24. Buying Your First (or Next) Dental Office? Read the Room… and Bring Gifts

The Dentists Show | Advice for Dentists

Let’s get real—buying your first dental office (or your next one) is nothing like they teach you in school. There’s no class on how to win over a team who just found out that the doctor they love sold the practice... and you’re now the new boss.

In this episode, we talk about the real, raw, and sometimes hilarious moments that come with buying a practice. From awkward first meetings and team resistance to why chocolates and Hydro Flasks are our secret weapon, we’re breaking down the emotional rollercoaster of acquisitions.

We even go off on a few bunny trails that could help you nail your first or next acquisition—yes, we compare buying a practice to Trump’s election, Elon Musk cleaning house and what we can all learn, and the weird politics of scrubs and phone scripts. 😂

You’ll hear:

• What it’s actually like walking into a brand-new team that didn’t choose to work for you
• How to handle the “he didn’t tell us he was selling” energy from long-time employees Funny IV sedation stories that remind us all we’re human (and that YouTube really is a tool)
• Why the phrase “I deserve this” is a major red flag when building team culture
• And how to lead with humility when stepping into someone else’s legacy

👉 If you’re thinking about buying a practice—or already in the middle of an acquisition—this episode is a must-listen. Learn what works, what doesn’t, and why leading with gratitude always wins.

LINKS: https://www.thedentistsshow.com

Episode Minute By Minute:

• 00:00 – Snow in Spokane vs. Arizona heat
• 02:30 – Patient says: “No one learns on my mouth” 😂
• 04:00 – Ryan’s wild IV story + Googling procedures mid-case
• 07:30 – IV tips, tricks, and why Chase struggles with hands
• 10:30 – Sedation cases: wins, fails, and rodeo days
• 13:00 – Trump, Musk, and buying your first practice??
• 14:15 – Walking into a team that didn’t choose you
• 15:40 – Why gifts (and lunch) go a long way with new teams
• 17:00 – “Can we paint the walls?” + unexpected first-day requests
• 18:15 – Phone call battles: marketing problems or mindset problems?
• 20:00 – Team change resistance: “I’ll take the swag, but not the script”
• 22:00 – Cutting costs ≠ being the villain
• 24:00 – Don’t forget: your team didn’t choose you
• 25:00 – What to do when they’d rather quit than adapt
• 27:00 – The real reason patients ask questions (hint: it’s about trust)
• 28:10 – You get what you create—period
• 30:00 – The gratitude test: who says thank you and who bounces
• 31:00 – Serve your team first. Lead by example.

🎧 PS! Don’t forget to share this with a dentist friend who’s about to buy their first practice!