Benchmarks
Dental Practices financial benchmarks
How does your dental practice compare? Key metrics cited to specialty association data and cross-checked against Sorso client engagements.
Benchmarks are published industry ranges and Sorso-observed ranges from our client engagements. They are directional, not prescriptive — use them as a starting point for diagnosis, not a target.
Data reflects 2024 reporting cycles where available, with 2023 data used when a newer survey has not yet been published.
Profit Margin
35%
Range: 30%–40%
Overhead Ratio
65%
Range: 60%–70%
Revenue / Provider
$600K–$800K
Annual range
Collection Rate
95%
Range: 93%–97%
Denial Rate
6.5%
Range: 5%–8%
A/R Days
24 days
Range: 18–32 days
Source: Industry benchmarks compiled from MGMA, specialty association surveys, and practice management databases. Updated 2026.
How your practice compares
Where the money goes
| Category | % | Description |
|---|---|---|
| staffing | 48% | Clinical and administrative staff wages, benefits, and payroll taxes |
| rent | 10% | Facility lease, utilities, and maintenance costs |
| supplies | 12% | Clinical supplies, office supplies, and consumables |
| equipment | 10% | Equipment leases, maintenance, and depreciation |
| marketing | 6% | Digital advertising, website, patient acquisition |
| insurance | 5% | Malpractice, general liability, and property insurance |
| Other | 9% | IT, professional fees, continuing education, miscellaneous |
Payer mix
Typical payer distribution for dental practices practices. A balanced payer mix reduces dependency on any single source and improves revenue predictability.
Collection rates by payer
What top performers look like
Profit Margin
42%+ (ADA HPI, 2024)
Collection Rate
98%+ (Dental Economics Annual Survey, 2024)
Denial Rate
< 4% (ADA HPI, 2024)
A/R Days
< 16 days (Dental Economics Annual Survey, 2024)
KPIs specific to dental practices
| KPI | Benchmark | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Lab Cost as % of Revenue | 6–8% (ADA HPI Survey of Dental Practice, 2024) | Percentage of production spent on dental lab fees; controls one of the largest variable costs |
| Hygiene Production per Hour | $145–$200 (Dental Economics Annual Survey, 2024; Levin Group) | Revenue generated per hygiene hour; industry average is $145–$175, with top-performing departments clearing $200+ |
| Case Acceptance Rate | 60–80% (Dental Economics Practice Management, 2024) | Percentage of presented treatment plans accepted by patients; industry average 50–60%, top performers 70–90% |
| Reappointment Rate | 85–92% (ADA HPI, 2024) | Percentage of patients scheduling their next visit before leaving |
From Sorso
Across the dental groups Sorso works with, overhead typically lands in the 62–68% band; practices drifting above 70% are almost always carrying staffing or lab cost issues we can isolate in the first 30 days.
Sources
- ADA Health Policy Institute — Survey of Dental Practice (2024)
- Dental Economics Annual Practice Survey (2024)
- MGMA DataDive — Cost & Revenue: Dental specialty slice (2024)
Data reflects the latest available specialty association and MGMA reports through 2025; re-verified April 2026.
Founder of Sorso. 18 years in corporate finance. Managed a $450M loan portfolio before building a fractional CFO firm exclusively for healthcare clinics.
Want to see where your practice falls?
Take our free financial health assessment and get a personalized comparison against these benchmarks.
Get your free assessment