Next Steps to Open a Dental Practice: What to Do If You’ve Already Started the Process 

If you’re searching for next steps to open a dental practice, chances are you’ve already started the journey. 

Maybe you’ve: 

• Signed a lease 

• Hired an architect 

• Talked to a contractor 

• Applied for financing 

• Begun ordering equipment 

And now you’re wondering: What should I be doing next? Am I missing anything? 

Opening a de novo dental practice is complex. Once the process begins, decisions move quickly — and small missteps can turn into expensive delays. 

This guide walks through the critical next steps to open a dental practice if you’re already in motion — and how to regain clarity, structure, and confidence. 

First: Pause and Reassess Your Overall Plan 

One of the most common mistakes dentists make is moving forward without a cohesive “Roadmap”. 

If you’ve already started the process, ask yourself: 

• Do I have a clear clinical model defined? 

• Have I projected revenue based on operatory count? 

• Do I know my break-even point? 

• Is my lease structured correctly for growth? 

• Have I secured vendor pricing strategically? 

• Do I have a launch marketing plan? 

If any of these feel unclear, now is the time to recalibrate — not after opening. 

The goal isn’t to slow progress. It’s to ensure every next step supports your long-term vision. 

Step 1: Confirm Your Financial Model 

If financing has already been secured, revisit your numbers. 

Opening a dental practice involves: 

• Buildout costs 

• Equipment purchases 

• Technology subscriptions 

• Initial supply orders 

• Payroll reserves 

• Marketing launch expenses 

• Working Capital 

Many dentists underestimate working capital needs during the first 6–12 months. 

Your next step should be confirming: 

• Cash flow projections 

• Monthly overhead 

• Production targets 

• Timeline to break-even 

If you do not have a detailed pro forma, this is the moment to build one. 

Step 2: Evaluate Your Lease and Buildout Timeline 

If you’ve signed a lease, your focus now shifts to execution. 

Review: 

• Tenant improvement allowances 

• Construction deadlines 

• Permitting requirements 

• Zoning approvals 

• Utility capacity (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) 

Delays in permitting are common. Build contingency into your timeline. 

If construction has already begun, confirm: 

• Floor plan efficiency 

• Proper sterilization flow 

• Future expansion capacity 

• Compliance with dental-specific building codes 

The next steps to open a dental practice must include ensuring your physical space supports your clinical goals. 

Step 3: Reassess Equipment and Technology Decisions 

Have you ordered equipment yet? 

Before finalizing large purchases, confirm: 

• Does this align with my clinical focus? 

• Is this necessary for day one? 

• Have I compared equipment options? 

• Do I understand long-term service agreements? 

Startups often overspend early on technology that doesn’t generate immediate ROI. 

Smart sequencing of purchases protects cash flow. 

Step 4: Build Vendor Strategy Before Opening 

If you’ve already started your de novo journey but haven’t secured vendor relationships strategically, now is the time. 

Supplies, labs, and service contracts significantly impact overhead. 

Joining a Covalent Dental Partners (GPO) mid-process can still create substantial savings. 

By joining Covalent GPO for free, dentists gain: 

• Step-by-step startup “Roadmap” support 

• Vendor negotiation assistance 

• Preferred pricing access 

• Guidance on what to prioritize next 

• Strategic input before costly commitments 

Even if you’ve already signed a lease or begun construction, structured guidance can help prevent expensive mistakes moving forward. 

Step 5: Develop Your Hiring Plan 

If hiring hasn’t started yet, begin planning now. 

Key questions: 

• Will you open with one assistant or two? 

• Do you need a full-time front desk coordinator? 

• What is your training plan? 

• Are you hiring for culture or convenience? 

Hiring too early strains payroll. Hiring too late creates chaos at opening. You need time to train on systems and processes before opening. 

The next step to open a dental practice successfully is timing staffing with your projected patient flow. 

Step 6: Create a Marketing Timeline — Not Just a Website 

Many dentists believe marketing begins at opening. 

It doesn’t. 

Marketing to the public should begin 60–90 days before opening day. You should start your Marketing planning 8-9 months prior to opening the office.  

Your next steps should include: 

• Securing a domain name 

• Building an SEO-optimized website 

• Claiming and optimizing Google Business Profile 

• Starting social media presence 

• Determine if you will do Direct mail and to whom 

• Will you use Billboards in rural areas 

• Planning grand opening campaigns 

• Community networking 

If no marketing plan exists yet, this is urgent.  

Patient flow does not happen automatically. 

Step 7: Protect Your Vision 

If you feel overwhelmed, that’s normal. 

Opening a dental practice involves dozens of moving parts: 

• Legal structure 

• CPA/Tax planning 

• Insurance credentialing 

• Credentialing timelines 

• Payroll systems 

• Merchant services 

• IT setup 

• Compliance protocols 

Without a checklist, things fall through the cracks. 

Dentists who succeed long term are those who surround themselves with structured support instead of trying to solve everything independently. 

What If You Feel Behind? 

If you’ve already started but feel uncertain about the next steps to open a dental practice, you are not alone. 

Many startup dentists hit a point where they realize: 

“I don’t know what I don’t know.” 

The solution isn’t panic. It’s structure. 

Rebuilding clarity mid-process is far easier than correcting mistakes after opening. 

Why Strategic Guidance Matters Now 

Corporate dentistry continues expanding nationwide. Independent dentists launching de novo practices need every advantage. 

Covalent GPO was built to support private practice dentists — especially those opening new offices. 

Even if you’ve already: 

• Signed a lease 

• Secured financing 

• Begun construction 

You can still benefit from joining Covalent GPO for free to gain: 

• Startup “Roadmap” direction 

• Vendor savings 

• Cost control strategies 

• Step-by-step sequencing guidance 

• Support through opening and beyond 

Opening a dental practice is too important to navigate without a plan. 

Final Thoughts: Regain Clarity and Move Forward Confidently 

If you searched next steps to open a dental practice, it means you care about getting this right. 

That alone puts you ahead. 

Whether you are: 

• 3 months from opening 

• In the middle of construction 

• Just signed your lease 

• Finalizing equipment orders 

The next right step is clarity. 

Pause. Assess. Realign. Then move forward strategically. 

Opening a de novo dental practice is one of the most meaningful professional decisions you will make. 

Make sure the next steps you take are intentional. 

And if you need structure, guidance, or vendor leverage — join Covalent GPO for free and access the “Roadmap” designed to help private practice dentists launch successfully. 

The goal isn’t just to open. The goal is to open strong. 

Joining Covalent GPO, for free, gives dentists step-by-step guidance, cost-saving opportunities, and alignment with a mission dedicated to perserving, protecting and supporting private practice dentistry—starting with helping dentists open new offices the right way.