Dental Economist

Hello, Dr. Chris Phelps here,

I know what it feels like to be burned out, overwhelmed, and unsure of what comes next. Years ago, my practice was bleeding money. I had no systems, no protection, and no exit plan. I was working harder than ever — and falling behind.

But then I got smart. I stopped trying to figure it all out myself. I found experts I could trust. I fixed the bleeding.

I automated my marketing. I built in legal protections for my practice and family. And I mapped out my exit — long before I needed it.

That’s why I’m sharing this page with you. Because every dentist deserves to feel confident in their future — not just clinically, but financially. This is about the three pillars that helped me rebuild my practice, reclaim my life, and grow something worth protecting and eventually passing on.

If you're serious about success, then you're right where you need to be. You're about to hear from top experts in practice growth, practice protection, and practice exit strategies — and they’ll show you exactly how to take control of your future.

You’ve likely seen it happen — maybe even felt it yourself:

A once-thriving practice starts losing patients. New competition moves in. Growth stalls.
A health scare or lawsuit hits — and the dentist has no legal safeguards in place.
Retirement creeps closer, but there’s no buyer, no plan, and no one to call.

Here’s the truth:

Without a growth plan, you’ll struggle to stay profitable — and watch opportunities pass you by.
Without a protection plan, your practice (and your family) is one accident or illness away from chaos.
Without an exit strategy, you’ll either sell for less than you deserve or miss your window entirely.

I’m not trying to scare you. This is just reality. And if you’re missing one of these three Dental Economic Pillars, then be glad you’re here, because you’re about to discover the roadmap you’ve been missing.

Most dentists aren’t lacking in clinical skill. You know how to diagnose. You know how to treat. And you’re damn good at it.

What’s missing?
Systems.
Structure.
A repeatable growth engine.

Instead, you’re stuck trying every “tactic of the month.” You try postcards. You run some Google ads. You ask for referrals. And you wait. A few patients come in… but it’s inconsistent.

One month is up. The next month’s down.

And all the while, you’re buried in to-dos, leading a team that’s just as overwhelmed as you are. You’re spending money on marketing — but can’t track where the leads are going. There’s no follow-up. No accountability. Patients fall through the cracks. And you start to think, “Maybe this is just how it is.”

But it’s not.

Without that plan?
Growth stalls. New patient flow dries up. Team morale dips. Production drops. The energy in your practice starts to feel heavy — like everyone’s just surviving the day instead of winning the week. Your numbers go flat. Or worse, they slip.

Meanwhile, DSOs and hungry competitors are flooding your market with massive ad budgets, free exams, and polished branding. And suddenly, you’re working harder than ever just to maintain what you had — instead of building something bigger and better.

You’re spinning your wheels… and sinking deeper into the mud.

But When You Get It Right?

Everything changes. Leads come in, and they’re actually followed up with. Appointments get booked — without you chasing anything. Your team knows what to do and has the tools to do it. Patients show up. Accept treatment. Refer friends. Come back. And the best part?

You feel it.

You feel the difference in your stress level. In your numbers. In how excited your team is again. In how confidently you’re building the practice — instead of reacting to it. You go home on time. You sleep better. You smile more. And you start thinking like an owner — not just a dentist.

To Make That Happen, You Don’t Need More Marketing Gimmicks

You need a growth engine:

Automated lead capture and follow-up that ensures no patient falls through the cracks
Targeted campaigns designed to generate real revenue — not just clicks
Internal systems that make patient retention effortless and reliable
A brand that makes you stand out from the DSO noise
Metrics you can trust, so you know exactly what’s working — and where to scale

Now, I like to see dentists win. So here’s some advice…Follow through, and YOU WILL see a return.

A business, a reputation, a life’s work that supports your family and your community. But if that practice isn’t protected, everything you’ve built could unravel in a moment.

I’ve seen it happen. Sudden illness. A tragic accident. A lawsuit. A death without a plan. No succession strategy. No protections in place. And a family left scrambling to figure out what happens next — while the value of the practice collapses overnight.

That’s why protection matters. Because when you’re not around to speak for yourself, your plan has to speak for you. Loudly, clearly, and in writing.

What’s at Risk if You Don’t Have a Protection Plan?

You’ve put your life into your practice. But without the right legal safeguards in place, it can all fall apart — fast. Most dentists assume they’ll have time to plan later, or they think a basic Will is enough. It’s not. When there’s no structure, no leadership, and no protection, families end up in court, practices collapse, and assets get lost to taxes, creditors, or confusion.

Without a proper plan in place:

Your practice may be frozen or forced into court-supervised probate
Your assets could go to the wrong people — or be eaten up by taxes and legal fees
A family conflict could erupt, turning siblings against each other
Your staff and patients could be left without leadership
Your lifetime of work could be reduced to chaos and court orders

And it’s not just about after death. What if you become incapacitated and can’t make decisions? Who takes over? How do they access accounts? Who pays the bills? Who’s in charge?

Everyone thinks estate planning is about what happens when you die. But for many of my clients, the real disaster starts when something happens while they’re still alive.

What You Can Do Right Now:

You don’t need a giant estate or millions in the bank to need protection. If you own a practice, have a family, or care what happens to what you’ve built — you need a real plan. A plan that gives clarity in a crisis. A plan that avoids court. A plan that protects your loved ones from confusion, conflict, and unnecessary taxes. A plan that ensures someone you trust is empowered to step in when you can’t — and that everything you’ve built is passed on the way you want, not the way the state decides.

