The Supply and Demand Challenge

There is no question that dentists these days are trying to get creative to increase dental practice revenue because of increased supply prices and wages. Dentistry has always been one of the most expensive healthcare fields due to the extensive amount of equipment, materials, and lab costs. Nowadays, there are dentists struggling to find ways to increase their production because of the rising cost of materials and decrease in reimbursements from dental insurance. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways you can easily boost your production, while still providing the highest quality of dental care for your patients.

1. Take a look at what is in front of you.

If you are a general or family dentist, you have a wide range of opportunities for offering dental services to children as well. This allows you to offer pediatric treatment like preventive care, restorative, and orthodontics to young people who need a dedicated dentist to jumpstart their dental journeys.

Adult patients require care ranging from periodontal and surgical to orthodontic. Are you looking at all of your patients’ needs? Sometimes, it becomes simply part of your routine to look at just the mouth, but mouth issues can affect the entire body. Start asking your patients questions about their diets, sleeping habits, and their bites. You’ll quickly notice patients have a lot more questions and concerns and can often benefit from treatment like nightguards, orthodontics, and prosthodontics.

Providing other treatments like orthodontics creates more revenue. Signing up for orthodontic courses with the American Orthodontics Society (AOS) is a great way to understand more about the diagnosis and treatment planning aspects of orthodontics so you can confidently treat your patients. Providing orthodontics for existing patients is easy and beneficial for your patients’ oral health, reducing their chances of tooth decay and increasing the ability to properly clean their teeth.

2. Use social media wisely.

If you are looking to increase dental practice revenue, you need a strong online presence. Why is this important? Social media platforms, like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok are more than just making fun videos. They have a strong influence on how your office is connecting to your patients and there are other multiple benefits, including:

• Updating your accounts regularly reminds your patients why they love going to your office.
• Your existing patients are given a chance to stay connected and are reminded of new office protocols.
• You can update your patients on new services and promotions.
• It’s a great opportunity for new patients to get a preview of your office prior to their appointment.

3. Get your team trained

Dentists don’t work alone. They work alongside a well trained team that is committed to helping patients make informed decisions. Oftentimes, it is your hygienists, assistants, and front desk staff spending the most time with patients. Ironically, although you may make a treatment recommendation, it is their conversations with your staff that really help patients feel at ease and take the necessary next step. Your staff can relate to them about their concerns and answer any questions that they may feel uneasy speaking to you about. 

Have your team trained at explaining treatment like orthodontics to help increase dental practice revenue. If you or your staff are evaluating orthodontic needs for patients and speaking in technical terms like teeth moving millimeters at a time, it may scare off patients. Yet, if you or your team discuss orthodontics in terms that are more relatable, patients may feel more comfortable.

4. Expand your services.

Sometimes bread and butter dentistry isn’t enough to both pay the bills and create the high-producing practice you dreamed of. There are so many areas of dentistry that are both high producing and beneficial for patients, including dental implants, teeth whitening and cosmetic dentistry, and orthodontics.

Ask your patients what they think of their smiles and if there is anything they think needs changed. Many times, patients have disliked something about their smiles for years, but they never thought about changing it because no one asked them. Orthodontics is one of the best ways to make a positive change to any dental imperfections like gaps and spacing, crowding, or misalignments.

Treatment like general dentistry and orthodontics goes hand in hand because without a straight smile, it’s harder to brush, leaving patients at an increased risk for tooth decay. A misaligned jaw also can cause extreme tooth wear that leaves teeth prone to sensitivity and discomfort.

5. Take dental courses that are practical.

If you’re looking to take courses, consider orthodontics. Nearly all adults can benefit in some way from orthodontics, whether it is cosmetic or functional. There are millions of continuing education courses for dentists, but how many have a tangible skill that you can apply to your practice?

Orthodontics is one of the best fields that doesn’t require a ton of overhead, and your orthodontic patients are already in your chair. Your real initial investment is finding the time to take an orthodontic course so you have the knowledge and skillset to treat your existing patients and new ones.
There aren’t many dentists that would say they don’t need the extra revenue to pay their bills or put more money in their pockets. Instead of investing a lot of money into dental gadgets or courses that don’t have much of a return on your investment, be practical—take an orthodontic course that will increase your dental practice revenue.