8 Strategies to Boost Dental Practice Value

For many dentists and dental practice managers, increasing practice value is an important goal. Whether the goal is planning for a future merger or sale, or simply aiming to grow your practice or its reputation, understanding the strategies to get you there are essential. One of the best tools at your disposal is a practice revenue analytics tool. This enables you to get a holistic view of your practice revenue generation and determine where you can be maximizing and optimizing processes to build practice value.

Quick Links:

• 8 Reasons Boosting Dental Practice Value is a Goal
• Challenges to Boosting Dental Practice Value
• Processes and Procedures that Impact Dental Practice Value
• 8 Strategies to Boost Dental Practice Value

8 Reasons Boosting Dental Practice Value is a Goal

Beyond the obvious reasons, in terms of financial gain (though we’ll touch on some of that), boosting dental practice value is crucial for much more than the potential financial gains. In fact, in today's competitive market, for staff and for patients, boosting dental practice value provides:

1. Financial Stability- First and foremost, for many practice owners, Increasing the value of a dental practice ensures financial stability for any and all stakeholders. A higher value means better returns on investment and increased profitability. Financially, it’s a win.

2. Practice Growth- It’s typically in finance that we hear it takes money to make money. The same is true here. Higher value often reflects a growing and thriving practice which can help attract more patients, leading to increased revenue and market share. Then, in turn, the increased revenue allows you to invest and continue growth trends.

3. Competitive Edge- Staffing shortages are real and can have a significant impact on practice performance. A valuable dental practice stands out among competitors, attracting more patients and top talent, commanding higher fees, and offering superior services. All those benefits create a competitive advantage in a challenging market.

4. Exit Strategy- For dentists who may be looking to retire, sell, or transition out of their practice, boosting its value is essential for maximizing the sale price. A higher value ensures a more lucrative exit strategy, providing financial security for retirement.

5. Investment Attractiveness- In the same way value provides an exit strategy, it also makes a dental practice an attractive investment opportunity for potential buyers, partners, or investors. It can lead to partnerships, mergers, or acquisitions, driving further growth and expansion opportunities.

6. Patient Confidence- If attracting patients helps build a strong practice, then value matters. Patients often equate the value of a dental practice with the quality of care it provides. A valuable practice instills confidence in patients, leading to increased loyalty, retention, and referrals. In short, your brand gets a major boost which provides a valuable assist on other benefits.

7. Staff Morale and Retention- Not only can value help attract talent, it can help keep it as well. A successful, valuable practice fosters a positive work environment, boosting staff morale and retention. Then, in turn, happy, motivated staff provide better patient care, contributing to overall practice success.

8. Adaptability and Sustainability- The dental and healthcare landscapes are constantly evolving. There are more and more demands when it comes to both patient and technology needs. More value makes it easier for you and your practice to roll with these changes and make the investments where you need them. This adaptability ensures long-term sustainability and relevance.

These are all great reasons to focus on building value, but that doesn’t mean it’s a clear path ahead or easy to do. 

Challenges to Boosting Dental Practice Value

If you’ve ever tried to increase the value of a home, then you know increasing value isn’t simple. There are strategies; there are costs; there are also challenges. Boosting the value of a dental practice can be challenging as well, requiring strategic planning, operational improvements, and a keen understanding of market dynamics. Dentists and practice managers may face some of the following challenges when trying to enhance the value of their practice:

1. Increased Competition- Just as increasing value is a way to combat competition, the competition is still there and that presents a challenge. With new practices opening up and existing ones expanding their services, the heightened competition can make it difficult for a dental practice to stand out and attract new patients.

2. Revenue Cycle Management (RCM)-  RCM challenges, including reimbursement rates from insurance companies and delayed patient payments can directly impact a dental practice's revenue stream, limiting growth and depressing value

3. Rising Operational Costs- Operating a dental practice, like any business, involves expenses, including rent or mortgage, equipment maintenance, tech investments, staff salaries, and supplies. As these costs continue to rise, it can become difficult for practice owners to maintain profitability while also investing in growth initiatives.

4. Staffing Challenges- Finding and retaining skilled dental professionals, such as dentists, hygienists, and administrative staff, can be a significant challenge for dental practices. Similarly, staff turnover can disrupt operations and impact patient satisfaction, ultimately affecting the practice's value.

5. Patient Acquisition and Retention- Growth takes time and effort, and this includes acquiring new patients and retaining existing ones. However, attracting patients in a competitive market and keeping them satisfied with the level of care can be demanding tasks, especially when other practices share the same goals.

6. Outdated or Legacy TechStacks- Staying on top of technological advancements in dentistry is essential for delivering high-quality care and remaining competitive. However, integrating new technologies into a practice requires significant investments in equipment, training, and infrastructure. And, it’s not just about the equipment you’ve got in your exam rooms. The software you’re using to run your practice and protect patient data may need an overhaul too.

7. Staying Compliant with Regulations- Dental practices must adhere to a variety of regulatory requirements including HIPAA, billing and payments security, infection control, and licensure. Staying compliant with these regulations while managing day-to-day operations can be complex and time-consuming.

