, your hygienists — the hardest hires in dentistry — may leave preemptively. If patients hear rumors, recall confirmations drop.

Our Approach: We market production, payer mix, and practice metrics through blind profiles under strict NDAs. Your practice name and location stay confidential until buyers are fully vetted.

If you are exploring a sale now or in the next few years, your first move should be speaking with someone who understands the trades.

On our first call, we will discuss your revenue mix, fleet status, and exit goals. From there, we will suggest one or more business brokers or M&A advisors who are best positioned to sell your specific type of dental practice.