The most dangerous myth I hear is, ‘I’ve got a Will — I’m good.’ But a Will alone won’t avoid probate. A Will doesn’t keep your practice running. And a Will doesn’t protect your family if you’re alive but can’t speak for yourself.

This isn’t about cookie-cutter documents. It’s about conversations. Counseling. Perspective. The hard questions no one else is asking you.

What happens if one of your children can’t handle responsibility? What if there’s a conflict between siblings or in-laws? What if the person you thought could help… actually can’t? My job is to help you think through it — before it’s too late — and create a plan that fits your unique family, goals, and values.

You spent your whole life building this. Let’s make sure one wrong moment doesn’t tear it down.

You’ll Leave Your Practice One Day—The Only Question Is How.

If You Don’t Decide Now, Someone Else Will Decide For You.

Here’s the hard truth most dentists ignore: you’re going to leave your practice someday. It’s not a matter of if — it’s when, how, and whether it’ll be on your terms.

I’ve been in the room for over a thousand dental practice transitions. Some of them were beautiful — doctors walking away with full pockets, peace of mind, and a legacy intact. Others? Total chaos. Firesales. Forced retirements. Burnout. Legal messes. Regret.

What makes the difference? A plan. An Exit Strategy.

If you don’t think about your exit now, when everything’s working, you won’t have control when it’s not.

What’s at Risk Without an Exit Strategy?

Most dentists don’t think about exiting until they’re already exhausted. By then, it’s often too late to get full value — because the practice is declining, the energy is gone, and the leverage is lost.

Some wait too long, and their numbers slip. Collections are down. New patient flow is drying up. Suddenly, what could’ve sold for a premium is now a bargain-bin deal.

Others fall into the DSO trap. They think they’re getting a great offer — until the fine print reveals three more years under someone else’s control, treating patients under corporate rules, and earning far less than they used to.

Some dentists burn out. They hit a wall, emotionally and physically, and just want out. But in their rush to leave, they leave money on the table — often hundreds of thousands of dollars in unrealized value.

Worse still, many dentists think they’ve “sold” their practice, only to find themselves locked into long-term earnouts, employee agreements, or transition periods that leave them with less control and more stress than they had before.

And the worst-case scenario? A dentist dies or becomes incapacitated with no clear plan. The family is left holding the bag — a practice they don’t know how to sell, staff they don’t know how to lead, and a business whose value drops by the day.

“Dentists don’t get a second shot at this. You get one exit. One payday. Let’s make sure it’s the right one.”

YOUR QUICK ACTION GUIDE: How to Start Planning Your Exit Today

Know Your Number

Do you know what your practice is worth — right now? Most don’t. We’ll help you get a real number, not a guess.
Think Beyond the Buyer

You’re not just selling a building. You’re selling relationships, systems, history. It all has value — if you know how to show it.
Avoid the DSO Trap

Not all DSOs are bad. But too many take advantage of unprepared doctors. Know your rights. Know your leverage.
Get Help From Someone Who Works for YOU

I don’t represent buyers. I work for doctors. Period. My job is to protect your best interest — and make sure the deal works for you.

Imagine building a million-dollar practice — maybe two. You’ve got a strong team. A steady stream of new patients. Marketing is humming. Revenue is up. You’re proud of what you’ve built. But you never got around to protecting it…

Then life happens. A stroke. A car accident. A cancer diagnosis. One moment you’re in control — the next, you’re not. Your spouse doesn’t know where the accounts are. Your staff is panicking. Your family is in court, spending thousands just to keep the lights on.

Because you didn’t put your Iron Clad Protection Plan in writing. Because you thought you had more time. Because no one ever told you how fast it can all unravel.

Now imagine the opposite. You’ve got a rock-solid Estate Plan. A legal fortress around your assets. And you’ve already mapped out your exit — when you’ll sell, how much you’ll take home, what your next chapter looks like.

But you stopped growing.

The practice has plateaued. New patient numbers are flat. Overhead is rising. Your team is disengaged. The systems you built ten years ago aren’t working anymore.

So when it’s time to sell? The buyer sees a tired practice with shrinking margins and offers half of what you’d hoped. You protected what you had — but there wasn’t enough to protect.

And then there’s the dentist who’s done everything right. Clinically excellent. Strong team. Loyal patients. A respected name in the community. They’ve grown steadily and protected what matters. But they keep pushing off their exit.

They say, “I’ve got a few more good years.”

Until one day they’re too tired. Or too sick. Or too burned out to keep going. And now it’s urgent. They grab the first offer that shows up. It’s from a DSO with strings attached — a three-year earnout, lower pay, no say in operations. And now they’re working harder than ever… for someone else.

If Growth Is Where You Struggle:

You’re not alone. Most dentists aren’t trained to grow a business — we’re trained in dentistry. But if your schedule isn’t full, your team isn’t engaged, or your marketing feels like a black hole, it’s time to fix that.

Here's where to start:

Make sure your leads are being captured, followed up with, and booked automatically
Review your marketing ROI — not just reach, but revenue
Most importantly: Schedule a free Growth Strategy Session with Parthiv Shah. He’s the best in the business.