July 14, 2025

40. What They Don’t Tell You About Buying Your First Dental Practice

40. What They Don’t Tell You About Buying Your First Dental Practice

If you're thinking about buying your first dental practice—or already deep in the process—this episode is a must-listen. Chase and Ryan are pulling back the curtain on what really happens when you make that first purchase. Spoiler alert: it’s not all clean numbers and smooth transitions.

From team dynamics to misleading seller promises, they share the gritty, honest truths most brokers won’t tell you. They even bring ChatGPT into the mix to compare AI advice with real-world experience—and spoiler: the guys still come out on top.

You’ll hear stories of team walkouts, overpromised seller support, and the wild variability that comes with every transition. Whether you’re planning to buy soon or just want to hear what goes down behind the scenes, this episode is filled with candid insights and practical tips.

And don’t worry—there are plenty of laughs, Post Malone references, and even some boating mishaps sprinkled in along the way.

What's Inside: 

  • Numbers can lie—without context: Collections and income might look good on paper, but dig deeper. Look at doctor dependency, write-offs, and team costs.
  • The team might not be on your side (at first): Some will love you, some will loathe you. Expect a rocky start and don’t take it personally.
  • Sellers rarely follow through on transition promises: Get everything in writing. Most docs mentally check out the moment the check clears.
  • Morale is impossible to measure pre-sale: You won't meet the team ahead of time for a reason. Be prepared to deal with culture shifts.
    You’ll feel like you overpaid—and that’s normal: Every buyer thinks they paid too much. Every seller thinks they got too little. It’s just part of the game.
  • Create your own culture: Whether the old team stays or goes, you get to build the team that’s right for your practice long-term.

 

👋 Thinking about buying your first practice?
Don't go it alone. Shoot us a DM on Instagram [@thedentistsshow] or email Chase at chase@thedentistsshow.com with your questions. We’ve been there, we’ve made the mistakes—and we’re happy to help you dodge them.

🎯 And hey—if you got any value from today’s episode, do us a favor: like, subscribe, and share this with a friend who’s thinking about buying their first practice. It helps more than you know.

 

Episode Minute By Minute: 

  • 0:00 – Welcome Back & Why We’re Saying This Up Front
  • 1:30 – Ryan’s Beef with the 4th of July
  • 3:00 – Patriotic Boat Parade Fail
  • 4:40 – Cabin Life, Tattoos & Summer Catch-Up
  • 7:00 – Post Malone, Face Tats & Country Vibes
  • 9:15 – Introducing Today’s Topic: What They Don’t Tell You About Buying a Practice
  • 10:20 – ChatGPT vs. Real-Life Experience: Numbers Without Context
  • 13:00 – Reading Between the Lines of the P&L
  • 14:40 – Ask Better Questions—Don’t Rely on the Broker
  • 16:00 – Expect Chaos: No Practice is Perfect
  • 17:30 – Team Loyalty: The Wildcard in Any Transition
  • 19:00 – Our Experience with Resistant Teams
  • 21:15 – When to Let Toxic Team Members Go
  • 23:00 – Why You Never Meet the Team Before Buying
  • 25:00 – The Myth of the Seller Staying On
  • 27:00 – Soft Promises & Quick Exits
  • 29:00 – The Real “Goodwill” Transfer: Just Shake Hands
  • 30:30 – Final Thoughts + Why We Still Do It
  • 32:00 – DMs, Contact Info & What's Coming Next