Written as the cover article of the DeW Life Magazine Winter 2025
A group of women in dentistry leadership have emerged as a powerful force within DDSmatch, offering invaluable insights into business ownership, women in dentistry and the nuances of dental transitions. These women are passionate about sharing how collaboration, communication, culture and circles of influence can aid your practice now and when it’s time to transition—even if it’s several years away.
DDSmatch is a dental transition company that is known for its proven processes, independent third-party valuations, a robust database, and relationship-driven connection, all designed to help dentists better navigate the often complex world of practice transitions.
The biggest lesson that these women have learned? We are better together!
Q: You work with dental practice owners every day, and you are business owners yourselves. What does ownership mean to you in a word (Or two!)?
Jessica DeMichiel: Autonomy
Michele Gabriel: Purpose. Legacy.
Mara Saucedo: Courage. Responsibility.
Sheryl Garfinkel: Independence. Responsibility. Power. Success. Meaningful.
Jamie Gialanella: Freedom
Betsy Krekling: Pride. Success.
The Power of Collaboration for Women in Dentistry
Whether practicing dentistry, selling a practice, adding an associate, forming a partnership, or evaluating a DSO offer, the stakes are high with many moving parts. It can feel overwhelming and emotional. Working together through cooperation and collaboration can make all the difference.
Q. What do you value most about women in dentistry?
Jessica: We think that women bring a different perspective to dentistry and show that you can definitely be successful both working at or owning a practice, despite the challenges that often come with balancing your professional life with your personal life..
Sheryl: Women in dentistry are an increasingly influential and growing presence, helping to raise awareness and break down barriers in the profession. Their contributions are vital in ensuring that women are recognized and celebrated as successful leaders and professionals in the field, inspiring future generations to pursue dentistry with confidence and ambition.
Q: How does collaboration factor into the work you do?
Mara: From a business owner perspective, the level of collaboration we share ensures I am giving my dental practice transition clients the most comprehensive guidance possible. With just a phone call, I can tap into a wealth of collective wisdom, where my colleagues share insights, resources and solutions.
Jamie: From my experience, full engagement with the client and buyer and their respective attorneys and CPAs makes for a smooth transition.
The Importance of Communication
For business owners effective communication is critical. Dentistry requires attention to detail and adheres to a specific work flow, similar to a dental transition. Communication is essential for ensuring that all parties are on the same page.
Q: What is your perspective on communication as a dental business owner?
Betsy: Open and timely communication is the backbone of how I do my best work. I look forward to connecting with my clients and am committed to guiding them any time of day.
Sheryl: To add to that, it’s about more than just conveying information—it’s about fostering understanding, especially when delivering tough messages or navigating differences. With open dialogue and skilled communication, even the most challenging situations can be worked through, leading to better outcomes for everyone involved.
Culture in Dentistry
As dentistry changes, so does the culture of transitions. A transition that focuses on the entire process rather than just the final transaction is essential to finding the right fit when selling your practice, adding an associate or creating a partnership.
Q: How does culture influence a practice?
Michele: Culture plays a pivotal role in every aspect of practice ownership and its eventual transition. A dental practice is more than just a business; it’s a community built on relationships with patients, staff, and the local area. The culture defines how care is delivered, how the team interacts, and the values that guide daily operations. When transitioning ownership, preserving and aligning this culture is essential to ensure continuity, patient trust, and staff retention.
Jessical: Although financials are certainly important, I think a culture is the linchpin of a great practice, it drives your staff and in turn leads to a good experience for your patients, and finding a buyer who has a similar idea of culture is absolutely key to a successful transition of your legacy, staff and patients to ensure quality care.
Q: What does it take to make a successful transition?
Betsy: Professionalism, consistency and a solid network is at the forefront of guaranteed success. The rest is in the details, which vary from client to client. Whatever they need, we make it happen.
Sheryl: A successful match requires time, patience, open communication, and careful attention to detail. These elements ensure that both parties are aligned and that the transition or transaction is as smooth and beneficial as possible.
Circles of Influence: Empowering Success
By building strong professional networks and leveraging collective knowledge, women in dentistry learn the power of connection and shared influence—we are better together.
Q; Tell us how you cultivate circles of influence? How do you help doctors expand theirs?
Jessica: Agree, you have to put yourself out there in all sorts of different ways: in-person events, video conference events, check-in phone calls, social media. Sometimes we are tired or the thought of networking can be stressful, overwhelming, etc. But you have to go into it with a positive mindset and realize you are really building a professional (and even personal) support system. You should think of cultivating circles of influence as a long term endeavor to become part of the dental community – not just something you do when you are looking for a job or to purchase/sell a practice.
Michele: To add to that, to help doctors expand their circles of influence, we provide access to our extensive network, including buyers, sellers, advisors, and industry leaders. We facilitate introductions to specialists in legal, financial, and operational areas, ensuring doctors are equipped with the right resources and connections for every stage of their journey. This in turn helps doctors feel as though they are supported, fosters the necessary assistance they need and helps to keep their success at the top of mind.
Q: What is your top tip for a dentist thinking about a dental transition now or even in a few years?
Mara: Plan to succeed. Engage an accountant to optimize tax strategies. Streamline operational processes. Focusing on maintaining impeccable patient records and billing systems. Sustain strong patient retention and consistent revenue.
Jamie: Start early! Being prepared to sell with the right mindset creates the most optimal transition experience for the doctor, staff and patients.
Conclusion
There are so many more lessons to be shared, from making sure you have an independent business valuation before you sell so you know the true value of your practice, to seeking counsel from professionals like attorneys, financial advisors and accountants in advance of selling so you have a team in place, to knowing how to interpret the terms and conditions of a DSO offer. It can feel onerous, but we are in it together—and we are better together!
Q: Any final takeaways to share with your fellow dental entrepreneurs?
Michele: Being a woman in dentistry I have had the fortunate circumstance to partner, lead, and collaborate with so many throughout my career. It has been a tremendous gift to be able to give back and to learn from so many strong women. As someone who has been in dentistry for almost 30 years it is a great value to me to see how the industry has evolved. I value the collaborative efforts of each individual that continues to grow their clinical, technical and entrepreneurial skills while continuing to elevate patient care, drive innovation and support one another’s growth.
Mara: Owning a dental practice is a profound act of courage—from the initial bold decision to buy, through years of dedicated building, to the ultimately selfless moment of passing the torch. It’s about understanding that true success isn’t just measured in financial terms, but in the commitment to serve patients and nurture a team’s legacy. Our role is to honor that journey, connecting practitioners who share a deep passion for compassionate care and professional excellence.
To read the full DeW Life Magazine Winter 2025, visit https://dew.life/dewlife-digital-magazines/
