Sharing your dental office space

By | January 16, 2018

There are many reasons why a dentist may decide to share their office space. For a practice owner, sharing office space may offer additional income from underutilized space. The lessee dentist will save on the cost of purchasing their own office and equipment. A leasing dentist may also benefit from working in an area or locale with a well-established patient base.

There are some major considerations before embarking on a shared dental space. According to the ADA Center for Professional Success, a few include:

  • What will the schedule look like for the shared space?
  • Is there a termination clause in the agreement?
  • What equipment is shared and how will the costs for maintenance and repair be split?
  • Will staff be shared?

Whether you are the leasing dentist or owner dentist, it is important to do due diligence in researching your potential partner. Are there any potential risks or conflicts with the dentist who will share office space with you? Do you have the same vision for an ideal way to run a practice?

If you decide to move forward with the decision to share space, the next step is to define the terms of the agreement. Some issues to consider addressing includes:

  • Duration of the lease
  • Terms of lease termination/renewal
  • Should a restrictive covenant be put into place
  • Shared or separate office number
  • Conflict resolution
  • Insurance

In creating an agreement, consult an attorney to draft and review the agreement. It is recommended that the attorney understands health care laws.

This document is not intended to provide either legal or professional advice, and cannot address every federal, state, and local law that could affect a dentist or dental practice. To the extent the above includes links to any websites, the ADA intends no endorsement of their content and implies no affiliation with the organizations that provide their content. Nor does the ADA make any representations or warranties about the information provided on those sites, which we do not control in any way.

31 thoughts on “Sharing your dental office space

  1. DR ROBERT ALLEN

    I no longer practice, but sharing office space worked well for me. I did it with many dentists over my 56+ years in active practice as a general dentist.

    Reply
    1. Sara Modine

      Hello Dr. Allen. I am the office manager at a practice in Maryland and we are interested in possibly embarking on this venture but unsure how to exactly go about it. How did you find a dentist to share your practice or space with? Did you have specialist lease any operatories and if so how did that work if another dentist referred them? Were there any conflict of interest issues? Any feedback or advice would be much appreciated.

      Reply
      1. Kristen Millender

        Hi Sarah, I am a general dentist in Maryland and have been looking for an operatory to rent. Is your office still doing so?

        Reply
        1. Sara Siegel

          Good morning, the dentist that built out the space works there part time and is heading into his retirement plan. I manage the building and would simply be the landlord. I am happy to put you in touch with the dentist and they would create their own business deal. The space is about 2100 sf and I can email you a layout. My email is 6677lincoln@gmail.com if you would like more information. Or (773)851-5800

          Reply
        2. Teny Abrahamian

          I have an operatory to rent in the rockville area

          Reply
    2. Stacy Stein DMD

      HI Dr. Allen. I’m a general dentist with 20 years clinical experience and would like to connect with you on this topic. PLEASE contact me. You would be helping a fellow dentist! Thank you!! Dr. Stacy

      Reply
    3. Chrysa

      Hi can you tell me the best places to post your ad to rent your dental office? We are located in New Jersey and have some dental space to rent on the days we are closed but have no idea where to post it. Thanks!

      Reply
      1. DR ROBERT ALLEN

        Taking a dentist into your office to share space is such a complicated situation. I read to my wife of 65 years some of the comments; we discussed my experiences with sharing and a group practice, of which i was the principal; It was my idea in the first place to form a group; it went from three to seven over a period of many years; and I had four strong willed partners who were willing to lay down their own egos and allow me to make many of the critical decisions over the 30 years of my group.
        Laws were different in those days and so were the economic conditions for dentists. The population was plagued with rampant decay; fluoride had only been in public water for 4 + years; No emphasis was on prevention. There was one hygienist in entire state of VA–many dentists were so busy cleaning folks teeth that no one could get appointments for six months. I believe the dentist practicing in those days considered one another as colleagues–never as competition. The fees between all dentist only varied a dollar or more ; I extended credit widely and riskily, but my practice grew . Dentist were no allowed to advertise in Va at that time. It had to be all “word of Mouth”; I think the basis of my success with younger and older dentists was that we all had a benevolent heart; we did not want to take advantage of any colleague; particularity a young naive recent graduate; we wanted to show him the way. A few years after my group grew, I joined the American Academy of Group Practice to further my knowledge; There was a Northeast chapter, where I found myself, but I was very uncomfortable ” Capitation” was rearing its ugly head and being used (abusing) with recent graduates there was an opportunity to make money at expense of the new associate. I quickly disengaged as I did not like the direction the Academy of Groups was taking. There is no way that anything I say today would be comparable to my style, and incentives to have that same group practice concept today. Things have dramatically changed. We did not have dental insurance; our tax laws were different and income tax laws encouraged us to form this group. I had four partners in five offices over the 30 years–but I also had 27 associates who came and went. ; many are still my close friends; many are retired, some are dead. It was a long journey; I enjoyed the test of my management (manipulative ) skills . I treated all with respect and concern for their welfare–as I expected each to do for me ~Most of what I could say would have no applications today; it worked for me. I am uncertain that any of my ideas would fly today

        It would require an entire evening of conversation , as my wife and I had tonight telling of personal experiences with individual doctors–even then I think it would be of general interest, but nothing specific. With each new situation specific contracts had to be agreed to –differing from year to year. I remember a couple of cases where we had great dentists under contract with limitation clauses in their contracts; for one an opportunity came up in one month; the other was the end of his first year; When told of the opportunities, I voluntarily suggested that each grab the opportunity and I tore up their statue of limitation clause–One 74 years old died this summer; the other is still a close female friend . I think dentistry is so competitive now; money orientated–I have actually made the statement to some fellow professionals that I do no trust many medical doctors nor dentists any more–Hospitals and insurance have killed medicine; Many factors have killed dentistry as I practiced it for 60 years. If you decided to share an office–make your contracts easy to get into and difficult (expensive) for an associate to get out. Make it so they want to stay. You as the owner can still let them out of a contract if you choose.

