A strategic guide for dentists who want to sell, buy, or simply build a profitable, walkaway-ready practice
Dentists ask me all the time—”With rising tariffs, inflation, and economic uncertainty… what’s going to happen to the dental practice market?”
My answer? It hasn’t changed in 20 years. Because at the core of every dental market shift—whether it’s inflation, tariffs, or interest rate swings—it always comes down to one thing: supply and demand.
But that’s just the surface. Let’s go deeper—because whether you’re a practice owner thinking about selling, or an associate thinking about buying, the landscape you’re walking into is shifting. And how you prepare will make all the difference.
If you’re a practice owner who might sell—someday or someday soon…
First, know this: you’re not alone.
Many owners reach a point where they wonder, “What’s next for me?” Maybe it’s retirement. Maybe it’s burnout. Maybe you’re simply ready to reclaim your time and focus on life outside the operatory.
But here’s the key—you don’t prepare your practice for sale when you’re ready to sell. You prepare it years before that moment ever arrives.
In fact, this is what I did in my own practice: I ran it at its maximum sellable value—every single day. Why? Because that’s your insurance policy. That’s your backup plan. That’s your guarantee that if something unexpected happens—whether it’s a health issue, family emergency, or sudden burnout—you can exit on your terms and get top dollar.
Think about it…would you rather sell from a place of strength and confidence or desperation?
Here’s the truth: the value of your practice won’t just depend on your collections. It depends on how transferable, systematized, and profitable your business is—without you having to do everything.
Let me paint a picture.
Imagine a buyer walking into your practice. They’re not just looking at your equipment or how many ops you have. They’re asking:
- Will patients keep coming when you’re no longer here?
- Will the team stick around after the handover?
- Is the business efficient—or is it barely held together by duct tape and sheer willpower?
You want that buyer to say, “Wow, I could step into this and run with it.” That’s when you get top dollar and maximum value.
Now, why is the market so favorable for sellers right now?
- Low interest rates create more buyers
If interest rates remain low—or drop even further—buyers can borrow more affordably. More qualified buyers = more competition = higher valuations for your practice. - Tariffs are driving up buildout costs
It’s becoming more expensive to build a practice from scratch. As the cost of materials climbs, the smart buyers are turning toward existing practices that are already producing, staffed, and profitable. Your practice, if properly run, becomes the obvious choice. - There’s a buyer surge—and not enough practices
Demand for practices still exceeds supply. But here’s the caveat: only the well-run practices get top offers. If your systems are messy, your overhead is too high, or the business relies too heavily on you being there every day—expect a discount.
The important question is how do you actually run your practice at a maximum value every day without compromising care? Start here…
1. Boost your EBITDA:
– Increase the number of billable appointments
– Increase the amount you produce per appointment
– Increase the number of patients without spending your hard-earned dollars on marketing
The exponential 100%, 200%, and 300% growth comes when all three principles are implemented simultaneously, not sequentially.
2. Streamline your systems
3. Build a team that doesn’t rely on you for every decision
4. Get the kind of coaching and prep that makes a buyer want to pay a premium
So, whether you’re thinking of selling in 6 months or 6 years—run your practice like you might need to sell it tomorrow. Because life happens. And being prepared means you get to choose your exit, not have it forced upon you.
If you’re an associate thinking about buying a practice…
Let’s flip the script.
Maybe you’re starting to browse listings. You’re fantasizing about autonomy, income growth, or finally running things your way. But deep down, there’s that little voice asking: “Am I ready?”
Here’s what I’ll tell you: Most associates wait too long to prepare, and when the right opportunity finally appears—it’s gone before they can act. That’s why you don’t wait until you find a practice to start preparing. You start now.
1. You need to learn the business, not just the dentistry
If you don’t understand how money moves through a practice—how to read a P&L, calculate overhead, structure a team, and grow production—ownership will quickly become overwhelming.
The best buyers I’ve seen are the ones who prepared years in advance. They studied business. They shadowed owners. They knew the numbers. And when a great opportunity showed up, they didn’t hesitate—they moved.
2. Sharpen your clinical bread-and-butter skills
When you own a practice, the goal is to keep more treatment in-house. That means being confident with:
- Endo
- Surgical extractions and sedation
- Crown and bridge
- Clear aligners or implants (if that’s your vision)
Measure and increase your production per hour (PPH). Get the best at treatment presentation and measure the treatment acceptance rate. This gives you more profitability and freedom in how you structure your practice.
3. Watch the market closely
Right now, tariffs and rising buildout costs are making startup practices less appealing. That’s driving more buyers toward acquisitions—and the best practices are getting snapped up fast.
But you need to be ready to compete. That means being pre-approved, having a clear game plan, and knowing exactly what kind of practice fits your vision and skill set.
One final thought for both buyers and sellers
The Canadian Dental Association has been around since 1902. That’s over 120 years. Dentistry has survived pandemics, recessions, financial meltdowns, and massive industry shifts. And it will continue to survive—because it’s one of the most resilient, essential professions out there.
But success in this next chapter—whether you’re buying or selling—won’t come from reacting.
It comes from preparation. Run your practice as if you might need to sell it tomorrow. Train today like you might own a practice next year.
That’s how you stay in control—no matter what the market does.
Who I am and why you should listen to me?
I started with a one-chair solo dental practice and, within a few years, transformed it into a 7-chair, 7-figure, associate-driven business with in-house specialists. While working part-time as an owner-dentist, I reinvested my practice’s profits into cash-flowing investments, creating passive income that eventually outpaced my practice earnings. When the time was right, I sold my practice for a life-changing, walk-away sum.
I’ve been in the trenches, faced the same challenges you’re up against, and found a way to thrive—not just survive.
Why am I doing this?
This phase of my life is about one thing: helping independent dentists take back control of their practices—and their lives.
Corporate dentistry is swallowing private practices, stripping them of their identity, and turning them into soulless assembly lines. Patients become numbers, staff feel like expendable workers, and the only goal is squeezing out more dollars.
But here’s the truth: independent dentists can implement business strategies that turn their practices into 7-figure, cash-flowing businesses that run without them grinding in the chair. They just need the right roadmap and skillset.
About the Author
Dr. Galia Anderson graduated from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry and built a successful private practice in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she served patients for 15 years. Today, as the founder of Dental Business Experts, Dr. Anderson is committed to empowering dentists to achieve substantial growth in their practices. Schedule a no-obligation strategy call with Dr. Anderson to get started: www.yourdbexperts.com/call
