THE ADA PRACTICAL GUIDE TO ASSOCIATESHIPS 5 Some of the reasons that established dentists in private practice add associates are to: • Relieve excess patient load • Develop a marketing program to build patient flow for a potential buy-in by the associate • Expand the office’s mix of dental services • Allow extended office hours • Provide an initial trial period for assessing compatibility prior to the total or partial sale of the practice to the associate • Have a purchaser for the practice in the event of death, disability or retirement • Distribute fixed operating costs to additional dentists • Maximize the use of office space • Increase net income • Provide coverage in case of accident, sickness or emergency dental needs • Reduce involvement of the dentist-owner in clinical practice • Ensure stability and continuity of the practice for both patients and staff • Provide a mechanism for informal peer review • Lighten the dentist-owner’s patient load to refocus on new techniques or concentrate on an area of expertise (i.e., cosmetic dentistry) • Assist new graduates in beginning their professional careers Structures of Associateship Arrangements Associateship arrangements are as varied as the interests of the parties developing the relationships. The arrangement may be different from the dentist- owner hiring an associate as an employee. The arrangement can be structured to allow the selling dentist to remain involved in the practice following its sale at a pre-determined time. Such arrangements are typically designed around the available patients and the desire of the selling dentist to practice on a limited basis. Occasionally, the dentist selling a practice will become an associate of the new dentist-owner, providing a means of continued practice on either a full- or part-time basis. An arrangement that is fair and equitable for a current associate can be used as a guideline to draft a similar associate arrangement for the selling dentist. This may be used as a critical test to determine whether a proposed arrangement for a prospective associate is acceptable to both contracting parties. Associateship arrangements are as varied as the interests of the parties developing the relationships. The arrangement may be different from the dentist-owner hiring an associate as an employee.