Mint Ops Launches Consulting Arm for Evolving Dental Market

Winnipeg, Manitoba – January 02, 2026 – Mint Ops, a national provider of dental support services, has launched a new division aimed at guiding clinic owners through the increasingly complex landscape of practice transitions, growth, and long-term strategy. The new arm, named Transition Consulting, marks the company's fifth division and its formal entry into the high-stakes world of dental advisory services.

The move comes at a critical time for Canadian dentistry, an industry grappling with corporate consolidation, shifting ownership models, and immense operational pressures. Mint Ops states the new division will offer "non-broker consulting services," focusing on providing unbiased strategic advice rather than facilitating transactions for a commission.

“Dentistry is changing fast, and clinic owners are being forced to make bigger decisions earlier than ever,” said Alex Zlatin, CEO of Mint Ops, in the announcement. “Transition Consulting exists to give owners clear, practical guidance - backed by real data, operational insight, and an ecosystem that can actually execute the plan.”

The Shifting Landscape of Canadian Dentistry

The launch of a dedicated transition consulting service reflects profound shifts within the Canadian dental market. The traditional model of a solo practitioner owning and operating a single clinic for their entire career is rapidly giving way to more complex structures. A major driver of this change is the rise of Dental Service Organizations (DSOs), corporate entities that acquire and manage multiple practices.

Industry data shows a steady trend of consolidation, with large players like Dentalcorp acquiring hundreds of clinics across the country. This corporate expansion, often fueled by private equity investment, has increased the valuation of practices, making it more difficult for new graduates burdened with significant student debt to enter into ownership. Concurrently, the percentage of dentists in solo practice has been declining, with recent surveys from the Canadian Dental Association indicating that more than half of dentists now work in group settings.

These market dynamics create a host of challenges for independent clinic owners. Beyond clinical duties, they face mounting administrative burdens, fierce competition for qualified staff, and the high cost of adopting new dental technologies. For many, the decision to sell to a DSO, merge with another practice, or develop a multi-year growth strategy is no longer a distant retirement consideration but an immediate business necessity. This environment has created a significant demand for expert guidance that can help dentists navigate their options, maximize their practice's value, and plan for a sustainable future.

A New Model: Unbiased Guidance vs. Traditional Brokerage

Mint Ops is strategically positioning its Transition Consulting division by emphasizing a "non-broker" approach. This model seeks to differentiate itself from traditional dental practice brokers, whose primary function is to facilitate a sale and whose compensation is typically tied to the final transaction price. While brokers like Magnus Practice Transitions or Tier Three Brokerage play a crucial role in connecting buyers and sellers, their focus is inherently transactional.

The non-broker consulting model, in contrast, prioritizes long-term strategic advisory. The goal is not just to prepare a practice for an immediate sale, but to help owners understand and enhance their clinic's intrinsic value over time. This can involve deep dives into operational efficiency, staffing structures, patient acquisition strategies, and technology integration. For an owner, this could mean receiving advice to hold and grow the practice for several years before selling, a recommendation a commission-based broker might be less inclined to make.

By offering services focused on strategic growth and operational success, Mint Ops aims to be a long-term partner rather than a one-time facilitator. This approach aligns with a growing need among practice owners for objective, data-driven advice that considers their personal and financial goals beyond a single buy/sell event. The promise of "grounded, unbiased support" is central to the new division's value proposition, addressing a potential conflict of interest inherent in the traditional brokerage model.

The Architect of Transition: A Dentist at the Helm

To lead this new initiative, Mint Ops has appointed Dr. Dev Mangat, a figure whose career path uniquely mirrors the very transitions he will now advise on. Dr. Mangat is a dentist who brings a rare combination of clinical experience, operational management within a UK-based DSO, and a decade of experience as a dental broker in Western Canada.

After qualifying as a dental surgeon and practicing clinically, he served as a Clinical Cluster Lead for Oasis Dental Care, a large DSO, where he focused on improving practice efficiency. Upon moving to Canada, he spent ten years at ROI Corporation, a prominent dental brokerage, assisting dentists with their transition into retirement. Most recently, he served as EVP of Integrations and Operations for Passion Dental. This multifaceted background provides him with firsthand knowledge of the clinical, corporate, and transactional sides of the dental industry.

His appointment signals a deliberate strategy by Mint Ops to offer peer-to-peer guidance grounded in real-world experience. For dentists facing monumental decisions about their life's work, advice from a fellow clinician who has navigated similar challenges can be invaluable.

“Clinic ownership is one of the most significant personal and financial investments a dentist will ever make,” said Dr. Mangat. “Transition Consulting provides owners with grounded, unbiased support - whether they are preparing to sell, planning to expand, or simply trying to run a better clinic.”

An Integrated Ecosystem for Execution

Perhaps the most significant aspect of this launch is how Transition Consulting integrates into the wider Mint Ops ecosystem. The company has framed the new division not as a standalone service, but as the strategic capstone to its existing suite of operational tools. This ecosystem includes practice management software (MaxiDent), patient communication platforms (EngageB), imaging software (Grayscale), remote administrative support (U R DUE), recruitment services (U R HIRED), and digital marketing (U R SEEN).

This integration is designed to create a powerful synergy. For example, the consulting division can use performance data from a clinic's MaxiDent software to identify areas for operational improvement. It can then recommend and implement solutions using Mint Ops' other services, such as deploying the U R DUE remote administration team to streamline front desk inefficiencies or using U R HIRED to fill a critical staffing gap. If the strategic advice is to grow the patient base before a future sale, the U R SEEN marketing division can be engaged to execute a targeted campaign.

This ability to not only advise but also execute the plan is what Mint Ops' CEO Alex Zlatin highlights as a key differentiator. It moves the company beyond pure consulting and into the realm of a full-service operational partner. By supporting clinics at every stage—from day-to-day operations and growth to succession planning and major transitions—Mint Ops is making a strategic play to become an indispensable resource for dental practice owners across Canada. The launch of Transition Consulting solidifies this mission, providing the high-level strategic guidance needed to navigate the future of dentistry.