Pediatric dental practices for sale

What to check before buying a pediatric dental practice

Touring a pediatric dental office for sale? Children's dentistry has its own payers, its own patient flow and, sometimes, its own operating room. Check these:

• The payer mix. About one in three children under 19 had Medicaid or CHIP coverage in 2025, according to the Census Bureau, so ask what share of patients and collections comes from each Medicaid plan. In 2025, Medicaid fee-for-service rates for children's dental care averaged about two-thirds of what private dental insurance paid, from 38% in Illinois to 126% in Delaware, per the ADA Health Policy Institute. Many states pay through managed-care plans instead, so compare collections per visit by payer.
• Medicaid enrollment. Before you can bill Medicaid, you'll need to enroll with the state program and credential with each Medicaid dental plan yourself. Connecticut, for one, says Medicaid IDs can't be part of the sale, and North Carolina says a new enrollment can take four to six weeks, so start before closing.
• Operating room access. Some pediatric dentists treat their youngest or most anxious patients under general anesthesia in a hospital or surgery center. If the seller does, find out whether you can get the same privileges and block time; they're granted to individuals.
• New patients. Children age out of a pediatric practice in their teens, so it needs a steady flow of new patients. Look at new patients per month and where they come from.
• The team. Staff who are good with children are part of the practice's value, so ask who is staying.

Our guide to finding a practice to buy covers the rest of the search.