“We didn’t want to step away from dentistry — we just wanted the pressure to ease.”

Dr. Ben Goode

BChD DipConSed 

Dr. Ursula Mulholland

BSc BDS LH(Hom) 

For Dr Ben Goode and Dr Ursula Mulholland, selling their practice was never about retirement. Both remained deeply committed to their patients, their team and the profession itself. What they wanted was something far simpler — breathing space.

“We loved dentistry,” Ursula explains. “What we didn’t love was the constant pressure of running every aspect of the business. We were proud of what we’d built and didn’t want to hand it over to someone who wouldn’t value it in the same way.”

Their concerns about traditional corporate buyers were clear.

“We were very protective of our team,” Ben adds. “Some of them had been with us for more than a decade. The idea of selling to a group that might focus purely on the bottom line didn’t sit comfortably. We’d worked too hard to create the culture we had.”

When their broker introduced them to DeNovo Dental Partners, the model immediately felt different.

“We were told this wasn’t a typical sale,” Ben says. “It was a shared ownership approach where we would remain involved, still have skin in the game, and help shape not only our practice’s future but the wider company too. That was exciting.”

Ursula recalls their first meeting vividly.

“We met Mark Aichroth and Brian Southward and felt instantly at ease. They were clearly strong business people, but there was sincerity there. They talked about collaboration, ethics and long-term relationships. As dentists, we build trust for a living — so rapport matters to us.”

What stood out most was flexibility.

“We were reassured that we could remain as involved as we wanted,” Ursula explains. “If there were aspects of running the practice we were happy to hand over, we could. If there were areas we wanted to keep control of, that was respected. It felt balanced.”

The transition process itself proved more demanding than they had anticipated — but they never felt unsupported.

“Selling a practice is a huge undertaking,” Ben admits. “We hadn’t fully appreciated how much time and energy it would take. But DeNovo remained accessible throughout. They were open to our ideas and actively sought feedback on how to improve the process for others. That humility made a difference.”

Since completion, what has surprised them most is how little has changed day to day.

“They don’t micromanage,” Ursula says. “We’re trusted to get on with what we’re good at. Support is there in the background if we ask for it, but nothing is dictated from above.”

That shift has had a noticeable impact personally.

“I genuinely have a renewed enthusiasm for dentistry,” Ben reflects. “There’s space in my head again. Space in my diary. We can attend training courses, explore new ideas and focus on patients without the same level of background pressure.”

For their team, reassurance was essential.

“It made it easier to share the news because we believed in what we were becoming part of,” Ursula explains. “We have confidence that the practice, and the team, will be supported long into the future.”

Looking ahead, both feel energised rather than relieved.

“This wasn’t an exit,” Ben concludes. “It was a reset. We’re still running the practice, still deeply involved — but we’re no longer carrying everything alone. That makes all the difference.”

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LOCATION: Coleraine, Northern Island

ESTABLISHED: 2004

TYPE OF PRACTICE: Private Only

SPECIAL INTERESTS: General, Implant, Restorative, Sedation, Orthodontics, Sleep Dentistry