Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
To sell a dental practice in Ontario, start preparing two to three years ahead: clean up your financials, secure the lease, get a formal valuation, then market it confidentially to associates, other dentists or dental groups. After closing, you must notify patients in writing and meet RCDSO deadlines, such as the 10-day shareholder notice for a professional corporation.
This guide is for Ontario dentists who are thinking about selling a practice in 2027 or soon after, whether to retire, relocate or join a group. You will get the steps in order, the RCDSO rules with their deadlines, and the spots where sales usually stall.
How long does it take to sell a dental practice in Ontario?
Plan on years for the preparation and months for the sale itself. A May 2026 Canadian valuation guide from EBIKO, a Markham dental supplier, suggests you start getting ready about two to three years before you want to sell, and get a fresh valuation about 12 months before you go to market. Nobody can promise a closing date, because the lease, the buyer’s lender and the College paperwork all move at their own speed.
Why so much lead time? Buyers and their banks read your last few years of financial statements. If you want to lower overhead, sign a longer lease or bring in an associate, those changes need time to show up in the numbers. A rushed sale usually means you sell the practice as it is today, not as it could be.
A quick word on my role. I am a commercial broker. I handle the sale of the business and the real estate side, and I work alongside your lawyer, your accountant and the buyer’s lender. I am not a lawyer, an accountant or a practice appraiser, so the legal, tax and formal valuation pieces below are things to confirm with those professionals.
Step 1: How do you get a dental practice ready to sell?
Start with the things a buyer’s banker checks first.
- Clean financial statements. Separate personal spending from practice costs so the real profit is easy to see.
- Overhead. A May 2026 BMO Nesbitt Burns guide for buyers treats overhead above 65% of revenue as a warning sign that a practice may be overpriced.
- Hygiene. The same guide flags hygiene under 25% of total revenue as another warning sign. A full hygiene schedule shows that patients keep coming back.
- Owner dependence. If most of the production is yours, a buyer worries that patients will leave when you do. An associate who already produces makes the practice easier to sell.
- Equipment and approvals. List major equipment with its age and service history. Gather your x-ray, CT or sedation approvals. Some of these are tied to the room, as I explain in my guide to dental office space.
Fix the lease before you list
The lease is often the single biggest risk in a dental sale. The EBIKO guide says a lease with fewer than five years left, or with weak renewal or demolition terms, can cut value by 10% to 20%. Talk to your landlord about a renewal or extension early, while you still have time, and read the assignment clause closely. My commercial lease clauses guide walks through the clauses that decide whether a buyer can take over your space.
Step 2: How do you find out what your practice is worth?
Practices are usually priced as a share of annual collections, then adjusted for profit, hygiene, equipment, the lease and the area. My estimator benchmark, taken from published broker and lender guides, is this: GTA dental practices have been trading at roughly 100–150% of annual collections, with large dental groups (DSOs) keeping demand high. The BMO Nesbitt Burns guide, for example, puts GTA practices at about 130% to 150% of annual revenue, and rural or smaller-city practices at about 80% to 120%.
A benchmark is a starting point, not a price. For an actual sale you need a formal valuation from a qualified practice appraiser, built on your financial statements, production reports and active patient counts. The EBIKO guide puts the cost of a valuation at about $5,000 to $15,000.
Step 3: Who buys dental practices in Ontario?
Most sellers end up talking to three kinds of buyers. Each one pays in a different way and expects different things from you after closing.
- Your own associate. The smoothest handover for patients and staff. The catch is that the deal depends on what their bank will lend.
- Another dentist. Often a nearby owner who wants more patients or chairs, or a younger dentist buying a first practice. They may merge or move the office.
- A dental group (DSO). Groups buy profitable practices to add to a network. They often ask the seller to stay on for a period, and part of the price may be paid later.
Large groups are active in Canada. Oral Health Group reported in November 2025 that Dentalcorp bought 13 practices in the third quarter of 2025 at an average of about 7.5 times practice-level EBITDA after rent. In October 2025, 123Dentist announced a deal to acquire MCA Dental Group, which runs 27 locations in Ontario and Québec. A group is one option, not the only one. Ask every buyer how long they need you to stay, what you will earn while you stay, and how much of the price is paid at closing.
If you own your building, you can sell it with the practice, keep it and become the buyer’s landlord, or sell it separately. My guide to selling and renting back explains how that choice works.
Talk to more than one type of buyer before you pick a path. I often see owners accept the first serious offer because it came early. A dentist buyer and a group buyer can value the same practice very differently, and the terms (how long you stay, what is paid later, what happens to your staff) can matter as much as the headline price.
Want a private range for your own practice before you talk to any buyer? Try the estimator below.
Step 4: How do you sell a dental practice without staff and patients finding out?
Keep it quiet until a deal is firm. News of a sale can unsettle your team and your patients long before anything is signed.
