---
title: "What Is Practice acquisition? Dental Practice Glossary"
description: "The purchase of an existing dental practice, including its patients, staff, equipment and systems, by a dentist or a group."
url: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/practice-acquisition
publisher: Copeland Consulting Services
email: drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com
contact: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact
---

Ownership and transitions

# Practice acquisition

The purchase of an existing dental practice, including its patients, staff, equipment and systems, by a dentist or a group.

Practice acquisition means buying a dental practice that is already open. The ADA says buying an existing practice is the most common route to ownership. The buyer takes on a functioning business with established patients, staff and predictable cash flow.

A purchase usually moves through a [letter of intent](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/letter-of-intent), a review of records called [due diligence](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/due-diligence), and a sale contract. A [practice broker](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/practice-broker) may help match buyers and sellers, and a practice valuation helps set a price.

The SBA lists steps such as a confidentiality agreement, a review of financial statements and tax returns, and a sales agreement. Buyers need an attorney, a CPA and a lender. This entry is not advice.

[Next stepPractice consulting with Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact?topic=consulting)

## Related terms

-   [Letter of intent](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/letter-of-intent)
-   [Due diligence](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/due-diligence)
-   [Practice broker](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/practice-broker)
-   [Practice valuation](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/practice-valuation)
-   [Practice transition](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/practice-transition)

## Sources

1.  [ADA News, Ask the Expert: What are my financial paths to practice ownership?](https://adanews.ada.org/new-dentist/2026/march/ask-the-expert-what-are-my-financial-paths-to-practice-ownership/)
2.  [SBA, Buy an existing business or franchise](https://legacy.sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/buy-existing-business-or-franchise)

## Talk with Dr. Copeland

[Contact Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact)[Email](mailto:drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com)