Dear Reader,
There comes a point in every dentist’s career, especially after decades of building something meaningful, when the question starts to surface quietly in the back of your mind:
“Is it time to sell?”
Some dentists push that thought away for years. Some revisit it every December. Some only confront it after a stressful month, a staffing shakeup, or a year where the numbers didn’t land where they used to. And then there are the doctors who wake up one morning and just know…the next chapter is getting closer.
Wherever you are in that process, this truth holds steady:
You deserve clarity. You deserve control. You deserve options, not pressure.
If you’re thinking about selling in 2026, or even wondering whether the next few years might be the right time, December is the perfect month to start sorting through the signals. Let’s talk about what really matters when making one of the biggest decisions of your career.
- Start by Asking the One Question Most Dentists Avoid
Before you look at spreadsheets, valuations, or DSO offers, start here: How did 2025 feel?
Not the numbers. Not the charts. Not the P&Ls. Just the day-to-day reality.
Was this a year where things felt solid? Predictable?
Or did you find yourself dealing with more frustration, more turnover, more inconsistencies, more stress?
Most dentists know in their gut when the practice is moving in the right direction. And they also know when it’s becoming harder to maintain the momentum they once had. That awareness is valuable. Don’t ignore it.
- Look at the Trend Line, Not the Last Busy Week
The biggest mistake seasoned dentists make when thinking about selling is focusing only on current production.
“What are we on track for this month?”
“How busy is the schedule?”
“How much treatment have I diagnosed?”
None of those tell you the full story. What matters is trajectory.
Are your numbers rising?
Staying solid?
Or slipping, even a little?
A small downward move today becomes a big downward move in two or three years… which directly impacts your valuation. You don’t need perfect numbers to sell well. You just need honesty about the direction you’re headed.
- Think About Your Energy and Your Leadership Bandwidth
Running a dental practice is not the same at 55 as it is at 35. You’re wiser. You’re more confident. You know your patients like family. You’ve mastered your craft. But the energy needed to manage staff, deal with insurance, make constant decisions, and adapt to new technology changes.
Some dentists feel invigorated by the challenge. Others feel drained by it. Neither feeling is wrong. But both are important signals.
If running the practice feels heavier each year, that’s a sign to explore your options sooner than later, not because you’re “done,” but because you deserve to enjoy the next phase of your life on your terms.
- Consider Whether You Want to Make the Next Investment Cycle
Practices require ongoing investment:
- Technology upgrades
- New equipment
- Software
- Training
- Renovations
- Marketing
- Staffing adjustments
Ask yourself:
“Do I still want to keep reinvesting, emotionally, financially, and mentally, for the next five to ten years?”
If the answer is yes, you may still be in a strong season of growth. If the answer is no, you might be closer to a transition than you think.
Many dentists don’t realize how much relief they feel when they no longer have to fund the next round of upgrades.
- What Do You Want the Next Chapter to Look Like?
Selling a practice isn’t an ending. It’s the doorway into a new chapter.
Some dentists want to stay on clinically for a few years without carrying the stress of ownership. Some want to step away completely. Some want to transition into teaching, consulting, mentoring, volunteering, or traveling. Some want to slow down to three days a week. Some want to step out of dentistry altogether. The timing of your sale should support the future you want, not disrupt it.
Before you ask “Should I sell?”
Ask “What kind of life do I want next?”
The answer will guide the timeline.
- Selling in Strength Always Beats Selling in Stress
One of the most important truths I share with dentists is this: The best time to sell is when you still feel good about the practice.
Not when you’re burned out. Not when production is sliding. Not when you’ve lost a key associate or your hygiene base is shrinking. Those situations force your hand.
Selling from a place of strength gives you leverage, confidence, and far better terms. It also gives you choices and choices are everything in a transition.
If your practice still feels strong today, that’s exactly why it might be the right time to explore what your options look like.
- You Don’t Have to Make the Decision Alone
Most dentists have never sold a business before. It’s complex. It’s emotional. It’s high-stakes. And it’s deeply personal.
You deserve unbiased counsel, someone who understands the DSO landscape, the numbers, the negotiations, and the realities behind the scenes.
That’s what we do every day.
We help established dentists understand whether selling now makes sense, or whether waiting would give them a better outcome, or whether staying independent is still the best move.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. But there is a right answer for you and it becomes clear when you look at the full picture with clarity and experience.
You’ve spent your life building your practice. You deserve a future that reflects that effort.
If you want clarity about whether 2026 is the right year to sell or simply want to understand your options we’re here to help you make the smartest, most confident decision possible.
To your unstoppable success,
Your Team at Everything DSO