- Share a short, unnamed summary first: general area, number of operatories, a collections range and hygiene days.
- Get a signed confidentiality agreement before you share anything detailed. The RCDSO notes that Ontario’s health privacy law (PHIPA) lets you share health information with a potential buyer so they can assess the practice, but only after the buyer signs a confidentiality agreement.
- Release patient-level detail last, and only what the buyer actually needs.
- Book tours after hours or on days the office is closed.
Many practices never appear on the open market. TRREB MLS data (via REALM) for the 12 months to September 2026: dental and medical practices that sold through MLS were small, with a median of about $280,000, and sold at about 85% of asking. Larger GTA practices usually trade privately. That is one reason specialist practice brokers and direct approaches to qualified buyers are so common in this field.
Step 5: What goes into the offer and the purchase agreement?
The offer sets the price, but the agreement decides how smooth the handover will be. Your lawyer drafts and negotiates it. These are the business points I make sure we have talked through first:
- Structure. Whether the buyer purchases assets or the shares of your professional corporation. This changes tax, HST and liability. My guide to what a buyer actually buys explains the difference.
- How the price is paid. Cash at closing, payments over time, or a part tied to future results.
- Transition period. The RCDSO suggests considering a period when both dentists work in the practice, so the seller can finish treatment and handle any retreatment.
- Unfinished treatment. List patients who are partway through treatment and agree on who finishes it and how it is paid.
- Retreatment. The College recommends planning for retreatment of failed work and putting that plan in the agreement.
- Payment plans. Patients with special financial arrangements need the buyer to honour them or give advance notice of a change.
- Your access to records. The agreement should let you see records later if you need to defend a complaint or claim.
- Lease and landlord consent. Most deals are conditional on the landlord approving an assignment or a new lease.
A deal can collapse at the landlord’s desk. If your lease needs consent to assign, or has a demolition or relocation clause, raise it before you accept an offer, not after. Leaving it to the last weeks gives the landlord all the leverage and puts your buyer’s financing at risk.
Step 6: What does the RCDSO require when you sell your practice?
The College’s change-of-ownership rules are short, but each one has a deadline or an owner. Here is what the RCDSO’s own pages say.
| Task | Who does it | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Tell patients in writing about the change in ownership | Seller (the buyer, if the seller has died or cannot) | Within a reasonable time |
| Notice of Change of Shareholders, for a professional corporation | The corporation | Within 10 days of the change |
| Notify the College of a practice address change | The dentist | Within 30 days |
| Remove the previous owner’s name from signs and stationery | Buyer | Within one year of the change |
| Get a new practice name approved, if a corporation is bought | Buyer | Before using the name |
| Keep clinical and financial records | The custodian, usually the buyer | At least 10 years from the last entry; for minors, 10 years from age 18 |
| Resignation notice, if you are retiring | Seller | Notices received 15 October to 31 December take effect 31 December |
Source: RCDSO change of ownership and retiring FAQ; RCDSO Practice Advisory on Change of Practice Ownership; RCDSO Dental Recordkeeping Guidelines (November 2019). Confirm current details with the College and your lawyer.
Two record rules catch sellers off guard. First, under PHIPA the selling dentist is responsible for transferring records to another custodian, and the College’s guidance says that duty does not end until a legally authorized successor has the records. Second, a buyer cannot refuse to release a patient’s records to another dentist because of a dispute with you.
How do taxes affect selling a dental practice?
Tax can change your take-home amount more than a few points of price. The CRA lists the lifetime capital gains exemption at $1,250,000 for 2025 dispositions of qualifying property, which can include shares of a qualified small business corporation. Whether your professional corporation’s shares qualify depends on tests your accountant has to check well before the sale.
That is why sellers often prefer a share sale and buyers often prefer an asset purchase. Get advice from your accountant and lawyer before you sign a letter of intent, because the structure is much harder to change later. This section is general information, not tax advice, so confirm every point with your accountant.
What happens after the sale closes?
Closing is not quite the end. Introduce the buyer to patients and staff, follow the transition plan, and hand over passwords, supplier accounts and lab relationships. The RCDSO also confirms that you stay protected under its Professional Liability Program, indefinitely, for claims about care you gave Ontario patients while you were a member.
If you are retiring, file your resignation with the College through the member portal. If your professional corporation holds a certificate of authorization, the College notes it is revoked automatically on your resignation’s effective date.
What to do next
- Pull your last three years of financial statements and production reports, and check your overhead and hygiene share against the warning signs above.
- Read your lease for its remaining term, renewal options, assignment and demolition clauses, and talk to your landlord early.
- Run your numbers through the dental practice value estimator, then book a formal valuation.
- Meet your accountant and lawyer about share or asset structure before you speak to buyers.
