Dental Practice Sales & Acquisitions FAQ | UDBA

We assist dentists who are looking to buy or sell a dental practice. We help guide clients through valuations, confidential listings, buyer screening, negotiations, and closing—ensuring a smooth transition every step of the way. We also assist with associate searches and serve as another way to reach potential associates.

Absolutely. Navigating a dental practice sale, even in the best of times and in the simplest regulatory conditions, is complex. The UDBA team has 22 years of transition and clinical experience. Together, we provide strategic insight, buyer vetting, legal coordination, and negotiation skills. This helps you avoid common pitfalls and maximize your sale price—especially when selling to a DSO. While the DIY approach may save a fee, it can cost you time and patience, and may cost more if your valuation is incorrect. This is especially true for periodontists. Read more: https://unitedperiobrokers.com/selling-pero-practice-in-buyers-market-2/

Selling a dental practice starts with a confidential consultation. Our team of experts will perform a comprehensive practice valuation, market your practice discreetly, and connect you with qualified buyers—ranging from private practitioners to DSOs. Our local expertise and nationwide reach will help you sell efficiently, receive top value, and protect your legacy.

A dental practice’s value depends on many factors, including cash flow, patient base, equipment, and location. Crunching the numbers and understanding your actual local market conditions will help support a successful sale.

While collections and an appraisal are important data points, they are not the final say on your practice’s worth. Collections are just one metric a serious buyer will consider. Profitability, overhead, patient base, and geographic location all play a critical role in final value. An appraisal is a professional opinion based on a specific methodology and a snapshot in time; it does not necessarily account for current demand for practices like yours.

Most dental and specialty practices take anywhere from 3–6 months to a year or two. For larger practices, or when selling to a DSO, the process is often closer to a year or two. Some practices may not meet certain benchmarks for desirability and may be unable to sell conventionally. In those situations, we can recommend ways to recoup some of the initial financial investment.

The key to a successful transition is to start early. We recommend contacting us about five years before you plan to retire so that you have time to plan and adjust your strategy based on your unique situation.

While everyone hopes for a conventional transition, some sales ultimately become a chart sale. A chart sale occurs when someone purchases your patient records but not your equipment, facility, or complete practice. Practice sales may become chart sales because of geography, overhead, or equipment age.

Absolutely. All conversations with a UDBA professional are confidential. Whether you are looking for a valuation, preparing for a transition, or seeking an associate, UDBA will not share your information outside our organization until you give permission to promote the practice or position. Prospective buyers must sign a non-disclosure agreement before receiving details. Staff, patients, and colleagues will not be informed unless and until you decide to share the news.

We do. Dental and specialty practices tend to sell more locally or to nearby regional practitioners, while periodontal practices have nationwide reach. We maintain a comprehensive contact list and marketing strategy to help sell your practice as efficiently as possible to the right person.

Both terms involve a change in ownership, but the key difference often lies in the timeline and the seller’s continued involvement. With a traditional sale, the transition period is usually shorter—from about 3–6 months to a year or a year and a half. Some dentists prefer a longer transition because they are not ready to retire, the new owner wants assistance growing the practice, or a gradual handoff is best. Read more: https://unitedperiobrokers.com/navigating-your-future-transition-vs-sale-for-periodontists/

Yes. United Dental Brokers of America works closely with DSOs and group practices. We help evaluate offers, structure transitions, and represent dentists during DSO sales so that their interests are protected.

We specialize in dental practice transitions in many cities and states throughout the United States, as well as periodontal practices nationwide. Contact us and we will let you know whether we can assist with your sale or purchase: https://uniteddentalbrokers.com/contact/

Absolutely. We maintain a list of potential buyers so that when an appropriate practice becomes available, we can contact qualified buyers before broadly promoting it—giving them an early opportunity to learn more.