“Should I add another op?”
“Is it time for an associate?”
“Can we handle a second location?”
If you’ve asked yourself these questions, you’re not alone. Growth is exciting but without a plan, it can be a fast track to chaos. As someone who scaled a practice from $500K to $2.4M in 9 months (and learned a lot the hard way), I want to help you avoid the stress that often comes with scaling.
Whether you're considering expansion, bringing in another doctor, or thinking about DSO offers, here’s how to know if you're truly ready to take your practice to the next level, with confidence.
1. Your Systems Can Run Without You
Want the ultimate stress test? Leave your practice for two weeks. If your team and systems can function without your daily involvement, that’s a great sign you're ready to scale.
Here’s what to look for:
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Clear roles and delegation ladders
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Operations manuals and documented systems (that are actually followed)
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KPIs being tracked and hit regularly
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Production and culture stay strong even when you're away
Perfect systems aren’t required but scalable systems are. You don’t need every SOP nailed down, but your team should be able to operate without you micromanaging every decision.
2. Your Team Is Accountable and Data-Driven
Scaling with a disengaged team is like building on sand. You need a foundation of:
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Team leads who own their metrics
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Weekly leadership meetings with goal tracking
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Follow-through on commitments and KPIs
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Low turnover and strong culture
We’ve seen practices grow from $3M to $5M in a year just by implementing simple accountability systems. You don’t always need more ops, you need more alignment.
3. You Have a Clear, Data-Backed Growth Plan
Before you hire another doctor or expand your space, you should be asking:
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Do we have enough patient flow to justify growth?
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Do we have a strong associate onboarding plan?
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Is our billing and collections team prepared to scale?
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Have we reserved 3–6 months of cash flow for the transition?
We helped one 4-op practice grow to 10 ops by building their expansion plan a year in advance. From hiring timelines to marketing ramp-up to equipment financing, we mapped it out and removed the guesswork. The result? A smooth, profitable transition.
What’s Your North Star?
Scaling is personal. You might want to work one day a week. You might love clinical work and want to expand your clinical team. Or maybe you're thinking of selling to a DSO in the next 1–3 years.
Each of those paths requires a different strategy. That’s why we tell our clients: don’t scale just because you’re bored or burned out. Scale because you’ve built a solid foundation and have a plan for where you’re headed.
Growth doesn’t have to equal burnout. If you’re feeling that itch to level up, assess these three areas first:
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Are your systems scalable?
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Is your team aligned and accountable?
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Do you have a plan with real numbers behind it?
If all signs point to yes, go for it! And if you're not sure, reach out. The Dental A Team has helped hundreds of practices scale successfully, and we’d love to help you build your dream practice.
Schedule a call and let’s build a safer, smoother, more scalable practice together!
Don't forget to check out our podcast for more tips.
Last updated: July 2025
Written by Jacintha Ham, Dental A Team