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Retire in Practice by Ace Goerig, DDS

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I first heard about this concept from one of my older referring dentists who had just retired at age 80 after spending 55 years in dentistry. What was interesting about this dentist was that he looked like he was in his 50s and loved life. I asked him how could he spend 55 years in dentistry and look as good as he did. He said he retired in practice 40 years ago. He went on to explain that in those days everyone worked five days a week and you had plenty of patients and plenty of work to do. But just a few years into practice a friend of his told him he could work four days a week and make just as much money, he just needed to be more organized. He followed his friend’s advice and found it to be true. He and his wife were not big spenders and paid off debt in a timely manner. They lived in the conservative home and were able to pay off all debt including his practice within six years.

With his debt paid off, he decided to work only three days a week and take off four weeks for vacation that year because he really didn’t need the money. He found that he made just as much money. Over the next few years he continued to take more weeks off for vacation, eventually getting up to 12 weeks a year. He said that after 10 years in practice he had retired in practice. Working only three days a week, he was refreshed and loved going to the office. He had great relationships with his patients and a committed and dedicated team. He is now in his 90s and recently showed me a picture of him skiing down Crystal Mountain with his great grandson.

For the past 20 years I have been retired in practice and work three days a week, about 125 days a year. I believe many dentists can successfully retire in practice by following a few simple steps. The first begins with a vision of having the practice exactly the way you want it. You need to set up systems in your office that really work. Examples are how we schedule patients, how we collect and present fees, how we market. We need to take enough hands-on courses to become clinically efficient and focus on the dentistry we love doing. When a dentist works fewer days, he or she is refreshed, does higher quality treatment and enjoys practice more. This doctor I mentioned previously referred out almost all his endodontic treatment. To help put these systems in place, you need to bring in a good practice consultant.

The next step is to get out of debt as quickly as possible (within seven to 10 years). Live conservatively and you will have three times the money to spend. Live well and become healthy. This means eating right and maintaining a consistent exercise program. You may be a dentist who is programmed to work hard for a living, so taking more time off will take some reprogramming.

You may need to bring in an associate if you’re busy enough. Always have associates and never have a partner. Treat your associates well but always maintain control of your practice. Most partnerships I have seen do not work well unless there is a strong leader.

I know quite a few young dentists who have become debt free and have retired in practice in their 30s and 40s. They love what they do and have incredible relationships with their patients, team and family.


Dr. Ace Goerig graduated from Case Western Reserve University Dental School in 1971, entered the Army Dental Corp. and retired a colonel in 1991. He is a diplomat of the American Board of endodontists and has been in private practice for 23 years in Olympia, Washington. He has presented at every major national dental meeting and has a coaching program for endodontists since 1996. In 2005 Dr. Goerig coauthored a book with Kendrick Mercer entitled “Time and Money, Your Guide to Economic Freedom” to teach doctors and team members the secrets of becoming personally and financially free. He has two free web sites to help dentists and their teams how to become financially free. (DoctorAce.com and DebtFreeDentist.com). He and his wife, Nancy have five children and were married in 1969.
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September 2025
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