Creating Enterprise Value in Modern Dentistry
DSO vs. DPO Models, Strategic Partnerships and Pitfalls to Avoid
In today’s rapidly evolving dental marketplace, long-term success requires more than clinical excellence — it demands strategic thinking, informed decision-making, and intentional enterprise value creation.
This advanced program is designed for practice owners and clinicians who want to understand how ownership models, partnership structures, technology adoption, and operational strategy shape both the future of their practices and their long-term professional wealth.
Ian McNickle will present a clear framework for evaluating modern group and partnership opportunities, including DSO and DPO models, while preserving clinical autonomy and the culture of private practice. Participants will explore the three primary future pathways available to today’s owners — selling to another doctor, affiliating with a DSO, or partnering with a DPO — and gain clarity on why the partnership model can be advantageous at virtually any career stage.
This session is ideal for doctors seeking to preserve the feel of private practice while accessing the strategic support, financial upside, and long-term growth opportunities offered by modern group and partnership models.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this program, participants will be able to:
• Understand how to strategically create and maximize enterprise value in a dental practice
by aligning clinical excellence, operational efficiency, scalable infrastructure, and long-term growth planning.
• Compare DSO and DPO models from an ownership, governance, and wealth-creation perspective
including autonomy, compensation structures, equity participation, decision-making authority, and long-term exit implications.
• Identify the critical legal and financial elements of modern dental transactions and partnerships
including valuations, EBITDA, equity rollovers, earn-outs, incentive alignment, and risk mitigation.
• Apply advanced financial and operational frameworks to evaluate partnership and affiliation opportunities
with practical tools for assessing offers, timing decisions, and long-term strategic fit.
Speaker Bio – Ian McNickle
Ian McNickle is an accomplished entrepreneur and CEO in the dental industry, currently leading ICON Dental Partners, a fast-growing Dental Partnership Organization. He previously served as Partner and President at The DSO Project and co-founded WEO Media, an award-winning dental marketing agency. Ian is a recognized industry expert, author, and frequent lecturer across North America.