Industry-standard KPIs and benchmarks for general dental practices based on ADA surveys, Dental Economics research, and practice management data.
$942K
Avg Gross Billings
$208K
Avg Net Income
59-62%
Target Overhead
98%+
Collection Target
The four numbers in the hero row sit at the heart of a healthy general dental practice. Average gross billings of $942K and average net income of $208K come from the ADA Survey of Dental Practice 2024. That works out to roughly a 22% net margin at the median. The 59 to 62% target overhead and the 98%+ collection rate are the levers that move that margin up or down.
Case acceptance is the most underrated number on this page. Industry average sits at 35 to 50%. Top performers hit 70 to 90%. The gap between average and top is bigger than the gap between average and bad. Closing even half that distance can do more for production than another marketing campaign. Visual aids alone lift acceptance by 30%, and financing doubles acceptance on cases over $2,000.
The new patient funnel is where a practice either compounds or leaks. Call-to-book at 70 to 85% is the first checkpoint. Show rate of 85 to 92% is the second. End-to-end conversion of 30 to 45% is the third. Top practices push past 50% end-to-end, and that's the bar to aim for.
If your overhead is trending up by 5.1% per the 2024 ADA data, that's the industry baseline, not a personal problem. The question is whether your production is growing faster than your cost base. Production per hour of $500 to $800 for doctors and $175 to $250 for hygiene is the standard range. Top performer doctor production lands at $700+ per hour. The hygiene department alone should generate 25 to 33% of total production with a 2:1 hygienist to dentist ratio.
If you're below benchmark on collection rate, look at front desk workflow first. If you're below on case acceptance, look at presentation systems. If you're below on new patient volume, that's a marketing question. The benchmarks point you to the right conversation. They don't have the answer, but they get you to the right question fast.
Source: ADA Survey of Dental Practice 2024
Source: Dental Economics/Levin Group Survey
22-28%
Staff Costs
Warning: >30%
5-7%
Facility/Rent
Warning: >9%
8-10%
Lab Fees
Warning: >12%
4-6%
Dental Supplies
Warning: >8%
ADA recommends 63% or less. Warning sign: >65%
Source: ADA Survey of Dental Practice 2024, ADA Health Policy Institute, Dental Economics/Levin Group Annual Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Call-to-Book Rate
70-85%
Show Rate
85-92%
Case Acceptance
35-50%
Top practices achieve 50%+ end-to-end conversion. Visual aids increase acceptance by 30%. Financing doubles acceptance for cases over $2,000.