Dealing with a Toxic Employee in Your Dental Office?
Most dental office employees—whether receptionists, assistants, or hygienists—are committed professionals who care deeply about their patients and take pride in their work. Dentists, often focused on clinical responsibilities, may not always fully recognize the day-to-day contributions of their team. But make no mistake: a dedicated staff is the foundation of a successful dental practice. You […]
The Phone is a Dental Practice Lifeline
Do You Know How Your Phones Are Being Handled? It’s amazing how much computers have transformed the way dental offices run. Scheduling, billing, insurance claims, treatment records, reminders—all are now digitized, streamlined, and efficient. Yet for all the high-tech systems in place, the telephone remains one of the most critical tools in your practice. Why? […]
The Urge to Merge – Should You Combine Dental Practices?
Have you ever considered merging a smaller dental practice into your own? As many baby boomer dentists move toward retirement, we’re seeing a rise in small, underperforming practices—often collecting less than $500,000 annually. Many of these practices belong to doctors who slowed down in recent years, working fewer days while maintaining long-term patient relationships. These […]
Buying a Dental Practice – Is Staff Retention Important?
Short answer? Absolutely. When you buy a dental practice, you’re not just buying equipment, charts, and office space—you’re investing in goodwill. And one of the best ways to preserve and transfer that goodwill from the seller to you is through the practice’s staff. Why? Because for most patients, the staff is the practice. Staff = […]
Top 10 Tips for Buying or Selling a Dental Practice in St. Louis
Buying a new practice or selling at retirement is one of the most important transitions of your career. Here are our top 10 tips to help you prepare and succeed: 1. Sign a Confidentiality Agreement Before reviewing financials, you’ll need to sign an agreement protecting sensitive information. You may share it only with your accountant […]
Talking to a DSO About a Job? Here are Some Things to Consider.
Dental Support Organizations (DSOs) have become a major force in dentistry and are expected to continue growing in the years ahead. In the past, new dentists often began their careers as associates in private practices, sometimes leading to partnerships or even practice ownership. Today, the landscape has shifted. Why the shift? Two main reasons: As […]
Dental Practice Valuations: What Does Depreciation Actually Represent?
If you review a dental practice tax return or Profit & Loss statement, you’ll often see an expense called “Depreciation” (sometimes listed as “Depreciation/Amortization”). Ask an accountant or broker what it means, and you’ll likely hear: “That’s a non-cash expense.” Technically true—but not very helpful. Let’s break it down. Everyday Expenses vs. Depreciable Assets Some […]
What About a Restrictive Covenant AKA Non-Compete Agreement for Dentists?
Many businesses want to protect themselves from competition from a former employee. And the more important the employee, the stronger they feel about protection. Most often, this protection comes in the form of a Restrictive Covenant (RC) or Non-Compete Agreement. A RC will be a factor when you sign an associate contract and when you […]
Embezzlement in the Dental Office
Most dentists think of their practices as small, close-knit teams where embezzlement “could never happen.” Unfortunately, it does—and often more frequently than expected. Ironically, the employee who commits embezzlement is often seen as the “perfect employee”—hardworking, loyal, always in control, and never asking for help. But that very control can provide the opportunity to siphon […]