Alright, folks—let’s talk about dental membership plans. If you’re still grinding under the boot of PPOs, or if the idea of predictable recurring revenue sounds as mythical as a unicorn, then buckle up. We’re about to explore why dental membership plans are the lifeblood your practice needs, how BoomCloud™ makes it stupid easy to scale, and why patients can’t stop raving about them.
Quick Overview:
A dental membership plan is an in-office alternative to traditional dental insurance that allows patients to pay a monthly or annual fee directly to a dental practice in exchange for preventive care and discounted services. For dentists, membership plans create predictable recurring revenue, reduce dependence on PPOs, and improve long-term patient retention.
As more practices move away from insurance-driven models, dental membership plans have become one of the most effective ways to stabilize revenue while delivering a better patient experience.
What Exactly Is a Dental Membership Plan?
Think of a dental membership plan as your practice’s version of Netflix—except instead of binge-watching shows, patients are binge-taking-care-of-their-teeth. These plans allow patients to pay a monthly or annual fee directly to your practice for a package of preventive services (cleanings, exams, X-rays), along with discounts on treatments. No insurance middlemen. No red tape. Just you and your patients in a mutually beneficial relationship.
Why Patients Love Membership Plans
- No Insurance Headaches: Patients skip the denials, limitations, and absurd fine print of traditional insurance.
- Budget-Friendly: Predictable payments make dental care affordable and manageable.
- VIP Status: Membership plans build a sense of exclusivity and personalized care.
Why Practices Need Membership Plans
- Predictable Cash Flow: Membership plans create recurring revenue streams (hello, MRR and ARR!).
- Higher Patient Spend: Members spend 4.2X more than your average PPO patient. They don’t just book cleanings—they invest in elective treatments like whitening, implants, and Invisalign.
- Skyrocketing Loyalty: Membership plan patients stick around longer and bring their friends, family, and coworkers with them.
How a Dental Membership Plan Works (Step by Step)
While every practice structures plans slightly differently, most dental membership plans follow the same core framework.
Step
What Happens
Why It Matters
Plan Design
Practice defines benefits and pricing
Full control over offerings
Enrollment
Patient signs up directly with the practice
No third-party interference
Billing
Monthly or annual recurring payments
Predictable revenue
Benefit Tracking
Services and discounts are monitored
Accuracy and compliance
Renewal
Membership auto-renews
Higher retention
Step 1: Plan Structure
The practice defines what is included in the plan. This usually covers:
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Routine exams and cleanings
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X-rays
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Emergency visits
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Discounts on restorative or elective procedures
Plans may be segmented by age, risk level, or frequency of care.
Step 2: Pricing Model
Membership plans are typically priced as:
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Monthly subscriptions
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Annual prepaid plans
Pricing is designed to be affordable for patients while providing predictable income for the practice.
Step 3: Enrollment and Billing
Patients enroll directly with the practice. Billing is handled on a recurring basis, and benefits are tracked internally to ensure accurate usage and renewals.
As enrollment grows, practices often move away from manual tracking to avoid billing errors, missed renewals, or administrative overload.
Area
Manual Management
Enrollment
Forms & spreadsheets
Automated workflows
Billing
Manual invoicing
Recurring auto-pay
Renewals
Easy to miss
Automatic
Reporting
Time-consuming
Real-time dashboards
Scalability
Limited
Built to scale
Benefits of Dental Membership Plans for Practices
Dental membership plans offer operational and financial advantages that traditional insurance models do not.
Key benefits include:
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Predictable recurring revenue
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Reduced reliance on PPOs
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Higher case acceptance
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Improved patient retention
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Fewer insurance-related administrative tasks
For many practices, membership plans become a cornerstone of long-term growth and stability.
Benefits of Dental Membership Plans for Patients
Patients enroll in membership plans because they offer clarity and simplicity.
From the patient’s perspective:
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No insurance paperwork
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Transparent pricing
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Immediate access to benefits
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Savings on routine and restorative care
Membership plans are especially attractive to uninsured patients or those frustrated by insurance limitations.
Benefit
For Dental Practices
For Patients
Revenue
Predictable recurring income
Transparent pricing
Administration
Reduced insurance paperwork
Simple enrollment
Loyalty
Higher retention rates
No waiting periods
Experience
Better patient relationships
Easier access to care
Control
Pricing and plan ownership
Clear expectations
Dental Membership Plan Examples
While plans vary by practice, common examples include:
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Preventive Care Plan
Covers cleanings, exams, and x-rays for a fixed monthly or annual fee.
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Family Membership Plan
Bundles benefits across multiple family members at a reduced rate.
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Premium or Periodontal Plan
Designed for patients requiring more frequent care or advanced services.
The flexibility of membership plans allows practices to tailor offerings to their patient base.
