Dental Practice Exit Strategies: How to Plan for Retirement or Sale

Thinking about retirement or transitioning out of dentistry? You’re not alone—and you’re not without support. A dental practice exit strategy is your roadmap to stepping away from ownership with confidence. Whether you’re five years out or ready to sell today, it’s about more than just finances. It’s about timing, emotional readiness, and protecting the legacy you’ve built.

At Dental Strategic, we specialize in helping dentists across the country create customized plans for retirement or sale. From the initial idea to the final handoff, our experienced team is here to simplify the process and maximize your outcomes.

This Article Will Address:

When to start planning your dental retirement
Emotional preparation for leaving practice ownership
Step-by-step guide to selling your practice
How long it takes to sell
What happens to your staff
Whether you need a broker or consultant
How to find the right buyer
How mentorship-to-ownership models work

Plan to sell a dental practice and retirement

When Should You Start Planning for Dental Retirement?

The short answer: as early as possible.

Ideally, dentists should begin planning 5–10 years before they want to exit the practice. Early preparation allows you to clean up your financials, strengthen collections, optimize your team, and make your practice more attractive to buyers.

Key areas to start reviewing now:

Update your fee schedules to match market rates
Reduce overhead and improve net income
Tighten accounts receivable and billing systems
Consider cosmetic upgrades or equipment refreshes

The sooner you begin, the more options you’ll have—and the stronger your negotiating position will be when the time comes to sell.

How Do You Prepare Emotionally for Dental Retirement?

Stepping away from the chair is not just a financial decision—it’s deeply personal. For many dentists, their practice is part of their identity. Preparing emotionally for retirement means acknowledging this change and planning for what’s next.

Strategies to support your transition:

Start envisioning your post-practice life: hobbies, family, travel, teaching, consulting
Work with a transition coach or consultant for support
Consider part-time clinical work or mentorship to stay engaged without full ownership responsibility

At Dental Strategic, we support you through every stage—because your peace of mind matters just as much as your practice valuation.

What Steps Should You Take to Sell Your Dental Practice?

Step 1: Assess Practice Value and Clean Up Financials

A professional valuation is essential. We’ll help you review collections, expenses, equipment, and goodwill to estimate your market value.

Step 2: Organize Key Legal and Operational Documents

This includes financial reports, lease agreements, staff contracts, and compliance records.

Step 3: Engage With a Transition Consultant Like Dental Strategic

We bring experience, structure, and nationwide reach to every phase of your transition.

Step 4: Determine Ideal Sale Structure

Options may include:

Full practice sale
Mentorship-to-ownership model
Selling to a DSO or private buyer

We’ll help you evaluate which model best fits your financial and lifestyle goals.

Step 5: Prepare for Due Diligence and Transition

Once a buyer is identified, we guide you through negotiations, deal structure, and the transition of staff and patients.

How Long Does It Take to Sell a Dental Practice?

On average, 6 to 18 months—but this varies based on several factors:

Practice location
Revenue and collections
Buyer demand in your region
Your desired exit timeline

Practices in major metro areas may sell faster than rural ones, while practices with strong collections and well-organized systems attract more offers.

What Happens to My Staff During a Dental Practice Sale?

Your team is part of your legacy. Most buyers want staff continuity to ensure a smooth transition for patients. Common approaches include:

Retention clauses for key team members
Advanced notice and open communication
Involving team leaders in the onboarding process of the new owner

We help you create a transition plan that supports your staff, protects morale, and reassures your patients.

Do I Need a Broker or Consultant to Sell My Dental Practice?

Technically, no—but strategically, yes.

Here’s what a transition consultant like Dental Strategic provides:

Accurate valuation of your practice
Professional marketing to qualified buyers
Negotiation support
Deal structuring to ensure you take as much home as possible
Overcome typical and atypical obstacles
Coordination of legal, financial, and compliance details
Emotional and strategic coaching throughout the process

Trying to manage all of this alone often leads to costly missteps. Our team of experts is here to help you protect what you’ve built and make your next move the right one.

How Do I Find the Right Buyer for My Practice?

Not all buyers are created equal. A great sale is about fit, not just finances.

Ways we help connect you with the right buyer:

Associate-to-owner mentorship transitions
Private individual buyers
Corporate or DSO buyers
Nationwide network of interested dentists

We evaluate not just their ability to buy—but their alignment with your philosophy, staff culture, and patient care values.

What Is the Mentorship-to-Ownership Transition Model?

This model allows a gradual exit instead of an all-at-once departure. How it works:

You bring on an associate who intends to buy
Over time, they gain equity or ownership stakes
You reduce clinical hours while mentoring the new leader

Benefits include:

Extended income stream for the seller
Lower financial risk for the buyer
Better patient and staff retention through continuity

Dental Strategic helps structure and facilitate these win-win transitions.

Conclusion – Let Dental Strategic Guide Your Dental Practice Exit

Whether you’re five years from retirement or ready to start the process now, Dental Strategic is here to support you. From emotional readiness to legal contracts and everything in between, we offer structured solutions and personalized guidance to help you step away on your terms.

Contact Dental Strategic today to begin your retirement planning journey. We proudly support dentists and dental practices across the United States.

Sources

American Dental Association. “5 Years Out: How to Sell Now and Retire Later.” ada.org
ADS Transitions. “Preparing Your Practice for Sale in 5 Years.” adstransitions.com
CTC Associates. “How to Plan to Sell Your Dental Practice a Few Years Before Retiring.” ctc-associates.com