Ownership and transitions
Practice ownership
Practice ownership means holding the legal and financial control of a dental practice, including its profits, debts, decisions and responsibility for the team and patients.
ADA News reported in December 2021 that 85 percent of dentists owned their practice in 2005, compared with 76 percent in 2019. Among dentists under 35, the share fell from 49 percent to 31 percent. An ADA Health Policy Institute brief notes that ownership is becoming a longer process for newer generations and that late-career ownership rates catch up. Owners carry responsibility for finances, staff and compliance. Common paths include starting a practice, buying one, or buying in over time as an associate dentist. Newer data from the ADA may differ, so check the current year. See solo practice and group practice.