Do I Have To Be A Dentist To Own My Own Dental Practice?

Dental offices are businesses that provide services related to dentistry. They include cleaning teeth, filling cavities, and giving other treatments for oral problems. The owner of a dental office must be licensed by the state where they practice.

Find Out About The Requirements For Opening A Dental Practice In Your State

If you decide to open your dental practice, you must meet specific requirements before legally operating as an independent business. These requirements vary based on where you live. If you reside in the United States, your state board of dentistry, state laws, and your city's chamber of commerce are great places to start. It is no secret that most states require a license to practice dentistry in their state, along with a strict insurance policy.

Like any business, knowing the governmental hoops beforehand will save you headaches and, most importantly, your investment. Being slapped with some fine or having a government official shut you down would not be enjoyable for you, your employees, and your clients. Please do your research before you step forward in your business plan. The Internet is a powerful tool; you can learn how to start a practice from scratch with little effort. 

Understand The Different Types Of Practices Available

Three types of practices are available: solo, group, and multi-specialty. One licensed dentist owns solo practices. Group practices are co-owned by multiple licensed professionals, and multi-specialty practices are owned by dentists specializing in different dentistry areas.

Decide Whether You Want An Independent Practice Or A Group Practice

If you decide to open an independent practice, you must complete a lengthy application process with the state board of dentistry. They typically are looking for a business plan, financial statement, and other documents. Once approved, you must pass a series of exams before being allowed to work as a licensed dentist. With a group practice, a dentist you chose to partner with may have already gone through the process to open up a practice. 

Determine Which Type Of Practice Is Right For You

Like any other decision, it would be best to look at all the different benefits of each. Weighting them out with each other and applying them to your future story will help you determine which type of practice is a good fit for you. 

Let's talk benefits of each type of practice 

There are several benefits to opening a solo dental practice. You are the boss; yes, the buck stops with you. You set the hours and days of the week you are open for business. You choose your patients. 

There are two top reasons why a group dental practice is a great idea. The first and most apparent reason is that it saves money and makes it quicker than solo-type practices. The second is that you will have the buying power to negotiate better deals with suppliers.

There are many benefits to opening a multi-specialty dental practice. Some of the significant benefits include providing a wider variety of services to patients, making it easier to attract new and maintain current patients while providing more convenience to them.

Learn More About Licensing And Other Legal Issues

If you plan to open your dental practice, there are many aspects you need to consider before doing so. I don't want to deter you, but you must know that many risks are involved when working in people's mouths. So, it would be good if you were covered on all legal and licensing fronts. You should be good to go with proper insurance, licensing, and in-depth knowledge of your state's laws. 

In Conclusion

In conclusion, to know the true answer to this question in your situation. You need to understand how the state licensing laws work. Most state laws do not require you to be licensed in dentistry to own a dental clinic. However, you must have a proper license(s) to practice dentistry in the state where you practice. For example, in Washington State, No person, unless previously licensed to practice dentistry in Washington State, shall begin the practice of dentistry in Washington State without first applying to and obtaining a license.