How to Build Your Ideal Dental Practice with Jayme Amos

September 5, 2025

How to Build Your Ideal Dental Practice with Jayme Amos

Starting or buying your own dental practice is one of the most exciting and intimidating steps in your career. The path from student or associate to successful practice owner is full of questions:

Am I ready to make the leap?
How do I avoid financial traps and earn what I’m truly worth?
What’s the “right” first step to opening a practice?

In a replay episode of the Tooth and Coin podcast, I sat down with dental industry leader Jayme Amos, founder of Ideal Practices and author of Choosing the Right Practice Location. Together, we unpacked the biggest hurdles new practice owners face and the mindset and strategies that lead to success.

Why Ownership Matters More Than Ever

Dentistry isn’t just about teeth. As Amos explains, ownership unlocks three powerful freedoms:

Clinical freedom – You get to practice the kind of dentistry you believe in, without being tied to someone else’s rules.
Financial freedom – Instead of being capped by associate pay, ownership allows you to finally earn what you’re worth.
Life impact – A practice isn’t just a business. It’s a platform to change lives: your patients’, your team’s and your own.

Business ownership lets you “steer your own ship.” With the right vision, you can design a practice that supports your financial goals, your family and your purpose.

The #1 Thing Holding Dentists Back

So what keeps so many dentists stuck as associates longer than they’d like?

One word: fear.

According to Amos and Dr. David Rice (founder of IgniteDDS), you’re “ready” for practice ownership when you can look in the mirror and feel it. But fear of the unknown (what step to take first, what if you fail) keeps many dentists from acting.

The antidote? Don’t try to figure out all 13 steps at once. Just take the next step. Action creates traction.

The Wrong First Step (and the Right One)

Most aspiring owners make the same mistake: they start by falling in love with a building.

That “perfect location” you drive past every day? It feels tangible and exciting, but it’s actually step four or five in the process.

The real first step, Amos says, is crafting your vision:

What kind of dentistry do you want to practice?
What’s your financial strategy?
What kind of life do you want outside of work?
Who is your ideal patient?

This clarity shapes every decision that follows: your demographics research, your financing, your site selection and even your marketing.

Defining Your “Ideal Patient”

Too many dentists think demographics is just a numbers game (population-to-doctor ratio). But Amos encourages clients to go deeper.

Start by identifying the patients you love working with.

Do they:

Say yes to treatment?
Pay bills on time?
Bring their families?
Share your values?

Write down 10–15 traits of this ideal patient. Even name them. (Think: “Mrs. Jones: reliable, loyal and always refers friends.”)

When you design your practice for those people, you attract more of them. And when you’re happiest clinically, your team is happier, your patients are better served and your business thrives.

Lessons from the Field

Amos shared stories of doctors who jumped too quickly into partnerships or trusted handshake promises that left them devastated when deals fell through. Protect yourself with contracts and clarity up front.

On the flip side, he also highlighted success stories: dentists who defined their vision, chose the right location and launched thriving practices that supported their financial and personal goals.

The difference? Planning with purpose, not just chasing buildings or promises.

Key Takeaways

Fear is normal, but don’t let it stop you. You don’t need the full roadmap, just the courage to take the next step.
Start with vision, not real estate. Define your “why,” your financial strategy and your ideal patient first.
Protect yourself in partnerships. Don’t rely on promises. Get agreements in writing.
Design your practice around your happiest work. When you enjoy your dentistry, everything else falls into place.

Final Thought

Dentistry is entering a new renaissance; one where business owners, not just clinicians, will lead the way. As Amos says, practice ownership isn’t just about money; it’s about freedom, impact, and purpose.

If you’re considering ownership, don’t wait for the “perfect” time or building. Start with your vision. Identify your ideal patient. Then take that first, fearless step toward the practice (and life) you’ve been dreaming of.