Plan Type
Typical Inclusions
Best For
Preventive Care Plan
Exams, cleanings, x-rays
Uninsured or cash-pay patients
Family Membership Plan
Bundled benefits for multiple members
Families seeking predictable costs
Periodontal Plan
Increased cleanings, maintenance visits
Patients with ongoing gum care needs
Premium Plan
Preventive care + deeper discounts
High-loyalty, long-term patients
Dental Membership Plan vs Dental Insurance
Dental membership plans and dental insurance are fundamentally different.
Dental Insurance
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Managed by third-party carriers
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Requires claims and reimbursements
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Limits treatment options
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Controls pricing
Dental Membership Plans
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Owned and managed by the practice
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No claims or waiting periods
-
Transparent pricing
-
Greater patient loyalty
For many dentists, membership plans offer more control, better margins, and a stronger patient relationship.
Feature
Dental Membership Plan
Dental Insurance
Managed by
Dental practice
Insurance company
Monthly cost
Paid directly to the practice
Paid to insurer
Claims required
❌ No
✅ Yes
Waiting periods
❌ None
✅ Common
Treatment limits
❌ Practice-defined
✅ Insurance-defined
Pricing control
Dentist controls pricing
Insurer controls fees
Patient relationship
Direct
Indirect
Administrative burden
Low
High
Common Mistakes Dentists Make with Membership Plans
Practices new to membership plans often encounter challenges such as:
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Tracking members manually
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Underpricing plans
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Inconsistent communication
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Poor renewal management
These issues typically arise when plans are managed without the right systems in place.
How Dentists Manage and Scale Membership Plans
As membership enrollment grows, manual tools like spreadsheets quickly become inefficient.
Many practices choose to manage their plans using dental membership software, which helps automate:
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Enrollment
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Recurring billing
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Benefit tracking
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Reporting and renewals
Using software allows practices to scale membership programs without increasing administrative workload.
How Patients Find Dental Membership Plans
As membership plans become more common, patients are actively searching for practices that offer them.
Patients can now discover dental membership plans through platforms like the Patient Marketplace, which helps uninsured and cash-pay patients find practices offering in-office membership options in their area.
This creates an additional acquisition channel for practices running membership programs, connecting them directly with patients already looking for alternatives to insurance.
Method
Description
Dental practice websites
Patients search for membership info directly
Word of mouth
Recommendations from friends or family
In-office education
Front desk or provider conversations
Patient Marketplace
Platforms like thepatientmarketplace.com help patients discover practices offering in-office membership plans
Who Dental Membership Plans Are Best For
Membership plans work especially well for:
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Fee-for-service or hybrid practices
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Multi-doctor practices
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Practices focused on long-term retention
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Offices looking to reduce PPO dependence
Practices committed to patient relationships and predictable revenue tend to see the strongest results.
Next Steps for Practices Considering a Dental Membership Plan
For dentists evaluating membership plans, the next step is understanding how to design, manage, and scale a program that fits their practice model.
Most practices begin by learning how membership software supports:
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Automation
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Compliance
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Member management
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Sustainable growth
A well-structured membership plan, supported by the right systems, can become a long-term revenue engine for the practice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Membership Plans
What does a dental membership plan include?
Most plans include preventive care and discounts on additional services, though offerings vary by practice.
How much does a dental membership plan cost?
Pricing depends on plan structure, frequency of care, and included benefits.
Are dental membership plans legal?
Yes. Dental membership plans are legal when structured and communicated properly as non-insurance programs.
How do patients enroll in a dental membership plan?
Patients enroll directly through the dental practice offering the plan or by discovering participating practices through patient marketplaces.
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How BoomCloud™ Changes the Membership Game
Let’s face it, running a membership plan manually is a colossal pain in the molars. That’s where BoomCloud™ comes in. This powerhouse software helps you create, automate, and scale your in-house membership plan with a simple, user-friendly interface. BoomCloud™ handles billing, renewals, analytics, and patient communications, so you can focus on what you do best—keeping smiles healthy.
Watch this video about scaling a dental membership plan with Gina Kiner & Jordon Comstock
Case Studies: BoomCloud™ in Action
7 to 7 Dental: The Multi-Million Dollar Membership Plan
- Members: 1,672 members paying $35/month.
- MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue): $58,520.
- ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue): $702,240.
- Patient Spend: Members spent 4.5X more on treatments than non-members.
With BoomCloud™, 7 to 7 Dental transformed their membership plan into a cash machine. They didn’t just stop at scaling—they crushed it with personalized marketing campaigns and automated renewal processes.
Wood River Dental: Small Town, Big Results
- Members: 780 members at $40/month.
- MRR: $23,400.
- ARR: $280,800.
- Loyalty Factor: Patients loved the flexibility and signed up faster than you can say “PPO-free.”
