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Scaling a dental practice from one location to multiple offices is one of the fastest ways to increase profit, build enterprise value, and reduce owner dependency. But a multi-office dental business is not simply a bigger practice. It requires standardized systems, consistent clinical protocols, a leadership bench, and centralized operations so each location performs predictably—even when the owner is not onsite. This guide explains how to scale your dental business into a mu

The Calm Way to Drop Unprofitable PPO Plans The backbone of a great dental practice is a full hygiene schedule and getting paid at a fee for service rate.  I’ve spoken with many dentists who accept bad paying PPOs.  These dentists do prophies themselves because a hygienist costs $70 per hour but the PPO only pays $50.  The dentist is now chained to an unending prophy hamster wheel, the consequences of which are: ·         The opportunity cost of not making the best use of the

You’ve heard it countless times: hygiene drives the practice. If your hygiene schedule isn’t full, your practice is leaking revenue—even if the doctor’s schedule is full. A full hygiene schedule stabilizes cash flow, fills the doctor’s schedule, identifies potential cases, supports case acceptance, and protects the practice’s value. A consistent hygiene schedule also fosters patient relationships and builds trust with patients. Understanding Hygiene Capacity To determine your

Dental Associate Compensation Models Dental associate compensation models must be optimally designed for the practice type (private practice versus DSO) and to properly incentivize the dental associate, Dental associate compensation falls into one of these models: Percentage of Collections The associate is paid a percentage of what is collected, not produced. The typical range is 30 – 35% of collection This arrangement is seen in private practice. Owners like it because the

The dental profession is accelerating toward another major consolidation cycle, and far more dentists are selling to private equity–backed DSOs than forming their own organizations. But before any dentist considers selling, scaling, or staying independent, there is one universal truth for 2026: The dental profession is accelerating toward another major consolidation cycle, and far more dentists are selling to private equity–backed DSOs than forming their own organizations. Bu

If you are forming a Dental Support Organization or scaling into a multi-location dental group, the Management Services Agreement (MSA) is one of the most important documents you will ever sign. A properly structured MSA protects your clinical independence, reduces your tax burden, strengthens DSO EBITDA, and increases your long-term valuation. Keep the Clinical Side Completely Separate Corporate Practice of Dentistry (CPOD) laws require a clean separation between clinical a

Managing the financial side of a dental or medical practice can be overwhelming. Between patient care, staff management, and regulatory compliance, the last thing you want is to struggle with complex accounting and tax issues. That’s where specialized dental accounting solutions come in. These services are designed to help practices like yours optimize finances, reduce tax liabilities, and improve overall business performance. In this post, I’ll walk you through how dental ac

Introduction If you’re a dentist running a practice in 2025, you’re probably feeling the squeeze. Shrinking reimbursements, staffing shortages, rising costs, and patients pulling back on elective care are making it harder to keep margins healthy. Add in the growing influence of DSOs and the costs of adopting new technology, and it’s clear: this is a defining year for the business side of dentistry. At MRL Advisory Group, we work with dentists every day who face these exact ch

In working with many dentists, I notice that many of their problems often comes down to not doing the basics. Here are just a few VERY...

Private equity activity in dentistry is booming again in 2025 — are you ready to capitalize on it? Dental Service Organizations (DSOs)...

The dental profession is undergoing one of its most significant shifts in decades. Where solo practices once dominated the landscape,...

The first quarter of 2025 offered a revealing snapshot into the evolving dental landscape in the United States. General practices, DSOs...

The Pros and Cons of A Subscription-Based Model for Dental Practices and DSOs As the dental industry evolves, many practices and Dental...

S-Corporation vs. LLC: Which Structure is Best for Your Dental Practice? When starting or restructuring your dental practice, one of the...

Building a DSO: A Guide for Young Dentists Expanding a dental practice into a Dental Service Organization (DSO) is an exciting...

How Much Should Associate Dentists Be Paid? General Dentists vs. Specialists Determining the appropriate compensation for associate...

Top Dental Trends to Watch in 2025 As the dental industry evolves, staying ahead of emerging trends can be the difference between...

Whether you’re buying your first dental practice or selling a well-established one, the process can be both exciting and overwhelming....

The success of a dental practice depends on delivering high-quality patient care and managing operational and financial metrics...

Revolutionizing Dentistry: How AI Is Transforming Modern Dental Practices Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the dental...

The most effective dental practice consultants do more than just offer advice—they dive into the details, develop actionable strategies,...

When it comes to buying or selling a dental practice, the appraisal process is the foundation of a fair and successful transaction. A...

Launching a startup dental practice is an ambitious yet rewarding endeavor. With startup costs often ranging from $700,000 to over $1...

In recent years, private equity (PE) investment in dental practices has surged, largely driven by the growth of Dental Support...

In the competitive world of dentistry, success is not just about providing excellent clinical care—it’s about building a thriving,...

Starting your own dental practice is an exciting venture, but the first critical decision you’ll face is whether to buy an existing...

Running a successful dental or medical practice requires balancing exceptional patient care with sound financial management. One...

The dental industry is undergoing a transformative shift, with private equity-backed Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) driving...

Unlocking Fair Compensation: A Guide for Dentists Renegotiating Fee Reimbursements with Dental Insurance Companies In the evolving...

When looking to purchase a dental practice, there is a lot of due diligence you need to consider. You are making quite possibly the...