How do I hand over a dental lab’s technician skills and shade-matching know-how?

Skill that lives in one person’s head leaves with them. Begin by listing what your technicians do that others could not do the same day. Shade matching, finishing a difficult case and reading a vague prescription are common examples. Ask each technician to describe their method, and record it with photos, notes and sample cases.

Next, record what you know about clients. A dentist who always wants a slightly warmer shade, or who sends cases with little detail, is exactly the sort of knowledge a new owner will need. Put it in the client file.

Plan an overlap. Have the buyer sit with technicians, review cases together and handle a few clients while you are still there. The longer the overlap, the smoother it tends to be. Finally, talk to the technicians themselves, before the news is wide. Ask what would make them stay, and let the buyer hear the same. Your lawyer can advise on any agreements with staff. Be careful not to promise a buyer that skill transfers automatically. Training takes time and some people do not wish to share their methods. Treat the knowledge handover as a project with a plan, a lead and a record of progress, and check it again after closing.

Key takeaways

• Capture methods in photos, notes and sample cases, not memory.
• Record each client’s habits and preferences in their file.
• Speak with key technicians early about staying on.