North Texas Dentistry Special Issue 2016 | Page 28

NEW PRACTICE MODELS
Expanding options for dentists and patients
by Tina Cauller
The Traditional Solo Practice

The solo practice continues to represent
the largest segment of dentistry. According
to data from the ADA 2010 Survey of
Dental Practice, solo practitioners still
account for 59 percent of U.S. dentists,
although that figure has declined from
67 percent in a 1991 report. Many graduating dentists, especially females for a variety
of reasons, are reluctant to enter into solo
private practice and are opting for a nontraditional practice model.

The burden of education debt and large
initial capital investment are significant
deterrents to opening a solo practice for
many young dentists. Leisure time for the
solo practitioner is accompanied by a drop
in net income, since fixed costs remain the
same whether the doctor is in the office or
on vacation. Still, about 20 percent of graduates choose the path of practice
ownership. Those who go it alone have
exclusive control over all aspects of their
practices, have the greatest potential
for earning over a lifetime, and as owners,
have an asset at retirement. In short, they
take all the risk, but they also have all
the reward.

The Multi-Doctor Practice

Some dentists, both new and established,
are drawn to the model of a multi-doctor
practice. A growing number of multidoctor practices include specialists as a
part of the in-house team. This model is
especially convenient for patients who can
receive specialty care without scheduling
an appointment at an unfamiliar office.
Patient records are close at hand, and
communication between the general
dentist and the specialist is often accomplished via face-to-face interaction.

In another variation on this practice
model, the multi-doctor group is an assemblage of general dentists with different
areas