Dentist retirement in Flecken Zechlin: Who will save the practice?

Dentist retirement in Flecken Zechlin: Who will save the practice?

The town of Zechlin is facing a major upheaval, as Eberhard Reese's dental practice will close on June 30, 2025. After more than 35 years in the region, to which many patients had become accustomed, the popular dentist is going into his well-deserved retirement. Horst-Rainer Maranke, the mayor of Flecken Zechlin, visited the practice to say goodbye and voiced his concerns publicly for the first time. Reese had been looking for a successor for a long time, but unfortunately had not found a suitable solution until the end.

Reese, who does not come from a family of doctors but from a family of foresters, has shaped dentistry in Flecken Zechlin over the last three decades. After graduating from high school in Rheinsberg, he began studying at the Ernst Moritz Arndt University. He completed his specialist training at the polyclinic in Neuruppin and had around 700 patients in the quarter, supported by his long-time helper Angela Otto. Despite his skepticism about digitalization - Reese had difficulties with modern technology - he placed great emphasis on his patients' oral hygiene and recommended brushing their teeth twice a day.

The Reality of Dental Practice Succession

The search for a successor is not just a personal problem for Reese, but reflects a larger social phenomenon. The Brandenburg Association of Statutory Health Insurance Dentists reports that there is a shortage of around 1.5 full-time positions for dentists in the Ostprignitz-Ruppin region, which reduces the level of coverage to 97 percent. There are 1,600 dentists active throughout the Mark, a third of whom are over 60 years old. The signs are bad, as only around half of the established practices can find a successor, which endangers the future of dental care. maz online There is no doubt that a situation like this not only harms the dentists affected, but also the entire population.

More and more smaller dental practices are looking for ways to consolidate in a fragmented market characterized by a high proportion of individual practices. gpnz emphasizes that investor-operated medical care centers (MVZ) do not yet have the necessary distribution in Germany. However, these could offer a solution to the succession problem as they often come with tax advantages and modern equipment.

The planning time for a successful practice succession is between four and fifteen years. This is shown by the experience from the industry. Careful planning can help increase the appeal of the practice and maximize the sales price while minimizing stress for everyone involved. Young dentists have a preference for modern practice equipment and digitalized workflows. These trends not only highlight the desires of the new generation of dentists, but also a necessary adaptation to the demands of the 21st century. actova describes that a transparent financial situation and an assessment of the practice landscape are crucial.

The municipal initiatives in Havelland and Wittenberge show what targeted support for the takeover of dental practices can look like. These programs could help increase the region's attractiveness to dentists while maintaining medical care. Maranke is even considering looking for a dental practice in Rheinsberg to fill the gap left by Reese. The challenges are great, but with creative thinking and community commitment, dental care in Flecken Zechlin could possibly still be secured.