i can't tell you how many new patients we have from family, friends, co-workers, etc. we try to get everyone in just to continue growth and help people out. also, i can't tell you how many dentists come to the end of careers, and end of having strokes, heart attacks, cancer...it's awful to watch. nothing like working hard to not be able to enjoy it. the guy a bought a practice from had a heart attack and i just heard today he had passed away. he was maybe 65.
not being able to sell is a new problem. dentists coming out are anywhere from 260k-400k in debt, and it's hard to buy a practice. some guys are selling out to DSOs who by the practice and let you work as an employee. there's post retirement dividends to share, but i have no desire to work for a corporate structure. my hope is that i live long enough to have one of my kids take it over.