Q1 2025 Dental Industry Exit Update

Valuation Trends & Exit Insights for Dental Practice and Lab Owners

The Market Is Active, If You’re Prepared

Dental businesses remain in high demand in Q1 2025, but buyers have become more selective. We’re seeing steady acquisition activity across both practices and labs, especially those with recurring revenue, operational systems, and clinical or technical teams that aren’t reliant on the owner.

DSOs, individual dentists, and lab consolidators continue to compete for quality businesses, particularly in growing metro areas and underserved mid-markets throughout Texas and the Southeast.

What Are Dental Businesses Selling for Right Now?

Valuation multiples have held strong in Q1, but the gap is widening between fully systemized operations and owner-dependent businesses.

💡 Buyers are rewarding clean books, recurring hygiene revenue, and businesses with cloud-based systems (Open Dental, Dentrix, 3Shape, etc.).

🧾 What Lowers Practice or Lab Value?

We’re still seeing great businesses lose value due to:

1. Overdependence on the owner – If patients, referrals, or production rely solely on you, buyers see risk.

2. Poor recordkeeping – Inconsistent production reporting, hand-written invoices, or commingled personal expenses reduce deal confidence.

3. Client concentration (for labs) – When 40–50% of revenue is tied to just a few dental offices, buyers discount for risk.

4. Deferred equipment or facility upgrades – Aging chairs, autoclaves, or outdated lab tech hurts first impressions and price.

What Buyers Are Looking for in 2025

Whether it’s a solo dentist, a DSO, or a lab group, today’s buyers are looking for:

• Consistent revenue over the past 3 years

• Associates or clinical staff willing to stay post-sale

• A hygiene program that drives recurring income

• Cloud-based scheduling, billing, and EMR systems

• Sellers who are open to a 30–90 day transition period (or longer, if desired)

Texas Dental Market Highlights – Q1 Activity

We’re seeing the most acquisition activity in:

• Austin Metro – Multi-practice groups and fee-for-service practices are in demand

• Dallas-Fort Worth – Pediatric and ortho practices are being targeted by specialty DSOs

• San Antonio & Hill Country – Labs and rural practices attracting interest from younger buyers

• Houston – Strong interest in digital labs and general practices with multiple hygienists

Should You Sell in 2025?

If you’re starting to think about retirement, relocation, or simply stepping back from production, Q1 has shown it’s still a seller’s market for the right dental business, but planning ahead matters more than ever.

Even if you’re 12–24 months out, preparing now allows you to:

• Maximize your valuation

• Clean up your books

• Structure your team for continuity

• Reduce taxes on the sale

• Retain control over how and when you exit

🎯 Start With a No-Pressure Conversation

Whether you’re ready to sell this year or just want to understand what your dental business could be worth, we’re here to help you exit smart, not just exit fast.

👉 Schedule Your Free Confidential Consultation

Lion Business Brokers specializes in the sale of founder-led dental practices and labs across Texas and the Southeast. We’ve helped doctors and lab owners like you exit on their terms, with clarity, strategy, and peace of mind.

Stay tuned for our Q2 2025 Dental Market Exit Update.