How to Boost Dental Patient Numbers (The Smart, Profitable Way)
Let’s cut through the fluff.
When dentists ask how to boost dental patient numbers, what they usually mean is:
-
“My schedule isn’t full.”
-
“New patients are inconsistent.”
-
“Revenue feels unpredictable.”
-
“PPO write-offs are crushing us.”
And most marketing agencies respond with:
“Run more ads.”
“Discount whitening.”
“Do a $49 new patient special.”
That’s not growth.
That’s survival.
If you want to boost dental patient numbers in a way that actually increases profit (not just busyness), you need a strategy built around:
-
📈 Revenue per patient
-
🔁 Retention
-
💳 Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR)
-
💎 Membership-based loyalty
Let’s break it down.
🎯 Step 1: Stop Chasing Volume. Start Optimizing Value.
Here’s a hard truth:
You don’t need more patients.
You need better systems.
If your average patient spends $700/year…
And you increase that to $1,400/year…
You just doubled revenue without doubling chair time.
According to Bain & Company, increasing customer retention by 5% can increase profits by 25–95%.
Retention > Acquisition.
Boosting patient numbers is powerful.
Boosting patient lifetime value is transformational.
🚀 How to Boost Dental Patient Numbers (7 Proven Strategies)
1️⃣ Dominate Local SEO (Own “Near Me” Searches)
Patients search:
-
“Dentist near me”
-
“Emergency dentist near me”
-
“Family dentist in [city]”
-
“No insurance dentist near me”
To win:
-
Optimize Google Business Profile
-
Get 100+ reviews
-
Post weekly updates
-
Add services + FAQs
-
Build location-specific content
Google prioritizes helpful, user-centric content (see Google’s Helpful Content guidelines).
But here’s the kicker…
Promote your membership plan in your profile description.
Instead of:
“We accept most PPOs.”
Say:
“No insurance? Join our in-house savings plan.”
That attracts the uninsured AND insurance-frustrated patients.
2️⃣ Launch a Dental Membership Plan (The Loyalty Multiplier)
If you want to boost dental patient numbers sustainably, you need a system that:
-
Converts uninsured patients
-
Retains PPO patients leaving insurance
-
Creates recurring revenue
-
Increases case acceptance
That’s exactly what a membership plan does.
Practices using BoomCloud™ report:
-
2X–4X higher patient lifetime value
-
Increased treatment acceptance
-
Predictable MRR growth
-
Stronger retention
Example:
350 members
$40/month average
= $14,000/month MRR
= $168,000/year ARR
That’s revenue before you even open the doors.
👉 Learn more at https://boomcloudapps.com
3️⃣ Improve Your New Patient Experience (Conversion Boost)
Getting calls is one thing.
Converting them is another.
Ask yourself:
-
Are calls answered live?
-
Is your front desk trained in scripting?
-
Do you offer financing?
-
Is membership offered on the first call?
Top practices don’t just answer phones.
They guide patients.
Script example:
“If you don’t have insurance, many of our patients join our savings membership plan. It actually saves them more than most insurance.”
Boom. Conversion.
4️⃣ Increase Referrals with VIP Positioning
Want more patients without ad spend?
Turn your existing patients into ambassadors.
Membership patients refer more because:
-
They feel exclusive
-
They’re invested
-
They visit more frequently
Offer:
-
Referral credits
-
Family discounts
-
Social media giveaways
-
Review incentives
According to BrightLocal, 87% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses.
Reviews = trust.
Trust = new patients.
5️⃣ Optimize Revenue Per Patient (The Hidden Lever)
Most dentists obsess over:
“How many new patients did we get?”
Instead ask:
“How much did each patient produce?”
Membership patients:
-
Visit consistently
-
Accept treatment more often
-
Aren’t capped by insurance maximums
Revenue per patient increases dramatically when you:
-
Offer in-house savings
-
Educate properly
-
Present treatment confidently
-
Remove insurance limitations
That’s how you grow smarter.
6️⃣ Reduce PPO Dependence (Strategic Transition)
Insurance companies haven’t kept up with inflation in many markets.
Meanwhile:
-
Wages are up
-
Supplies are up
-
Lab costs are up
-
Rent is up
If you want long-term stability, you need:
-
Direct-to-patient revenue
-
Membership income
-
Strong brand authority
Many practices use membership programs as a bridge to fee-for-service.
And once they make the shift?
They rarely go back.
7️⃣ Automate Your Growth Systems
Manual systems kill scalability.
Automate:
-
Membership billing
-
Email follow-ups
-
Text reminders
-
Review requests
-
Reactivation campaigns
BoomCloud™ integrates recurring billing and reporting so you can track:
-
Active members
-
MRR
-
Growth rate
-
Churn
Automation = growth without chaos.
💥 Case Study: From 18 New Patients/Month to 52
Let’s call this practice “Horizon Dental.”
Before:
-
18 new patients/month
-
70% PPO
-
Low case acceptance
-
Unpredictable cash flow
After implementing:
-
SEO strategy
-
Membership plan
-
Front desk scripting
-
Automated billing via BoomCloud™
Results in 12 months:
-
52 new patients/month
-
410 active members
-
$15,990/month MRR
-
31% increase in case acceptance
-
Revenue per patient increased 2.2X
The epiphany?
They stopped competing on insurance.
They started competing on value.
🧠 The Real Secret to Boosting Dental Patient Numbers
Most practices try to:
-
Spend more on ads
-
Offer bigger discounts
-
Work longer hours
But the real growth formula is:
Attract → Convert → Retain → Increase Value
Membership plans amplify every step.
They:
-
Attract uninsured patients
-
Convert hesitant shoppers
-
Retain loyal members
-
Increase lifetime value
That’s leverage.
📊 Transactional vs. Membership Growth Model
Transactional Practice
-
Feast or famine
-
PPO-dependent
-
High write-offs
-
Constant marketing pressure
Membership-Based Practice
-
Predictable MRR
-
Loyal patient base
-
Higher case acceptance
-
Strong referrals
-
Reduced stress
Which model builds real wealth?
Exactly.
❓ FAQs
How many new patients should a dental practice get monthly?
It depends on size and goals, but 20–50/month is common for growth-focused practices. However, retention and revenue per patient matter more.
Do membership plans actually increase patient numbers?
Yes. They attract uninsured patients and retain PPO patients transitioning out of insurance.
How long does it take to see growth?
Most practices see measurable membership and referral growth within 3–6 months.
🚀 Ready to Boost Your Dental Patient Numbers?
Download the million-dollar membership plan ebook – https://boomcloud.myclickfunnels.com/million-dollar-book
Take The Six-Figure Patient Membership Plan Course – https://www.boomcloudapp.com/six-figure-membership-course
Schedule a Demo of BoomCloud™ & Learn how to manage & grow your membership plan – https://boomcloudapps.com/demo-schedule/
Create Your BoomCloud™ Account
