dental production Archives - The Wealthy Dentist

Dental Production (Survey Video)

February 23, 2021 By Jim Du Molin

Dental practice production is the best way to measure the health of an individual dental practice.

And production trends are a good way to look at dental patient spending in general.

The Wealthy Dentist did a survey asking dentists whether their 2012 production income was up or down.

Jim Du Molin and Julie Frey discuss 2012 production ups and downs:

The survey revealed 36% of dentists saw their practice production decrease in 2012.

An Indiana dentist said, “Production has increased, but I am in a few insurance plans now. I am probably writing off more than 20%.”

However, 43% of dentists experienced some growth at their dental practices.

A Colorado Periodontist said, “Our production levels have increased through diligent use of dental marketing and a treatment coordinator.”

Improving dental practice marketing and front desk skills can really help improve production.

And if a dentist can’t maintain the financial health of their practice, they’re not going to be able to oversee the dental health of their patients.

Is your production up or down since last year? What trends do you see in your market?

Filed Under: Dental Videos Tagged With: dental production, dental videos

New Root Canal Patient Gross Production Value

January 22, 2013 By Jim Du Molin

The latest The Wealthy Dentist survey reveals that the average gross production of a new root canal patient in the first 9 months of treatment in 2012 was $2,300.

Suburban dentists reported higher production figures with amounts between $2,200 – $5,000.

Charles Blair of the Blair, McGill and Hill Group with Dr. Michael D. Goldstein have stated that “there is no greater potential for increasing your net hourly revenue than by doing your own uncomplicated endodontic procedures efficiently… analysis has consistently shown endodontics to have the highest dollar-per-hour and highest dollar-per-visit payoff of any [dental] procedure…” (Source: Dr. Michael D. Goldstein)

It has been estimated that approximately 40 million root canals are performed annually in the U.S. with a greater than 95% success rate.

A UCL Eastman Dental Institute systematic review of human clinical studies on tooth survival following non-surgical root canal treatment found four conditions that significantly improved tooth survival, making it an attractive dental procedure for many dental patients. In descending order of influence, the conditions increasing observed proportion of survival were as follows:

1. A dental crown restoration after RCTx.
2. Tooth having both mesial and distal proximal contacts.
3. Tooth not functioning as an abutment for removable or fixed prosthesis.
4. Tooth type or specifically non-molar teeth.

In The Wealthy Dentist root canal survey, general dentists were performing root canals and reporting average production profits between $1,800 and $3,000 for new root canal patients, while endodontists average $1,000.

One dentist responded, “Root canal therapy is a big money maker. It’s a great way to beef up the bottom line.”

What are your thoughts on the value of a new root canal patient?

Filed Under: Dental Surveys, The Wealthy Dentist Tagged With: Dental Marketing, dental practice production, dental production, dental survey, dental surveys, dentist, dentist marketing, dentistry, dentists, endodontist, Endodontists, root canal treatment, root canals, survey

Dentists Report on Profits From Braces Patients

December 31, 2012 By Jim Du Molin

The latest The Wealthy Dentist survey reveals that the average gross production of a new braces patient in the first 9 months of treatment in 2012 was $3,600.

The higher gross production numbers were by those dentists using Invisalign.

This supports a 2012 study that revealed, while Invisalign clear orthodontic aligners cost more in materials than conventional edgewise braces, they require fewer patient visits and a shorter duration of treatment for dentists, therefore making them the most profitable form of braces treatment for dentists.

In this survey, general dentists report average production profits between $1,000 and $3,000 for orthodontia work, while orthodontists report profits between $4,000 and $6,000.

However, a few dentists balked at the idea of looking at production profits, with one dentist responding, “We should be concerned about the quality and stability of the result, the experience enjoyed by patient and the net profit after completing and retaining the case. The big production numbers only after 9 months are very attractive but misleading so many dentists.”

What are your thoughts on your new braces patient gross production and the profits from braces for 2012?

Filed Under: Dental Surveys Tagged With: Braces, Dental Braces, Dental Management, dental practice production, dental production, dental profits, dental survey, dental surveys, dentist, dentist profits, dentistry, dentists, profit margin

Dental Practice Production Drops for 1 in 2 Dentists

April 13, 2010 By Jim Du Molin

One dentist in two reports decreased dental practice production in the past year – to the tune of nearly 20%, according to this survey.

But for 31%, dental production has increased by an average of 14%.

Here’s a sample of dentists’ thoughts on how production and collections have changed in recent years:

“I am seeing half the new patients as ’08. It does not seem to matter how much I market.” (Texas dentist)
“Things seem to be getting better.” (New York dentist)
“We decreased overhead and thereby increased profit by $37,000.”
“I feel slightly more optimistic about this year. I’ve implemented some newer skills, cosmetic dentistry, dental implants.” (General dentist)
“Everything in dentistry is elective, excluding extractions, so we have to wait for the economy to get better. Looks like it’s got a long way to go.” (Indiana dentist)
“More patients are doing larger treatment plans and are considering cosmetic dentistry and elective plans as opposed to need-based dentistry only.” (Tennessee dentist)
“Production is gonna go down. More competitors are coming.” (California oral surgeon)
“Not only is production down, but I have had to sign up with many PPO’s just to keep patients in the chair. And then it becomes not a question of production, but collections, considering an average 30% write-off on those patients.” (Ohio dentist)
“Not as many clients scheduling are for their work. The primary reason is lack of funds. We have tried to approve them via dental credit cards, and most have not been able qualify.” (California dentist)
“The beginning of 2010 was down in production and collections, so I approached a lender that I had a credit line with, to get an increase in the credit line. Not only was that request denied, but they reduced my current credit line. If the economy doesn’t show signs of turning around soon, many small businesses will fold. It’s scary.” (Arizona dentist)