
First-time buyers, existing owners and small practice groups were behind 82% of dental practice sales in 2024 according to a new report.
Small groups alone acquired 29% of businesses sold in 2024, representing the most active buyer group. This had increased from 18% in 2023.
Conversely, corporate buyers were responsible for just 18% of dental business purchases last year, down from 31% in 2023.
Christie & Co’s Business Outlook 2025 report also found a general uptick in acquisitions in 2024. Viewings increased by 19%, offers by 17% and agreed deals by more than one quarter (26%).
The data suggests that 18% more practices were brought to the market in 2024. However, the increase in available businesses did not lower the number of offers received. Sellers received an average of 4.8 offers per practice sale – up from 4.4 in 2023 and just 2.2 in 2022.
Dental practices were averagely sold for 108% of their asking price. However, a 9.6% decrease in the average sale prices was noted compared to 2023. Christie & Co said prices had ‘now stabilised’ and were ‘showing signs of renewed optimism on the horizon’.
How do dental professionals feel about the practice sales market?
In addition to data on practice sales, the broker also investigated the attitudes of dental professionals towards the market. When asked about their sentiment in 2025, 37% of dental professionals said they felt positive. The same amount (37%) felt neutral, while 26% felt negative.
Joel Mannix, head of dental at Christie & Co, said: ‘Despite some ongoing challenges, the overall sentiment is optimistic and, when coupled with that wider activity, we expect the market to continue to adapt and thrive, driven by agility, innovation and resilience.’
More than six in 10 (65%) said they were looking to buy or sell a dental business in 2025.
Will trends continue in 2025?

The report also lays out predictions for the practice sales market in 2025. These are:
- A continued appetite from independent groups and owner-operator first-time buyers for all practice types
- Increased numbers of sellers wanting to exit before future changes to business asset disposal relief (BADR)
- Higher national living wage (NLW) rates affecting practice profitability along with employers’ national insurance contributions (NICs)
- Private equity-backed corporate buyers returning to the market in light of stabilised interest rates and successful periods of integration and divestment
- Continued issues with recruitment, alleviated somewhat by the streamlining of the Performers List Validation by Experience (PVLE) and Overseas Registration Exam (ORE) processes
- Due to the financial restrictions placed on NHS-focused practices, such as the ineligibility for the increased employment allowance, acquisitions focused on NHS-heavy portfolios might have less appeal to buyers.
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