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Dental Contract Resources

The Review Dental Contracts Resource Library provides practical guidance to help dentists understand compensation structures, restrictive covenants, malpractice obligations, termination provisions, partnership terms, and other issues commonly found in dental employment and independent contractor agreements.

Developed by attorney Robert Chelle, these guides explain complex dental contract and compensation issues in clear, practical language so dentists can better understand how an agreement may affect their income, obligations, and future practice options before signing.

Compensation & Pay Models

Understand the compensation formulas, bonus structures, employment classifications, and other financial terms that can affect how a dentist is paid.

Dental Associate Compensation Basics Salary, daily guarantees, production, collections, and core compensation concepts for dental associates. Dental Compensation Models Guide Production, collections, salary, and hybrid models and how each can affect dentist compensation. Dental Bonus Structures Overview Signing, productivity, retention, and other incentive bonus structures commonly used in dental contracts. Insurance Mix and Dental Pay How PPO, Medicaid, fee-for-service, and other payer mixes can affect production and collections compensation. W2 or 1099 for Dental Associates? Employment classification, taxes, benefits, expenses, and other differences for dental associates. Dental Signing and Relocation Bonuses Signing and relocation payments, repayment obligations, clawbacks, and related contract terms. DSO Employment Contract Guide DSO compensation, production expectations, locations, restrictive covenants, and other employment terms.

Contract Terms & Risk Areas

Review provisions that may affect where you can practice, how the relationship can end, and what obligations continue after employment.

Dental Associate Contract Red Flags Contract provisions that may affect compensation, flexibility, financial obligations, and future practice options. Dentist Non-Compete Rules and Risks Duration, geographic restrictions, multiple locations, restricted activities, and enforceability considerations. Dental Restrictive Covenant Issues Non-compete, non-solicitation, confidentiality, and other post-employment restrictions. Dental Associate Contract Termination Notice periods, without-cause termination, for-cause provisions, repayment risks, and post-termination obligations. Dental Contract Renewal and Terms Initial terms, automatic renewals, non-renewal notice, amendments, and renegotiation timing. Dental Associate Schedule and Duties Scheduling, office locations, clinical duties, call expectations, and other work requirements.

Malpractice & Insurance

Understand professional liability coverage, policy structure, and post-employment insurance obligations.

Dental Malpractice Coverage Basics Claims-made and occurrence coverage, policy limits, premiums, exclusions, and employer responsibilities. Tail Insurance for Dentists When tail coverage may be required, who pays for it, and how post-employment coverage works.

Ownership, Productivity & Practice Issues

Explore partnership, productivity, benefits, and other issues that can affect a dentist’s long-term practice arrangement.

Dental Partnership and Buy-In Terms Equity, valuation, capital contributions, governance, buyout rights, and other ownership provisions. Dental Associate Productivity Rules Production targets, scheduling expectations, performance metrics, and productivity requirements. Dental Lab Fee Deductions How laboratory and implant expenses may be deducted when calculating dentist compensation. Dental Associate Offer Letters Compensation, schedule, benefits, restrictive covenants, and other terms to confirm before the full agreement. Dental CE, PTO and Benefits Guide Continuing education, paid time off, insurance benefits, professional expenses, and related contract terms.

Need Help With Your Dental Contract?

These resources are a starting point. If you want attorney guidance on your specific dental employment agreement, independent contractor agreement, compensation structure, non-compete, malpractice obligations, partnership terms, or other contract provisions, we can review the agreement and help identify the issues that matter most.

Request a Dental Contract Review

Explore More Dental Contract Guidance

Visit our dental contract services or review state-specific guidance for issues involving compensation, restrictive covenants, malpractice coverage, termination rights, repayment obligations, and other contract terms.

Dental Contract Review Services Review services for employment agreements, independent contractor agreements, compensation, non-competes, malpractice, DSO contracts, partnerships, and practice purchases. Dental Contract Review by State State-specific guidance on non-compete rules, compensation issues, malpractice obligations, termination provisions, and other dental contract matters.

Dental Contract Resources — Frequently Asked Questions

What topics do the dental contract resources cover?

The resource library covers dental compensation models, production and collections formulas, bonuses, non-compete agreements, restrictive covenants, malpractice and tail insurance, termination provisions, DSO contracts, partnership and buy-in terms, lab fee deductions, benefits, and other dental employment and independent contractor issues.

Are these resources only for dental associates?

No. The resources are useful for dental associates, independent contractors, DSO-employed dentists, new graduates, dentists evaluating partnership or buy-in opportunities, and dentists considering a practice purchase. The issues that matter most will depend on the dentist’s role and the type of agreement involved.

What is the difference between production-based and collections-based dental compensation?

Production-based compensation is generally tied to the value of dentistry performed, while collections-based compensation is tied to amounts actually collected for that dentistry. The contract should clearly define how production or collections are calculated, what fees or adjustments are deducted, and when compensation is paid.

Why are dental non-compete provisions important?

A non-compete may restrict where a dentist can practice after the relationship ends. The agreement should be reviewed for the duration of the restriction, geographic scope, locations used to calculate the restricted area, activities covered, and the circumstances that trigger the restriction.

What should dentists look for in malpractice and tail insurance provisions?

Dentists should identify the type of malpractice coverage provided, policy limits, who pays the premium, whether tail coverage may be required when the relationship ends, and who is responsible for the cost of any required tail coverage.

Why are termination provisions important in a dental contract?

Termination provisions determine how and when either party may end the agreement. Dentists should review notice requirements, without-cause termination rights, for-cause provisions, cure periods, repayment obligations, compensation owed after termination, and any restrictions that apply after the relationship ends.

What should dentists consider before entering a partnership or buy-in arrangement?

Dentists should review the purchase or buy-in price, valuation method, ownership percentage, capital contributions, voting and governance rights, compensation, profit distributions, restrictive covenants, buyout provisions, and what happens if an owner leaves, retires, becomes disabled, or the relationship otherwise ends.

When should a dentist have an agreement reviewed by an attorney?

Dentists should consider attorney review before signing a new employment agreement, independent contractor agreement, renewal, amendment, partnership or buy-in agreement, practice purchase agreement, or termination-related document, particularly when the agreement includes complex compensation formulas, restrictive covenants, repayment obligations, or unclear malpractice responsibilities.