Step 1: Setting Financial Benchmarks and Fee Strategies

 

Profitability hinges on clear financial targets. A widely accepted benchmark is achieving collections equal to three times the hygienist’s wage. For example, a hygienist earning $50/hour should generate about $175/hour after payroll and overhead. Many practices fall short due to undercharging, undercoding, and frequent cancellations. To improve this, practices should raise fees modestly each year, reduce cancellations, maintain appointment length without rushing care, and add billable services that reflect true value.

 

Course Includes: Step-by-step guidance to set realistic fees, implement annual increases, and introduce high-value billable services, all designed to increase revenue while maintaining patient satisfaction.

 

Step 2: Maximizing Insurance Reimbursement

 

Insurance contracts often limit revenue. By negotiating umbrella plans or network leasing agreements, practices can remain in-network with multiple insurers and negotiate higher fees across the entire fee schedule.

 

Course Includes: Key strategies on how to evaluate, negotiate, and manage insurance contracts effectively—leading to improved fee schedules and maximizing your insurance reimbursements.

 

Step 3: Reducing Cancellations and Improving Retention

 

Cancellations and no-shows directly harm profitability. Increasing cancellation fees and using effective confirmation language can deter no-shows and boost patient commitment. Retention depends on every interaction—from warm greetings to smooth clinical care—building or eroding trust.

 

Course Includes: Learn proven communication scripts and patient engagement strategies that reduce cancellations, improve confirmations, and foster long-term patient loyalty.

 

Step 4: Optimizing Scheduling and Workflow

 

Daily, proactive schedule reviews help identify openings, overdue patients, and same-day treatment opportunities. Hygienists, with their deep patient knowledge, are often best equipped to fill last-minute openings, maximizing production without extra labor.

 

Course Includes: Implement daily scheduling reviews, develop hygienist outreach skills, and optimize same-day treatment workflows that improve efficiency and boost revenue.

 

Step 5: Prioritizing Patients and Improving Treatment Acceptance

 

Focusing on patients who pay promptly, accept treatment, and respect appointments streamlines operations. Flexible VIP scheduling helps accommodate patients with unpredictable availability. Most refusals arise from poor communication, not cost.

 

Course Includes: Apply patient grading methods, design flexible scheduling systems, and enhance treatment acceptance through clear communication and accurate coding.

 

Step 6: Accurate Periodontal Coding and Clinical Guidelines

 

Proper periodontal coding requires more than probing depths—it demands documentation of clinical attachment loss, bleeding, and recession. Undercoding is common but leads to lost revenue and undertreated patients. Using codes like D0180, D4346, D4355, and SRP codes correctly is critical.

 

Course Includes: Master clinical criteria for periodontal diagnosis, improve documentation quality, and code precisely to maximize revenue while ensuring optimal patient care.

 

Step 7: Realistic Visit Timing, Hygiene Models and Patient Flow

 

A 60-minute hygiene visit typically includes about 40 minutes of patient care and 20 minutes for documentation. Partially assisted hygiene models (one assistant supporting two hygienists) shorten visits and boost production. Fully accelerated models let hygienists see two patients per hour but require strong teamwork to avoid burnout. Managing late arrivals and triaging new patients efficiently maintains flow and prevents schedule disruption.

 

Course Includes: Build realistic schedules, implement efficient hygiene workflows, and establish clear policies for managing late arrivals and new patient triage.

 

Step 8: Clear Patient Communication and Adjunctive Services

 

Using precise terminology like “scaling and root planing” helps patients understand the treatment’s importance and value. Discuss out-of-pocket costs clearly rather than emphasizing insurance denials to maintain trust.

 

Offering adjunctive services—fluoride, antimicrobials, lasers, diagnostic tests—not only improves outcomes but generates additional revenue and can be billed as upgrades, even in-network.

 

Course Includes: Develop patient-centered communication skills and learn how to introduce adjunctive treatments profitably and compliantly.

 

Step 9: Daily Planning, Follow-Up, and Financial Impact

 

Same-day scaling and root planing increases acceptance and efficiency. When hygienist schedules are full, doctors can step in to avoid delays. Raising fees, eliminating free services, and adding billable procedures can significantly raise daily hygiene production.

 

Course Includes: Adopt daily planning routines, implement same-day treatment protocols, and design incentive programs that sustain high performance and production.

 

Step 10: Navigating Insurance and Billing

 

Avoid submitting claims unlikely to be covered unless required. Maintain transparency with patients about costs and use thorough documentation to reduce denials. Bill laser therapies and upgrades separately from base procedures.

 

Course Includes: Learn best practices for billing, manage denials proactively and confidently bill upgrade services to maximize profitability.