Dental Consultant Tip: Hygiene Efficiency Formula

Here is a quick formula I use in my dental consulting to determine how efficient your hygienists are:

1. Take active patients and multiply by two (go back 1.5 to 2 years for active patient count). 

Example: 2000 active patients x 2 = 4000 possible hygiene visits.

2. Run the code in the software for number of cleanings done in the last year. 

Example Result: 2000

3. Run a report on the code for comprehensive exams in the last 12 months.

This gives a true number of new dental patients as it eliminates limited exams that are emergency exams. 

Example: 200

2000 cleanings done minus cleanings from 200 NPs  = 1800 recalls that were done.

4000 possible minus 1800 recalls = 2200 recalls not done which equals 45% efficiency in hygiene.

2200 recalls X average exam, X-ray and cleaning at a cost of say $130.00 X 2200 = $286,000 in potential income.