Practice Profitability & Management

By Spiro Leunes, CPA | CEO, MRL Advisory Group – New Jersey and New York Dental CPAs Most growth advice assumes every dental practice needs more new patients. That may be true if you just opened your doors. It usually is not true if you have been practicing for fifteen or twenty years. If you already have a loyal patient base, a full hygiene schedule, and an experienced team, simply spending more money on marketing is rarely the answer. In fact, it is often the most expensive

By Spiro Leunes, CPA – CEO MRL Advisory Group New Jersey & New York Dental CPAs Helping Practice Owners Maximize Profitability Dental practices are seeing higher costs and tighter profit margins. PPOs are reducing reimbursements; labor costs continue to increase as do the costs of dental supplies are laboratory bills. The answer to better profitability as you prepare for 2026, isn’t always adding more patients. The answer for established practices may be to change your p

In working with dental practices across New Jersey and New York, I see the same pattern repeatedly. The practice is busy. The schedule looks full. But profitability isn’t where it should be. The problem is rarely clinical, it’s operational. Here are the five practice management fundamentals that separate practices that are merely busy from practices that are actually profitable and growing. 1. Build Your Schedule Around Production Targets, Not Just Appointments The schedule i

I will say this clearly because practice owners need the truth, not theory. Dental practice fraud is not 100 percent preventable. What is preventable is the size of the loss and the length of time it goes undetected. Fraud can go on for many years without the dentist noticing and can amount to several hundred thousand dollars before it is caught. Understanding the Nature of Dental Fraud That is the core issue in almost every dental embezzlement case. It is rarely one giant ev

Dental practices are feeling compression. In 2026, the successful practices will be the ones that work smarter not harder as busyness doesn’t always equate to higher profitability. The key is for practices to limit preventable profit leaks with the same number of patients and the same number of days. Trend 1: Insurance payments are quietly decreasing your collections through virtual credit card fees. Some insurance plans pay you with a virtual credit card. It is run like a

You’ve heard it countless times: hygiene drives the practice. If your hygiene schedule isn’t full, your practice is leaking revenue—even if the doctor’s schedule is full. A thriving hygiene schedule stabilizes cash flow, fills the doctor’s schedule, identifies potential cases, supports case acceptance, and protects the practice’s value. A consistent hygiene schedule also fosters patient relationships and builds trust with patients. Understanding Hygiene Capacity To determine

In working with many dentists, I notice that many of their problems often comes down to not doing the basics. Here are just a few VERY common issues that make a huge difference in the success of a practice: 1. Collect payment prior to the patient leaving - Seems basic but I am surprised how many dentists let this happen. Very often it’s the front desk that lets this happen, but ultimate responsibility rests with the owner. 2. Raise fees - Fees must increase annually, and not

The success of a dental practice depends on delivering high-quality patient care and managing operational and financial metrics effectively. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) provide insights into a practice’s health, enabling established dental practice owners to identify areas for improvement and align with industry standards. This blog examines national averages for critical KPIs, including active patient charts, hygiene metrics, case acceptance rates, and operational expe

The most effective dental practice consultants do more than just offer advice—they dive into the details, develop actionable strategies, and work closely with you to implement sustainable improvements. They understand the complexities of running a dental practice and leverage their expertise to help you optimize both clinical and business aspects of your practice. Below are specific strategies that the best consultants use to drive real, measurable results in dental practices

In the competitive world of dentistry, success is not just about providing excellent clinical care—it’s about building a thriving, patient-centered practice. At the heart of this success lies a robust dental hygiene department. Often considered the backbone of a dental practice, the hygiene department plays a pivotal role in patient care, retention, and the practice’s financial health. Here’s why investing in a thriving hygiene department is essential and how it can significa

Running a successful dental or medical practice requires balancing exceptional patient care with sound financial management and getting back to basics. One often-overlooked aspect of this balance is the need to periodically review and adjust your fee schedule. While some practitioners might feel hesitant to increase fees, especially in a competitive market, it's crucial to recognize that regular fee adjustments are necessary for the health of your practice and, ultimately, th