311. Waiting to Buy a Dental Practice Is Costing You $1.14 Million

About this episode

This episode discusses the financial implications of delaying dental practice ownership and provides actionable advice for aspiring dentists.

Thinking about buying a dental practice but not sure where to start? In this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast, host Steve Van De Graaff sits down with practice acquisition expert Brian Hanks — founder of Dental Buyer Advocates (DBA) and author of "How to Buy a Dental Practice" — to break down everything new and aspiring dentist owners need to know about dental practice acquisition in 2026. Brian shares hard data from the Health Policy Institute showing that 89–90% of dentists eventually become practice owners — but that dentists today are waiting about 5 YEARS longer than they used to. That delay can cost the average dentist $1.14 million in pre-tax income. We dig into WHY dentists are waiting, the truth about student loan debt and practice ownership, and how to find great dental practices for sale that never make it to a broker website. Whether you're a dental student, an associate dentist, or actively searching for a practice to buy, this conversation is packed with actionable advice on dental practice ownership, financing, due diligence, and building the mindset of a business owner who happens to be a dentist. Connect with us: Take our FREE lifestyle and practice…

People in this episode

Host: Steve Van De Graaff

Guest: Brian Hanks

Topics covered

• dental practice acquisition
• practice ownership
• student loan debt
• financing
• due diligence
• business mindset

Keywords

• dental practice
• acquisition
• ownership
• student loans
• financing
• business mindset
• practice for sale

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Dental Buyer Advocates, Health Policy Institute

Books & works: How to Buy a Dental Practice

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