Let’s say you hear a scratching noise upstairs. You don’t want to deal with it. It’s probably nothing. Maybe it’ll go away.

A few weeks pass. Now there’s a smell. Strange noises at night. You tell yourself it’s just an old house. But what was once a minor nuisance is now an infestation. A full-blown raccoon colony has taken over your attic, and the damage is no longer just noise—it’s in the walls, the wiring, the insulation, the value of your home.

Now let’s talk about your dental practice. Because I’m telling you, a lot of you have raccoons in the attic—and you’re pretending the scratching will stop.

The Dental Version of Scratching in the Ceiling

Here are the subtle signs:

• DSO reps keep reaching out, and you're not sure what to say
• Profitability is slipping, but you're working harder than ever
• Staff turnover is draining your energy
• Your exit plan is "I'll figure it out later"
• You haven't had a proper valuation done

At first, none of these seem urgent. But they are the early warnings that your practice—and the exit you deserve—is at risk.

Every week I talk to dentists who "meant" to explore their options 6 months ago... or 6 years ago. And now they're facing one of the following:

• A market shift that devalues their practice
• Burnout so deep they’ll take any offer just to get out
• A DSO deal on the table they don’t understand
• Or worse, no deal at all because they waited too long

The raccoon didn’t go away. It just got quieter until it owned the house.

Ignoring the Noise Doesn’t Protect Your Value

Dentists are incredible at putting patients first. At staying focused in crisis. At running on fumes when needed.

But you know what dentists are bad at? Planning their own escape.

You didn’t go to dental school to be an exit strategist. But that’s what’s required if you want to:

• Maximize the cash you take home
• Reduce your risk before a major shift (in your health, the market, or your numbers)
• Avoid becoming an employee of your own practice
• Protect your family’s future

And you can’t do that if you’re pretending everything will get easier on its own.

Spoiler: raccoons don’t leave on their own. Neither does operational decay, financial stagnation, or unstructured deal pressure.

You Don’t Need to Sell Tomorrow. You Do Need to Look in the Attic.

Here’s the weird part: you may be sitting on a deal worth more than you think.

But you’ll never know until you:

• Get a real, DSO-style valuation based on adjusted EBITDA
• Understand what DSOs are actually looking for
• Know how to position your practice to attract strong offers
• Learn what not to say when you’re approached (seriously, one wrong line in a conversation can cost you millions)

DSOs are not evil. But they are structured to win. If you come to the table unprepared, you’re not negotiating—you’re surrendering.

The Raccoon Has Friends

Maybe it’s not just the DSO noise. Maybe it’s internal too:

• You’re the only one who can do the high-value procedures
• Your associate is thinking of leaving
• You haven’t raised fees in 3 years
• Your numbers are opaque, your hygiene schedule is inconsistent, or your overhead is creeping up

All of these things lower your practice’s value—quietly. But consistently.

They’re gnawing through your wiring.

Here’s What to Do Before You Need an Exterminator

If this all feels uncomfortably familiar, good. That means you’re paying attention.

What comes next is simple:

Reach out.

At Everything DSO, we specialize in helping doctors:

• See what their practice is really worth
• Identify the hidden landmines affecting value
• Match with DSOs that align with your philosophy and goals
• Structure deals that leave you in control—or let you walk away clean

We do it with discretion. We do it with experience. And our fee is paid by the DSO, not by you.

This isn’t a sales pitch. It’s a flashlight in the attic.

Because raccoons only win if you pretend they aren’t there.

To your unstoppable success,
Your Team at Everything DSO