Ownership and transitions
Solo practice
A solo practice is a dental practice with one owner dentist and no partners, though it may employ associate dentists, hygienists and other team members.
ADA News reported in December 2021 that over the last two decades fewer dentists work as solo practitioners. About 2 in 3 dentists were in solo practice in 1999, and that fell to 1 in 2 in 2019. Among dentists under 35, 1 in 4 was in solo practice in 2019. A solo owner makes the decisions and also carries the risk and the workload. The ADA notes that practices sometimes share space, which can bring some benefits of partnership such as consultation and overhead sharing, with less risk. Compare this with a group practice. See practice ownership.