About Tanner Management
Helping Dentists Make Smarter Practice Decisions
A focused team of experienced consultants who work directly with dentist-owners. Not a large firm with corporate overhead. Not junior staff or offshore support. Just decades of real-world expertise, working for you.
Dental Practice Consulting Built on Operational Reality
Most dental advisors never look inside the practice itself. They review financials and broker packets but miss the operational fundamentals that actually determine whether a practice will succeed under your ownership.
Our founding principle is that you understand a dental practice by looking at how it operates clinically and administratively, not just by analyzing financials. A practice can look profitable on paper but be operationally broken. Conversely, a practice with solid operational fundamentals often becomes more profitable than the numbers suggest once you implement your systems.
- We evaluate clinical workflows, team dynamics, and patient relationships — not just spreadsheets
- You work directly with experienced consultants, never junior staff
- We are not affiliated with sellers, brokers, or lenders. We work for you alone
- We serve dentists nationwide from our base in Sacramento, CA
Core Consulting Services
Comprehensive consulting across the full spectrum of practice acquisition and management — from identifying and evaluating targets through closing and beyond.
Every engagement is tailored to your situation. Whether you are a first-time buyer evaluating your first acquisition or a multi-practice owner optimizing operations, we adapt our approach to match your goals, timeline, and experience level.
- Acquisition Consulting — Full guidance from target identification through closing
- Due Diligence — Deep-dive verification of practices you are considering
- Growth & Management — Optimization and scaling of acquired or existing practices
- Insurance Strategy — PPO contract analysis and fee schedule optimization
JoAnne Tanner, MBA
Founder & Principal Consultant
JoAnne has personally guided over 100 dentists through successful practice acquisitions across 30+ years. She brings deep expertise in operational due diligence, team development, and growth strategy. Her consulting is grounded in decades of real-world experience working with practices of all sizes and configurations.
Published in Dental Economics with "Beyond the Numbers: What Buyers Overlook in Dental Practice Acquisitions," JoAnne is a recognized authority in the field. Her frameworks are used by buyers and consultants nationwide.
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Cecie Mendoza
Practice Management Consultant
Cecie brings 20 years of hands-on practice management experience. After learning the business side of dentistry as an office administrator and seeing the transformative results of implementing proper systems, she dedicated her career to helping other practices achieve the same outcomes.
She coaches dentists, owners, and team members on new business solutions, enhancing existing systems, and developing effective teams. Her passion is empowering dental practice owners to make well-informed financial decisions while providing the highest quality of care.
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Why Dentists Choose Tanner Management
Real Experience, Not Theory
Our recommendations come from 30+ years of working with actual practices. We have seen what works, what fails, and everything in between. You get field-tested advice, not textbook theory.
Operational Focus
We evaluate clinical and operational realities, not just financial numbers. A practice can have great numbers and still be operationally broken. We assess both dimensions.
Independent Guidance
We are not affiliated with sellers, brokers, lenders, or financing companies. We work for you alone. You get honest analysis independent of transaction incentives.
Honest Assessment
If we think an acquisition is a mistake, we will tell you. If an opportunity is better than you realize, we will tell you that too. Straight talk is more valuable than telling you what you want to hear.
Long-Term Partnership
We do not disappear after closing. Many clients continue working with us through integration and beyond. We are invested in your long-term success, not just in completing a transaction.
Accessible and Responsive
You work directly with experienced consultants, not junior staff. We respond promptly and communicate clearly. You are not a ticket number in a large system.
What We Believe
Operations Matter More Than Numbers
A practice can look profitable on paper but be operationally broken in ways that prevent you from succeeding. We evaluate both dimensions before recommending any decision.
Team Quality Is Everything
You can fix almost any operational issue except a fundamentally broken team culture. Team assessment is central to every evaluation we conduct.
Systems Enable Scale
Practices run on systems and processes, whether documented or not. Better systems reduce owner dependence and enable sustainable growth.
Insurance Strategy Defines Your Ceiling
Your insurance participation decisions constrain or enable your profitability. Strategic insurance choices are among the most important you will make as an owner.
Growth Should Be Intentional
Accidental growth is unstable. Intentional growth based on clear strategy, measured execution, and disciplined follow-through is what creates lasting value.
Ready to Work Together?
Whether you are considering a practice acquisition, looking to optimize an existing practice, or navigating a major transition, the next step is a conversation. We offer free initial consultations to discuss your goals and explore how we can help.
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