BoomCloud™ helped this small-town practice ditch insurance dependence while giving patients affordable options. Their secret? Team training, killer marketing, and leveraging analytics to improve retention.
Dr. Brady Frank’s Practice: From Chaos to Consistency
- Members: Over 1,000 active members.
- MRR: Over $50,000.
- ARR: Well over $600,000.
- Patient Referrals: Membership patients referred 2X more than PPO patients.
Dr. Frank’s team leveraged BoomCloud™ to automate every moving part of their membership plan. The result? A stress-free workflow and a happier, more loyal patient base.
Best Practices for Launching a Dental Membership Plan
- Build Value-Driven Plans: Offer packages that meet patient needs without overwhelming them. Start simple and grow.
- Educate Your Team: Your front desk, hygienists, and assistants need to know how to communicate the plan’s benefits.
- Leverage Tech: Don’t even think about managing memberships manually. Use BoomCloud™ to automate billing, renewals, and tracking.
- Market Like a Rockstar: Use email, social media, and in-office signage to shout your membership plan from the rooftops.
- Monitor and Optimize: Regularly review performance metrics—like patient retention, MRR, and ARR—and adjust accordingly.
Why Patients and Practices Are Obsessed
Dental membership plans don’t just keep the lights on—they create an ecosystem of trust, loyalty, and profitability. Patients love the transparency and affordability, while practices enjoy freedom from the PPO grind.
BoomCloud™’s dental membership software takes this concept and supercharges it, offering analytics, marketing tools, and automation that make running a membership plan not only possible but wildly successful.
Make Your Membership Plan the Backbone of Your Practice
Stop letting PPOs run your practice into the ground. Take control, create predictable revenue, and build lasting relationships with your patients. Whether you’re starting fresh or looking to scale, BoomCloud™ has the tools to help you dominate the membership game.
What are you waiting for? Go from struggling with PPOs to thriving with your very own dental membership plan—powered by BoomCloud™, of course. Let’s build something epic.
Why BoomCloud is the Best Solution for Growing Your Membership
BoomCloud provides a turn-key solution for creating, automating, and scaling a dental membership plan. With features such as custom branding, easy online signup, and integrated payment processing, BoomCloud is the ultimate enabler for dental practices looking to grow their membership plans with minimal hassle.
Case Studies and Testimonials – Dental Membership Plan
Real-world success stories and testimonials from other practices using BoomCloud stand as compelling evidence for its effectiveness. These case studies illustrate how practices similar to yours have seen substantial growth in revenue and patient loyalty through the use of BoomCloud.
The Six-Figure Success Story
A dental practice was struggling to transition from traditional payment models to a more modern, inclusive membership plan. Upon integrating BoomCloud, they not only streamlined their payment processes but also significantly increased their patient base. Within just 12 months of leveraging BoomCloud’s automated marketing tools and seamless signup process, the practice witnessed an explosive growth in membership, catapulting their annual recurring revenue into the six-figure range. This not only solidified their position in the market but also enhanced patient satisfaction and loyalty.
Breaking the Million Dollar Barrier
Perhaps the most compelling success story comes from a medium-sized practice located in a competitive suburban area in Texas. Faced with stagnation and an increasingly discerning customer base, they turned to BoomCloud to revitalize their membership plan. Utilizing the platform’s comprehensive analytics and custom branding, they were able to tailor their offerings to meet the specific needs of their community. The results were groundbreaking. They became the first practice in their region—and among the users of BoomCloud—to surpass a million dollars in recurring revenue solely from their membership plan. This unprecedented achievement was a testament to the power of BoomCloud’s platform in transforming dental practices into thriving centers of recurring revenue and patient loyalty.
These case studies underscore the potential of BoomCloud to revolutionize dental practices by enhancing their membership plans. By providing tools for automation, engagement, and personalization, BoomCloud positions practices to not only meet but exceed their revenue and patient satisfaction goals.
Wood River dental started their dental membership plan a couple years ago and grew from zero patients to over 700 active patients on their membership. This has been a game changer for the practice owners as they have been able to invest more into their practice and generate predictable recurring revenue. Take a look at their membership plan metrics
dental membership plan
Is a Dental Membership Plan Right for Your Practice?
|
Practice Characteristic |
Good Fit? |
|---|---|
|
Fee-for-service model |
✅ Yes |
|
PPO-heavy practice |
⚠️ Transitional |
|
Multi-doctor practice |
✅ Yes |
|
Long-term patient focus |
✅ Yes |
|
High admin burden |
✅ Yes |
Recap and Next Steps
This article has equipped you with the necessary tools to initiate the growth of your dental membership plan. Continue using these strategies and consider scheduling a demo of BoomCloud to see how it can revolutionize your business.
Ready to bring your dental practice to new heights with a strong and thriving membership plan? It’s time to make an impact. Take the next step by reaching out to BoomCloud and schedule a demo today.
