Remember how you found a dentist back in the day? You looked for a person, not a place. You probably headed to the nearest dentist around your area, or looked up a few names in the phonebook. It is more common, after all, for dentists to have their own private practice. But things change, and having a solo practice might not be as feasible as it was back then. Nowadays, some dentists opt to join a group dental practice instead where two or more dentists join the same office. But what benefits does a group practice in dentistry actually have?
Like most things, a dental group practice has its pros and cons. Those with a private practice may enjoy being hands-on with all aspects of their practice. They have more freedom from choosing their location to tailoring their practice. That being said, solo practice is a personal experience for both dentists and patients. Those who enter a group dental practice, on the other hand, might not go through this custom experience.
But it isn’t all a disadvantage. Private practice is much more expensive to run since you need to get the equipment and office space yourself. For those just starting out, especially, this might not be feasible. In contrast, you can split up the expenses when you have a group practice in dentistry.
But what other benefits does a group dental practice has to offer? Let’s find out.
Going solo lets dentists focus on their work
Part of what makes a private practice alluring is autonomy. You get to design your practice as you please. But that’s just the fun part. When you start a solo practice, you don’t just focus on your dentistry. There’s a lot of things you’ll need to consider, like filing in paperwork and thinking about how you’d get new patients.
When you’re part of a dental group practice, you don’t have to think about these things. When you join a large organization, in particular, you have someone else who can do the administrative work for you. For aspiring dentists, this means you can focus on what you love doing without worrying about breaking even or other matters once you get home. For patients, this means that they can get their dentist’s focus, making it easier to get the care they need.
Having multiple dentists in one practice also gives them the support they need. If one dentist needs assistance—be it some type of equipment or additional personnel—they have someone who can provide that support. Here, they get what they need and enhance their practice further.
A group dental practice gets you what you need at an affordable price
Aside from the extra work, having a solo practice takes a lot more funds to set up. And when two and two come together, it can make for one frazzled dentist.
With a group practice in dentistry, however, this isn’t much of a problem. If you’re a small group who’s set up a practice, you can divide the expenses among yourselves. If one or two dentists share the same specialty, they can also make use of the same facilities (safely, we should note) without having to spend extra. And if you’re a patient who goes to a dental group practice, chances are, you’ll find dentists who can cater to your every need. No more office-hopping!