Dental Practice Management

As we wrap up 2025, I've spent the last month in conversations with dental owners—new buyers navigating transitions, established docs scaling (or fighting to stay afloat), and everyone in between. The same themes keep surfacing, no matter the practice size or location. These aren't theoretical; they're the raw, day-to-day battles dentists are fighting right now. Here's a breakdown of the biggest categories that dominated discussions, with the hard truths, quick fixes, and actionable steps that actually move the needle. 1. New Ownership & Transitions: Surviving the "Ghost" Year New owners are still sitting ducks in year one. The old owner's culture...

Hiring a dental hygienist begins with defining your ideal candidate, a process top dental consultants emphasize to shape your team’s success. With 76% of dental offices facing hygienist shortages, adaptability is crucial despite high standards, as dental consultants advise. Factors Influencing Retention Work-life balance, a priority dental consultants highlightPositive workplace culture, as recommended by dental consultantsCompetitive pay, a key focus from dental consultantsGrowth opportunities, endorsed by dental consultantsBenefits (health, disability insurance, free dental, 401(k)), which dental consultants suggestManageable workload, a strategy dental consultants support For example, a dentist retained a part-time hygienist who disliked dentistry to maintain hygiene appointments, a tough...

Many dentists affirm that dental consulting enhances practice success, a view supported by top dental consultants. If dental practice management firms lacked value, they couldn’t withstand economic challenges, as dental consultants note. Veteran consultants bring systems and protocols refined over years from successful practices, a practice top dental consultants highlight through networking to identify effective strategies across dental offices.   Marketing & New Patients  Practice management consultants often lack marketing expertise, but top dental consultants point out that Cambridge's team includes Certified SEO and Ad Words Specialists, setting them apart.   Dental Office Systems Key systems dental consultants implement include: New...

A well-designed schedule is vital to avoid a rushed, hectic practice, a principle top dental consultants emphasize. The purpose of block scheduling, as recommended by dental consultants, is to reduce stress, maintain consistent production, and potentially increase output. Follow these implementation steps with expert guidelines.

Time Study

Over two to three weeks, gather accurate procedure times, a practice top dental consultants suggest. Involve all staff to create an index card for each patient, noting: 1. Arrival time, 2. Seating time, 3. Procedure start time, 4. Procedure end time. At the end, average the times, a method dental consultants endorse.