What to know when opening a Dental Practice

Charlotte Miller

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What to know when opening a Dental Practice

Learning about life is easily done online. Websites offer detailed information on fashion, health, education, tech, and the news around the world. What’s more, many comprehensive articles circulating contain knowledge about things like dental practices and big white smile whitening, the best ways to brush your teeth, and how to find the right location. So, what knowledge is out there about what to know when opening a dental practice?

Buying an existing practice or starting anew. 

The first thing you need to consider is whether you want to buy an existing practice or start a new dental practice. Buying an existing practice can be easier, and lets you take over something that already has a business structure, office, staff, and clients. However, for many, opening a new dental practice comes with a wide range of rewards, particularly being able to control every part of the practice from start to finish. 

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Set up your budget. 

In either situation, you need to understand the budget. Opening a new dental practice can cost upwards of 200,000 pounds or more. Most people do not have this sitting around so they get outside funding from banks. Large scale banks can lend money to healthcare professionals so as to cover the initial startup costs without relying on personal savings accounts or credit cards. 

It is up to you to estimate to the best of your ability how much it will cost to get an office running, what the daily operating expenses will be, at least for the first year or two, and how much to have in the event of unexpected costs. 

Have licenses. 

Avoid putting off licensing and legal matters until the end. It might take you months to become properly licensed where you plan to operate, and even longer to get credentials to start accepting government insurance. Make sure you are registered, you have chosen a business structure, and have the right tax forms and registration before you begin. 

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Get a location that works. 

If you are not buying an existing practice then you have a bit more control over where to set up shop. It’s important that you conduct market research into the areas you are considering so that you know how accessible that location is, especially using public transit in a large city. You want to be in close proximity to your target market but you also want an office that is within your budget. Make it a point to avoid an area where there are already more than enough dentists providing the exact same service. You don’t want to fight other dentists for their patients. 

Get equipment. 

Plan ahead of time and find a wholesale supplier who can provide you with teeth whitening supplies, toothbrushes, toothpaste to give to your patients, furniture, dental equipment, software, and other office supplies. You will need the latest dental equipment and technology as well as resources for staff training. This can be a lengthy and expensive process so the more time you give yourself to find the right equipment and stock up on supplies, the better your chances of success when it comes time to open your new business.

Plan out your staff. 

Before you move into a new location make sure to consider the staff. You don’t just want to consider salary but time off and benefits that you plan to offer. Be sure that you have enough time to properly post job descriptions and interview candidates. You don’t want to be so rushed to open your new dental practice that you don’t have time to properly screen the people you hire. This can be very costly down the line when you have to find replacements almost as soon as you open.

Get your patients. 

Once the business end of your new practice is ready, make sure you are prepared to attract new patients. This includes hiring a professional to create a website for your company. This website should focus on integrating digital services such as online payment forms, maybe even a client portal that adheres to national safety and restrictions on personal data but also gives patients a place to check on the services they have received in the past, look at the appointments they have completed, and what appointments are upcoming. Additionally you should integrate a service or technology that allows people to book appointments online, and to pick times and days that work best for them while also modifying those appointments as the date gets closer. The more digitized certain services are, the more likely you will be to attract people from a younger generation.