Practical answers for stronger dental operations.

Which dental practice KPIs should owners review?

A useful owner scorecard should remain focused enough to drive action. Common measures include production, collections, collection percentage, new patients, hygiene reappointment, schedule utilization, case acceptance, outstanding treatment, accounts receivable aging, and labor cost. Each KPI should have a definition, target, responsible owner, and review cadence.

What belongs in a 90-day improvement plan?

A strong 90-day plan should identify no more than a few high-impact priorities. For each priority, define the current condition, desired result, metric, responsible leader, immediate action, and deadline. Review progress weekly and address barriers quickly.

What should a buyer review before acquiring a dental practice?

In addition to legal and financial diligence, review staffing, provider schedules, patient access, technology, vendor agreements, facility needs, revenue-cycle workflows, payor participation, leadership capability, and operational dependencies. The buyer’s legal, tax, lending, and financial advisors should address matters within their specialties.

When does a practice need fractional operations leadership?

Common signs include repeated missed targets, inconsistent manager follow-through, unclear responsibilities, owner burnout, rapid multisite growth, or important initiatives that stall between meetings. Fractional leadership can establish structure and coach the existing team while the organization determines its long-term leadership needs.

How should a new dentist prepare for ownership?

Start by defining the type of practice and leadership role you want. Build a qualified advisory team, understand financing, evaluate operational realities alongside financial performance, and prepare a transition plan before closing. Ownership readiness includes learning how to lead a team, interpret KPIs, manage cash flow, and create accountability.