Maximizing Practice Value: The Strategic Power of National Children’s Dental Health Month

Karl Frye
18 hours ago
3 min read

February is far more than a month of Valentine's and winter weather; for the savvy dental practice owner, it marks the arrival of National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM). While this annual observance is a cornerstone for public health advocacy, it is also one of the most powerful tools in your arsenal for driving long-term practice growth and maximizing your eventual exit valuation.

At Frye Practice Sales, we see firsthand how a practice’s commitment to community engagement and pediatric health directly correlates with its desirability to buyers, including private practitioners and Dental Support Organizations (DSOs).

The Economics of Pediatric Growth: Why NCDHM Matters for Valuation

In the eyes of a potential buyer or appraiser, a practice is only as valuable as the stability and predictability of its future revenue. Leveraging NCDHM allows you to strengthen three critical pillars of your practice’s value:

1. The Multi-Generational Patient Anchor

Capturing a pediatric patient often means capturing an entire household. Families prioritize convenience, and a practice that successfully manages a child's care frequently becomes the "dental home" for parents and grandparents alike. This creates a robust, multi-generational patient base that lenders view as a highly stable asset.

2. Boosting Goodwill and Transferability

"Goodwill" is the intangible value tied to your practice’s reputation and patient loyalty. By participating in community outreach—such as school presentations or local health fairs—you build a brand that exists independently of your individual clinical skill. This makes the practice much easier to "transfer" to a new owner, as the community trusts the practice rather than just the person.

3. Strengthening the Hygiene Recall System

The heart of any successful transition is a full hygiene schedule. Pediatric patients require frequent, predictable preventative care, which keeps your chairs full and your recall systems active. A strong recall rate (the percentage of patients returning for regular checkups) can increase practice retention by up to 25%, significantly boosting profitability and appraisal numbers.

Strategic Action Steps for February

To maximize the impact of NCDHM on your practice's growth and value, consider these high-impact, low-overhead strategies:

Community Integration

School Outreach: Partner with local elementary schools or childcare centers to provide oral health presentations.
Collaborative Referrals: Cultivate relationships with local pediatricians by providing them with brochures and educational materials for their reception areas.
Branded Giveaways: Distribute personalized toothbrushes or activity kits featuring your practice’s name and contact information.

Digital Presence and Marketing

Social Media Contests: Host a "Cavity-Free Club" or a coloring contest on your social media pages, using free materials available from the ADA.
Educational Content: Share age-specific guides and "myth-busting" posts about childhood dental health to position your practice as the local expert.
Email Campaigns: Use your patient communication software to send NCDHM-themed newsletters to your existing database, reminding parents to schedule school-holiday checkups.

Preparing for the Future: Scaling or Selling

Whether you are looking to scale your current operations by adding a pediatric wing or preparing to sell to a DSO, the groundwork you lay in February pays dividends.

For those scaling: Integrating pediatric and general dentistry under one roof streamlines family care and drastically reduces marketing costs by keeping referrals in-house.

For those selling: DSOs and private buyers are actively seeking practices with high growth potential and modern recall systems. A practice that can demonstrate a thriving pediatric program is often positioned for a record-breaking valuation.

Take Control of Your Next Move with Frye Practice Sales

The Culmination of your years of hard work should be a transition that is as rewarding as it is smooth. Frye Practice Sales specializes in maximizing the value of your medical, dental, or veterinary practice. With our credit-trained acumen and deep understanding of the Arizona market, we handle the legal and financial complexities so you can move forward with total confidence.

Are you ready to see what your hard work is truly worth?

Call us: 480-599-6958
Visit us: www.fryepracticesales.com