        If you seek a partner just to make or save some money==you will fail. Do not go there. Never take advantage of an associate!!

        Oh yes , there is plenty more…I have merely run out of space….

        My opinion of dentistry is so low that I will discourage any person person from going to dental school. My advice is: Choose another profession.

        Reply
        1. Serena

          Hello Dr Allen,
          Thank you so much for your great advice. Please how can you be reached out? I would like to share with you an idea with you and perhaps get your point of view as you have been practicing for years now.
          Thank you in advance

          Reply
        2. Chuck Hann

          @DrAllen Me too. I too have seen our attitude toward colleagues change from beneficent to blow ‘em away. I thrived in the no advertising era when word of mouth worked.

          Reply
        3. Don S Sanders

          Dentistry is a specialty of the medical professions. It is not considered nor acted upon as a specialty by the public or insurance companies. This is sad, sad, sad. Unfortunate for patients and our colleagues.
          Respectfully,
          Don S. Sanders, D.D.S., PC

          Reply
    4. Teny Abrahamian

      I have an office in MD, Rockville area. I only practice out of the office two days a week and would like to rent and share the space.

      Reply
    5. Annie

      Hello
      I have a interested dentist willing to use my practice for 3 days a week for approximately 10 weeks while her renovations are done to her existing practice. What steps would you recommend? Would be greatly appreciated
      Regards Annie Skukan

      Reply
  2. alfredo santeiro

    I have my dental practice for 27 yrs and recently hired a management company and now am considering to hire an independent contractor 2 days a week. how do I structure compensation between all three,?

    Reply
  3. Millie Hue

    I like that you pointed out that you should be checking the background of the dentist that you will be sharing space to avoid conflicts. I will share this information with my best friend so that they will know what to do before hiring another dentist. It appears that they are going to buy a dental office, and they will open it to other dentists since there is only one dentist in their family. This will help them out in the future.

    Reply
  4. Nathank.Smith

    I love the idea of dentists sharing office space. There are many solo dentists just getting started however not ready to sign up for a 5 year lease or longer. Being able to rent a chair gives them the ability to build up a client base before renting their own medical office.

    Reply
  5. Sara Siegel

    Where would be a good place to post a dental office that I have and want to co-tenenat with someone?

    Reply
    1. Tim Wong

      I believe dental town website has a job/ad posting page for that purpose.

      Reply
  6. Michele Recchia

    I am an Italian dentist interested in your article.

    Would you advise to have different google my business profiles and website for each dentist or playing as a single practice?

    thanks for your advice.

    Michele Recchia
    Dentist Verona Italy

    Reply
  7. Maria Narvaez

    I would like to rent small dental office 2 day a week in Saint Augustine, Florida. Two dental chairs, with possibility of a third one. Excellent location. great parking space.

    Reply
  8. Dr Elisa Galinaitis

    I am interested in renting my 2 operatory office starting at 3 days per week in Maryland. If you could contact me with the best way to begin this process I would appreciate it.

    Reply
    1. Amanda Hansen

      I am interested. What was the time frame you were looking to rent and where are you located?

      Reply
  9. Eileen O. Polintan

    Looking for a space to practice around Brewster area 2-3 days a week. I have a 30 yr old practice in White Plains that I will eventually sell. The plan is to segue to a 2-3 yrs. pre-retiring less busy schedule near my residence in nearby Connecticut.

    Reply
  10. Sam

    Hello,
    How much is a reasonable amount to pay the owner of the practice to rent out an operatory per day?
    Doesn’t include supplies or staff, etc., strictly just for a functional operatory (chair, light, air, water, x-ray beam).

    Thanks!!

    Reply
  11. Austin Myers

    Hi, I have a shared dental opportunity available in Rancho Cucamonga CA. Its with a sole practitioner transitioning to a retirement, with an in-place dental assistant and front desk / office manager. Rent + shared expenses.

    Please let me know if any interest.

    Reply
  12. Don S Sanders

    Dear Potential Associates,
    I’ve been a dentist since 1990 and have owned my office since 1996. At this point, I turned 50 years old 9 years ago….. it sounds younger that way.
    Anyway, I live in East Texas (dentalwellnessofeasttexas.com), and am beginning my search for a dentist who’s interested in sharing my office. I have 5 treatment rooms yet only use 2 of them. I’d like to work 2 or 3 days per week and eventually sell my office. Please see our website above.
    Respectfully,
    Don S. Sanders, D.D.S.,PC

    Reply
  13. Hanry Worth

    Before hiring another dentist to share your space, be sure to check their background carefully in order to avoid any potential conflicts. I’m glad that you pointed out this important information and I will be sharing it with my sister so that she knows what to do before hiring another dentist.

    Reply
  14. Sherry Steinmetz

    Hi everyone, I built an gorgeous spa-like dental office in San Ramon, CA 8 years ago with all new equipment and beautiful interiors. I have 4 equipped operatories. I only use 2 of them and work 3 days a week. I have 4 years left on the lease with (2) 5 year options to renew. If anyone is interested in sharing space, please reach out. DrSteinmetz1@gmail.com

    Reply

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