Why Dental Business Success Starts With Human Connection

Q: Do dentists own their own business?

Yes! It is typical for a dentist or oral surgeon to own their own business. Sometimes, a group or partnership of dentists or oral surgeons will own a practice together. One exception is if the practice is owned by a dental service organization (DSOs), who will handle administrative and logistical parts of the business.

Q: Is it hard to run a dental practice?

Running a dental practice can be rewarding, but it does come with challenges. Dentists must juggle clinical excellence with business management — including staffing, scheduling, patient communication, compliance, insurance, and marketing. Many dentists find the clinical side easier than the operational demands, which is why having skilled office staff and efficient systems is critical. With the right support and technology, running a dental practice becomes much more manageable and sustainable.

Q: How long does it take to open a dental practice?

Opening a dental practice typically takes six to 12 months from initial planning to opening day. This includes time for business planning, securing financing, choosing a location, completing construction or renovation, purchasing equipment, hiring staff, and obtaining necessary licenses and insurance. The timeline can vary depending on whether you’re building from scratch, purchasing an existing practice, or joining a group. Careful planning and guidance from dental-specific consultants or lenders can help avoid delays and keep the process on track.

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June 17, 2025

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In dental school, many professionals are taught to maintain a firm distance between themselves and their patients — keep it “professional,” keep it hierarchical. But as Dr. Jon Marashi shares in a revealing podcast conversation, this age-old advice is not only outdated, it’s actively holding dental practice owners back.

Breaking the hierarchy

“We were told not to become friends with our patients. Don’t let them know where you live. Don’t tell them where your kids go to school,” Marashi recalls. But when it came to his turn in the dental business, he flipped that script. “My patients all have my cell phone. I don’t let them call me Dr. Marashi — they call me Jon.”

Why? Because trust is foundational in elective procedures like cosmetic dentistry, where patients aren’t just buying a service. They’re investing in someone they believe in. It’s a core business truth that people do business with those they believe, like, and trust. Or, as Marashi calls it, the “BLTs.”

Relationships as a growth engine in the dental business

Building genuine relationships isn’t just good bedside manner — it’s smart business. Patients are more likely to follow recommendations, accept treatment plans, and become loyal advocates when they feel a personal connection with their provider.

When Marashi launched his luxury toothbrush brand, it wasn’t a background in design or supply chain management that pushed it forward. It was curiosity, persistence, and his willingness to listen to a single patient’s casual comment. That product became a starting point for his entrepreneurial journey, building business acumen that would later help launch Byte, the direct-to-consumer clear aligner company acquired by Dentsply Sirona in a $1 billion deal.

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The dental business is a people business

One of the most powerful moments in the story of Byte came not from a boardroom pitch or aggressive advertising, but from a regular patient visit. A neighborhood friend and investment banker was in Marashi’s chair for a cleaning. Instead of a quick check-up, they had a real conversation — about business, about potential, and about opportunity.

That casual conversation led directly to the connection that would result in Byte’s billion-dollar acquisition. “That’s the power of relationships,” Marashi says. “You never know what’s coming. But relationships drive everything.”

Initveo offers resources to build your practice

From the Practice Management Cheat Sheet to 2025 Dental Patient Engagement Report, we offer a variety of free resources to dental and oral surgery practices to grow their practices.

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Frequent Asked Questions

Do dentists own their own business?

Yes! It is typical for a dentist or oral surgeon to own their own business. Sometimes, a group or partnership of dentists or oral surgeons will own a practice together. One exception is if the practice is owned by a dental service organization (DSOs), who will handle administrative and logistical parts of the business.

Is it hard to run a dental practice?

Running a dental practice can be rewarding, but it does come with challenges. Dentists must juggle clinical excellence with business management — including staffing, scheduling, patient communication, compliance, insurance, and marketing. Many dentists find the clinical side easier than the operational demands, which is why having skilled office staff and efficient systems is critical. With the right support and technology, running a dental practice becomes much more manageable and sustainable.

How long does it take to open a dental practice?

Opening a dental practice typically takes six to 12 months from initial planning to opening day. This includes time for business planning, securing financing, choosing a location, completing construction or renovation, purchasing equipment, hiring staff, and obtaining necessary licenses and insurance. The timeline can vary depending on whether you’re building from scratch, purchasing an existing practice, or joining a group. Careful planning and guidance from dental-specific consultants or lenders can help avoid delays and keep the process on track.