8. Economic Challenges- Economic fluctuations and downturns can have a direct impact on consumer spending habits and, with increased copays and patient responsibility, this includes healthcare services like dental care. Whether a weak economy or insurance coverage challenges, both can result in reduced patient volumes and decreased revenue for dental practices.

9. Incomplete or Inaccurate View of Revenue- Often, when considering revenue, dental practices have an incomplete picture of what they are making, and, perhaps more importantly, missed revenue opportunities. For example, while many practices are aware of funds sitting in AR, those funds are, in most cases, sitting for far longer than necessary. Further, when practices aren’t maximizing their schedules or patient insurance benefits, they’re essentially leaving money on the table (and lots of it).

Addressing these challenges, much like boosting practice value, requires strategic planning, operational excellence, and a focus on delivering exceptional patient care. However, applying proactive strategies to these challenges can help mitigate their impact.

Processes and Procedures that Impact Dental Practice Value

You’ve got goals and challenges. Overcoming the challenges to meet the goals requires understanding the processes and procedures that impact dental practice value. In other words, what might you currently be doing, or not doing, that’s impacting the value of your dental practice.

Essentially, you’ll want to investigate a variety of processes and procedures for inefficiencies, unnecessary expenses, and wasted resources. This includes processes that may impact patient experience and care including administrative demands, compliance needs, and technology demands.

Administrative demands deserving review include: 

• Dental bIlling and claims
• Scheduling
• Treatment planning
• Productivity tools
• Budget/Expenses and overhead
• Staff development and training

Patient Care and experience processes may include some administrative overlap, such as scheduling; however, you’ll want to examine:

• Staffing 
• Customer service
• Communication

Compliance reviews should include examining anywhere there are lapses or vulnerabilities that might impact services or result in issues related to non-adherence, including:

• HIPAA
• OSHA
• PCI and payments/billing

Technology needs can be significant, but reviewing them for issues that impact value means looking closely at the following:

• EHR
• Practice management
• ePrescribing
• Digital communications and patient portals
• Digital payment options
• Data security

While certainly not an exhaustive list, these are, for the most part, the areas where dental practices can improve and apply a strategic plan to boost practice value.

8 Strategies to Boost Dental Practice Value

As we’ve mentioned, boosting the value of a dental practice involves a mix of operational, strategic, and financial tactics. Here are some strategies to consider:

1. Put Patient Experience First- Providing excellent patient care can significantly increase the value of a dental practice. Invest in staff training to enhance patient interactions, create a welcoming environment, and prioritize patient satisfaction. This also means employing tools and resources to improve staff efficiency, freeing them up to work directly with patients. 

2. Consider Expanding Services- Practice revenue analytics can help you determine which procedures and treatments are generating revenue, and where you’re falling short. It may be worth inviting in new team members to expand. Diversifying your service offerings can help attract new patients and increase revenue streams. For example, you may consider adding cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics, or specialized procedures to meet the needs of a broader patient base.

3. Invest in Technology- Upgrading to the latest dental technology not only improves patient care but also demonstrates the practice's commitment to innovation. Digital imaging systems, CAD/CAM technology, and electronic health records can streamline operations and enhance clinical outcomes. Further, investigating and investing in healthcare workflow efficiency software and applications can improve office operations and productivity.

4. Marketing and Branding- Develop a strong brand identity and invest in marketing efforts to attract new patients and retain existing ones. Utilize digital marketing channels such as social media, search engine optimization (SEO), and targeted online advertising to reach potential patients effectively. Take advantage of opportunities to brand where you can, including patient education materials which can help build and establish trust with patients.

5. Optimize Practice Management- Implement efficient practice management systems to streamline administrative tasks, improve scheduling, and enhance billing processes. Investing in software solutions designed for dental practices can increase productivity and profitability.

6. Focus on Preventive Care and Patient Education- Emphasize preventive care and patient education to promote better oral health outcomes and long-term patient relationships. Treatment plans that focus on preventative care and maximize insurance benefits serve both your patients and your practice well. Similarly, educated patients are more likely to follow treatment plans and refer others to the practice. 

7. Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations- Collaborate with other healthcare providers or dental specialists to offer comprehensive care solutions. Building strategic partnerships can expand your referral network and enhance the value proposition for patients.

8. Focus on Operational Efficiency- Continuously evaluate and optimize practice operations to reduce costs, staff utilization, and improve profitability. Automate where you can, monitor KPIs, identify areas for process improvement, and then work to find solutions.

In short, these strategies can help dental practices enhance their value, maximize staff and technology, streamline operations, attract more patients, and achieve sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive market.

One of the best ways to implement these strategies is by finding software solutions that improve workflow efficiencies, assist your staff and free them up for patient care, enhance the patient experience, and work in conjunction with existing software. However, one of the greatest tools at your disposal is a tool which provides visibility into revenue performance, enabling you to maximize scheduling, optimize treatment plans and insurance benefits for patients, improve billing and claims, and leverage practice strengths. Essentially, a practice revenue analytics tool like iCoreAnalytics.

Ready to learn more? At iCoreConnect, we built our software solution with your goals and needs in mind, including boosting dental practice value through a variety of tools. Book a demo today and let’s grow together.