Associate contract review for dentists

Your associate agreement is the foundation of your professional relationship with a dental practice. It sets out your responsibilities and the obligations of both parties, so it is important to understand exactly what you are agreeing to before signing.

Our associate contract review service helps dentists make sense of the terms in their agreement and highlights anything that could affect their rights, responsibilities or future working arrangements.

Our experienced advisors review your contract and provide clear written feedback so you can make informed decisions before committing.

Why reviewing your dental associate contract matters

Associate agreements often include complex terms covering areas such as:

percentage splits and financial arrangements
notice periods
restrictive covenants after leaving a practice
responsibilities for lab bills and equipment
termination provisions.

If these clauses are not clearly understood at the outset, disagreements later on can be stressful and expensive to resolve.

Having an associate contract review before signing can help ensure the terms reflect what has been agreed and avoid unexpected issues later.

You may also find it helpful to compare your agreement against the BDA Associate Contract template, which reflects current best practice in dental associate agreements.

What our dental associate contract review includes

When you submit your associate agreement to us, our advisors will:

review the key clauses in your contract
highlight any areas of concern
explain the practical implications of the terms
identify clauses that may need clarification or negotiation.

You will receive a bespoke written contract review tailored specifically to your agreement, providing clear and practical guidance before you commit.

Submit your contract for review

Included with BDA membership

We have extensive experience advising dentists on associate agreements and contractual arrangements across the profession and the associate contract review service is included with BDA membership. Within this, you have two service level options to choose from:

Essential members receive:

a detailed written contract review from our advisory team.

Extra and Expert members can also:

contact our advisors for additional advice by email or telephone if further discussion is required.

This allows members to choose the level of advice that best suits your needs. If you are currently an Essential member looking for additional guidance, you can upgrade your membership to access this level of support.

Not yet a BDA member?

We have extensive experience advising dentists on associate agreements and contractual arrangements across the profession. Many dentists choose to join the BDA when reviewing a new associate agreement so they can access expert contract advice before signing.

Join us today to access our associate contract review service along with expert advice, guidance and support throughout your career.

Join the BDA

Frequently asked questions

What clauses should I check in a dental associate contract?

Associates should review several key clauses carefully, including remuneration and percentage splits, laboratory costs, notice periods, restrictive covenants and termination provisions. These terms determine how you receive income, how you can leave the practice and whether there are restrictions on where you can work afterwards. You can compare your agreement with the BDA Associate Contract template to see how agreements are typically structured.

What percentage do dental associates get paid in the UK?

Dental associates pay an apportionment of gross fees to the practice in the form of a licence, fee, the remainder is the associates net income. The percentage offered can vary depending on factors such as the location of the practice, the type of work undertaken and the facilities provided by the practice. Associates should ensure they understand how their percentage is calculated and what expenses may be deducted before agreeing to the terms of a contract. If you are unsure about the financial terms in your agreement, we provide an associate contract review service for dentists.

What is a restrictive covenant in a dental associate contract?

A restrictive covenant is a clause that limits where or when you can work after leaving a practice. It often restricts working within a certain geographic area or time period. These clauses are designed to protect the practice’s goodwill but should be reasonable and proportionate. If you are unsure whether a clause is appropriate, BDA members can request an associate contract review service for dentists.

Associate contract reviews for dentists