Let’s cut through the dental marketing noise:
If your best “strategy to increase patient volume” is another generic postcard or “$79 new patient special,” you’re not just blending in—you’re disappearing. If you want more butts in chairs and bigger deposits in your bank account, you need real strategies to increase patient volume—and, yes, a bit of attitude doesn’t hurt.
The truth?
Most dental offices chase patient volume, but ignore the single greatest lever for sustainable growth: recurring, loyal patients who come back, spend more, and bring their friends.
Ready to learn what actually works in 2025? Keep reading.
STORY
Meet Dr. Ben.
He bought a practice in a “great” location, kept the staff, freshened the paint, and waited for the phone to ring. And waited. And waited…
He tried discounts, direct mail, insurance networks, and a big inflatable tooth for the front lawn (don’t ask). Still, his schedule had more holes than Swiss cheese.
Then Ben discovered a webinar about membership programs and the power of recurring revenue. He shifted his entire approach:
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Focused on loyalty, not just new leads
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Launched a membership plan using BoomCloud™
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Automated outreach, reactivation, and patient referrals
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Suddenly, volume wasn’t a problem. He needed more hygienists.
This is the blueprint for real, lasting patient volume growth.
Here’s the mic-drop truth:
Patient volume isn’t just about acquisition. It’s about retention, reactivation, and maximizing revenue per patient—on autopilot.
Most practices hustle for new faces and forget the goldmine sitting in their charts: unscheduled treatment, dormant patients, and membership opportunities.
The epiphany?
Want more volume?
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Turn every patient into a loyal, recurring member (with BoomCloud™)
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Automate reminders, follow-ups, and upsells
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Watch your schedule—and your bank account—fill up month after month
Let’s dive into the strategies to increase patient volume that actually work.
DATA: WHY OLD-SCHOOL PATIENT VOLUME TACTICS FAIL (AND WHAT WORKS)
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Average patient attrition rate is 18–24% per year (ADA, 2024)
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Practices with membership programs see 2–4X higher per-patient spend
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Patients on a membership plan are 70% more likely to show for hygiene and accept treatment
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Reactivating lapsed patients is 5x cheaper than acquiring new ones (Dental Economics)
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BoomCloud™ practices report a 3x increase in patient volume within 18 months of launch
THE SYSTEM: 10 PROVEN STRATEGIES TO INCREASE PATIENT VOLUME (AND KEEP IT HIGH)
1. Launch a Membership Program
Forget PPOs. Membership patients show up, say yes to treatment, and stick around.
Pro tip: Use BoomCloud™ to automate signups, billing, and perks.
2. Automate Hygiene Recalls and Reactivation
Don’t just send “it’s time” postcards—text, email, and call lapsed patients.
Use your PMS (or BoomCloud™) for hands-free follow-up.
3. Offer Family and Friends Referral Rewards
Give current patients a reason to bring their tribe.
Referrals have a 37% higher lifetime value (BoomCloud™ data).
4. Use Online Scheduling and Forms
Reduce friction. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly and doesn’t let patients book instantly, you’re invisible to half your market.
5. Create a “Welcome Back” Campaign for Dormant Patients
Run a September or New Year’s “Come Back and Win!” promo—reactivated patients are easier to convert than new leads.
6. Bundle Preventive Care in a Subscription
Not just cleaning—add whitening, fluoride, emergency visits, and more.
Highlight the “no insurance required” savings.
7. Host Community Events and Free Webinars
Build trust and authority. Host back-to-school days, oral health workshops, or Q&As for local parents.
8. Leverage Google Reviews and Social Proof
Patients trust patients. Automate post-visit review requests. Feature member testimonials front and center.
9. Track, Analyze, and Optimize Your MRR & ARR
Measure what matters: monthly recurring revenue, membership growth, and average patient value.
BoomCloud™ makes it a one-click dashboard.
10. Train Your Team to Promote the Membership and Ask for Referrals
Your front desk, assistants, and hygienists should all be membership evangelists.
Role-play scripts. Make it part of the daily culture.
CASE STUDY: Dr. Ben—From Empty Chairs to a Patient Stampede (with BoomCloud™)
Starting Point: 10–15% schedule utilization, $0 MRR, constant new patient offers
After 12 Months:
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420+ membership patients enrolled
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MRR: $13,500/month
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ARR: $162,000
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Per-member spend: 3.2x higher than regular patients
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Referral rate: Doubled
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Team burnout: Down 40%
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Marketing costs: Cut in half
The secret wasn’t just “more new patients.”
It was keeping them, activating dormant ones, and maximizing revenue from every relationship.
WHY MEMBERSHIP PLANS ARE THE SECRET SAUCE FOR PATIENT VOLUME (AND PROFIT)
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Higher loyalty: 78% retention vs. 56% for non-members
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More value: 2–4X per-patient spend
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More referrals: 52% more likely to refer
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No insurance games: You keep the revenue, not the PPO
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Automation: Less admin, more growth
QUICK BULLET LIST: BOOMCLOUD™ FEATURES & VOLUME HACKS
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Automated signups & billing
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Family and group plans
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Integrated online scheduling
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Analytics dashboard for MRR, ARR, churn, and growth
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Automated reminders and follow-ups
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Patient communication (text/email)
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Referral tracking and rewards
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HIPAA-compliant, secure, mobile-friendly
SEO/ENGAGEMENT CHECKLIST FOR “STRATEGIES TO INCREASE PATIENT VOLUME”
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Focus keyword in Title, Meta, H1, intro/conclusion, subheads, image ALT (1–2% density)
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Long-form value (1200+ words), unique stats/data, real stories, bullet lists, calls to action
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Outbound links: BoomCloud™, ADA, Dental Economics
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Internal links: “How to Build Patient Loyalty,” “Why Membership Plans Beat PPOs”
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Ask readers: “What’s your #1 strategy for increasing patient volume? Drop it below!”
THE TAKEAWAY
Increasing patient volume isn’t about grinding for new patients until you burn out.
It’s about building recurring, loyal relationships that drive profit month after month.
The smartest strategies to increase patient volume?
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Launch a killer membership plan
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Automate outreach and reactivation
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Make every patient worth more (and happier)
Stop chasing your tail. Start building a patient base—and revenue stream—that sticks.
Want a proven system to skyrocket your patient volume (and sanity)?
References:
Author: Jordon Comstock (by spirit)
Patient Volume Evangelist, Membership Plan Whisperer, Recurring Revenue Fanatic
