North Texas Dentistry Volume 6 Issue 4 | Page 31

who might be located nearby. Not only is this important from a competitive standpoint, but nearby access to other dental specialists may make your practice more attractive to potential clients. Competitors. When considering whether a potential location is right for your business, you should review the number of competitors in the area. Examine where they are located in relation to the nearby population. It is crucial to use up-to-date information and to run custom searches in order to view the most accurate numbers, as the addition of even one dental practice can make a huge difference. Referral partners. For dental specialists, it can be helpful to consider the number of referral partners that are located in a given area. These referral partners can be other dental practices – such as locating your oral surgery office near pediatric and general dentists – or they can be other community organizations – such as placing your orthodontic office near local middle schools. Dentist-to-population ratio. Many dentists rely heavily on this statistic, as it will show the saturation in an area. This number is a good indicator of the need for dentists in a particular community. Find Out More About the Area Culture The lifestyle of a particular area is also an important consideration when deciding on where to place your dental practice. Sometimes, simply reviewing the numbers don’t tell the entire story about a location, as an up-and-coming neighborhood may look similar to an area that is being vacated. It may be in your best interest to open your office near your sphere of influence, such as where you grew up, where your church is located, or where your children go to school, as you will have a good understanding of the lifestyle of these neighborhoods. Choosing the right location for your dental practice can be the difference between seeing 20 patients on your first day of operation versus two. Be careful who you listen to and who you work with – a real estate agency that specializes in dental and medical practices can utilize demographics to help you locate areas that are most in need of your services. Austin Wheeler is a Managing Principal and the President of the Dallas office of Practice Real Estate Group (formerly Thomas Allen Healthcare Real Estate). He has helped hundreds of dentists open successful practices across the United States and has a deep understanding of every aspect involved. Austin has helped start and manage two successful dental practices in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, providing first-hand insight into the process his clients are working through. He has guest lectured numerous times at the Texas Dental Association meetings and Baylor College of Dentistry on the process of finding the best location for starting a practice. Email: [email protected] or call (214) 232-0718. PracticeGrowthCoach.com You have a vision. We have a strategy. BOBBY HANEY, DDS Founder / Chief Consultant [email protected] 469.843.0119 www.northtexasdentistry.com | NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY 31