Category Archives: Dental Dow Jones

Dental Dow: Fourth Quarter 2017

For the year, practice production was up 6.1%. Collections were up 4.3%. Patient traffic increased 2.4%. New patients were up 2.7%. Crown and Bridge was up 9.4%. Production per patient examined was up 4.2%. All in all then, 2017 was the strongest growth year since the “Great Recession”.

Collection Increase Percentages

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
0.4% 0.4% 1.6% 3.5% 2.2% 3.1% 4.8% 3.3% 4.3%

Production Increase Percentages

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
0.5% 1.4% 2.5% 3.3% 3.3% 4.2% 6.0% 4.1% 6.1%

Dental Dow: The First Half of 2017

Practice production was up 5.8% and collections were up 4.7% for the mature area practices sampled.

The increase was driven by 2% growth in total patient flow (recall, emergency and new patient exams). However, new patients were up less than 1% from the previous year.

Crown and bridge was up 9% and production per exam was up 4%. The average practice collections was 84%–down 1 point from last year’s 85%.

The Dental Dow—First Quarter 2016

Bill GROWTH CONTINUES—THE FIRST QUARTER 2016 DENTAL DOW: Continuing the trend of growth from last year, practice Production is up 6.1% and Collections are up 6% compared to the first quarter of 2015 for the mature area practices sampled. Patient Flow was up 3.9%. New Patients were up about 2.7% (they were up about 7% in 2015).

The highest Doctor Production per Hour in our Dental Dow sample is $1,484. The highest Hygiene Production per Hour is $213. The Average Doctor Production per Hour is $652. The Average Hygiene Production per Hour is $151. Again, keep in mind that this is a group of mature practices and a mix of Metro and Outstate locations as well.

EVERYONE ON YOUR TEAM HAS TO DEAL WITH PATIENTS, MONEY AND INSURANCE. MAKE SURE THEY KNOW HOW!

Dental Dow 2015 Wrap Up

Comparing 2015 to 2014 statistics for the mature area practices sampled, we found that practice production was up 6% and collections were up 4.8%.

Total patient flow was up 3% with New Patients being up 7.3%. The average production per exam was up 3.2%.

Metro Area Fees were up 1.3%. Outstate Area Fees were up 1.7%.

Producon Increase Percentages

2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
0.5%	1.4%	2.5%	3.3%	3.3%	4.2%	6.0%

Collecon Increase Percentages

2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
0.4%	0.4%	1.6%	3.5%	2.2%	3.1%	4.8%

As you can see, this is the most growth in 7 years.

Our Dow, a sampling of both Rural and Urban practices, shows an average collection percentage of 84% – down a percentage point from last year. The Collection percentage has slipped by around 1 point per year for the past five years. Doctors are raising fees but, of course, PPO Participation is affecting Collections.

The Dental Dow: Still Cruising Through 2015

Bill Rossi, President of Advanced Practice Management

Comparing the first half of this year to last year for the sample mature area practices, we find practice production is up 6% and collections are up 5.5%, continuing the trend from the first quarter.

Total patient flow (as measured by exams) is up 3.5% with new patient exams up 6%. Crown and bridge is up 2.7%. The gross collection percentage for the sampled practices is 85%, consistent with last year. I guess we can be happy that it hasn’t slipped another notch this year.

The trend to fuller Doctor and hygiene schedules continues too with Doctor downtime reduced by 15% and hygiene downtime by about 5%. Back in the ‘90’s, 6% used to be sort of assumed background growth. Now, this is the best trend in many years and over 75% of sampled practices showed growth.

The Dental Dow Jones – 1st Quarter 2015

2015 OFF TO A GOOD START!

dental dow first quarter is up For the mature area practices sampled, practice production was up 6.1% and collections were up 6.7% compared to the first quarter of 2014. This is the most growth in these indices since 2004.

Patient flow was up 5.1% with new patients up over 10%. Again, the most significant jump in patient flow we’ve seen in years.

One quarter doesn’t a year make but this is certainly good news. It’s also nice to see that downtime in the Doctors’ schedules is down 11% and in the hygiene schedules down 6.5%.

The Dental Dow Jones – 1st Quarter 2015

Off To A Good Start!

For the mature area practices sampled, practice production was up 6.1% and collections were up 6.7% compared to the first quarter of 2014. This is the most growth in these indices since 2004.