- Decide which buyer types you want to approach, and prepare a confidentiality agreement and an unnamed summary.
Need help with this? Talk to me.
I’m Jatin Dua, Broker of Record at RE/MAX Quantum Realty, and I’m the best agent to do this kind of work for you in Toronto and across the GTA. Over $100 million in GTA sales and 100+ families helped sell. Feel free to contact me any time: call or text 833-330-1925 or email [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
How do I sell my dental practice in Ontario?
You sell an Ontario dental practice in stages: prepare your financials and lease, get a formal valuation, market it confidentially, negotiate an offer, then close with your lawyer. In 2027 most buyers are associates, other dentists or dental groups. After closing, the seller must tell patients in writing and the corporation must notify the RCDSO of a shareholder change within 10 days.
How long does it take to sell a dental practice in Canada?
Preparation usually takes longer than the sale itself. A 2026 Canadian guide from EBIKO suggests starting about two to three years before you want to sell, with a fresh valuation about 12 months before listing. The marketing, negotiation and closing then depend on the lease, the buyer’s lender and the College paperwork, so no timeline is guaranteed.
Do I have to tell my patients I am selling my dental practice in Ontario?
Yes. The RCDSO says the selling dentist must notify patients in writing about a change in practice ownership within a reasonable time. If the seller cannot, for example because of death or incapacity, the incoming dentist must tell patients in writing what happened and that the records are now in their possession. Most sellers send this notice once the sale is firm.
Who keeps the patient records when a dental practice is sold in Ontario?
Usually the buyer. Under Ontario’s PHIPA, the selling dentist must transfer records to another health information custodian, and the purchase agreement typically moves the duty to keep records to the buyer. The RCDSO guidelines say records must be kept at least 10 years from the last entry, or 10 years after a minor patient turns 18. The seller should keep a right of access.
Should I sell my dental practice to a DSO in 2027?
It depends on your goals. Dental groups such as Dentalcorp and 123Dentist have been buying Canadian practices, and Dentalcorp reported paying about 7.5 times EBITDA after rent on Q3 2025 purchases. Groups often ask the seller to keep working for a period and may pay part of the price later. Compare their terms with offers from individual dentists before deciding.
What is a transition period when selling a dental practice?
A transition period is a set time after closing when the seller keeps working in the practice alongside the buyer. The RCDSO suggests considering one in Ontario so the selling dentist can finish ongoing treatment and handle retreatment. It also helps patients and staff get to know the new owner. The length and pay should be written into the purchase agreement.
How much does a dental practice valuation cost in Ontario?
A formal dental practice valuation in Canada costs about $5,000 to $15,000, according to a 2026 guide from EBIKO. The price depends on the size of the practice and the appraiser. A free online estimate can give you a rough range first, but a sale in 2027 should rely on a formal valuation built on your financial statements and production reports.
Should I list my dental practice for sale on MLS in Toronto?
Most large GTA practices do not sell on MLS. TRREB MLS data via REALM for the 12 months to September 2026 shows dental and medical practices sold through MLS were small, with a median of about $280,000, at about 85% of asking. Larger GTA practices usually trade privately, through confidential marketing to qualified buyers who sign an agreement first.
Am I still covered for malpractice after I sell my dental practice in Ontario?
Yes. The RCDSO says Ontario dentists remain protected indefinitely under its Professional Liability Program for claims arising from care they gave Ontario patients while they were College members. Your purchase agreement should also give you access to the patient records after the sale, so you can respond to any complaint or claim about work you did before closing.
Sources
- RCDSO: Change of practice ownership and retiring (FAQ)
- RCDSO: Practice Advisory, Change of Practice Ownership
- RCDSO: Guidelines, Dental Recordkeeping
- CRA: Line 25400, Capital gains deduction
- BMO Nesbitt Burns: The Complete Guide to Buying a Dental Practice in Canada (2026)
- EBIKO: How to Value Your Dental Practice, a 2026 Canadian Guide
- Oral Health Group: Dentalcorp reports Q3 2025 results
- 123Dentist: Acquisition of MCA Dental Group (October 2025)
Related reading
- How Much Is a Dental Practice Worth in Ontario? (2027)
- Dental Practice for Sale in Toronto and the GTA: How to Find One (Including Off-Market)
- Start a Dental Practice or Buy One? Ontario Costs Compared (2027)
- How Much Does a Dental Office Build-Out Cost in the GTA? (2027)
About the author — Jatin Dua, Toronto and GTA real estate broker
I am Jatin Dua, Broker of Record and co-founder of RE/MAX Quantum Realty Inc., Brokerage, Unit 101, 799 The Queensway, Toronto. I work with buyers and sellers across Toronto and the GTA and have helped more than 100 families sell. Four-plus years of active GTA transactions and over $100 million in sales volume.
Reach me at [email protected] or 833-330-1925, or book a call.