Do's and don'ts for increasing practice production

When you look at all the factors that affect the success of dental practices, production is No. 1. And while it's obvious that increasing production is the goal, it's not so obvious how it should be done. In addition to adding patients, consider all the factors that affect production and make all necessary improvements.

Keep track of average production per patient. If your practice isn't growing fast enough, this figure may tell you why. It will be low if you're not performing annual comprehensive exams for all patients or if you're not promoting elective services effectively. Remedy these problems, and production will grow.

Don't assume your practice can't increase production. Does a fast runner think it's impossible to run any faster and just accept the status quo? No. The best runners are those who search for new ways to improve performance. They don't settle. Neither should your practice.

Roger P. Levin, DDS, is the CEO of Levin Group, a leading dental management consulting firm, and one of the most sought-after speakers in dentistry. Dr. Levin has authored 65 books and more than 4,000 articles on dental practice management and marketing. You can sign up for the Levin Group Tip of the Day.

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