Improve Profitability through Clean Claims

With almost 11 ADA recognized dental specialties and having a burgeoning market share, the specialty dental business is here to make significant gains in the coming years as we take a cursory glance on the latest trends of the dental industry.

Listen to Ryan Arnold, Principal, Wisdom Teeth Guys as he explains the possibilities that lie ahead for Dental Specialty business and how he has paid attention on patient care,technology adoption and brand management to further sustainable practice growth for his specialty.

Dentistry's Inner Circle bg 37

Creating Sustainable Specialty Dental Businesses

Dentistry's Inner Circle Podcast

A series of podcasts from practice owners on how they navigated the change and successfully transitioned to CareStack. 

Expanding Dental Care beyond the Clinic

Expanding Dental Care Beyond the Clinic

Beatrice Perez

Ishtiaq Rouf

Dana Veach

Dr. Himesh Kana, DDS

Himesh Kana

 Penny Filipe

Promoted to Manager, Now What

Promoted to Manager, Now What?

Wonderist Agency

Implant Marketing Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated—But It Does Have to Be Smart

DSO Group Blog: Boosting Call Conversions

DSOs Are Bleeding Value From Their Phone Lines: Dr. Scott Kalniz on the Call Conversion Crisis in Dentistry

Top Trends in Dental Software for 2025

Top Trends in Dental Software for 2025: What Practices Should Prepare For

Reducing patient no-shows and cancellations begins by accepting that 

it’s impossible to guarantee that your patients will always keep their appointments

. Once you accept that this falls outside your control, you can pool your efforts on the aspects that are within your control, and which help reduce no-shows and cancellations.

missed appointments cause a ripple effect

 that impacts your schedules, revenues, and the effectiveness of treatments. It strikes a serious blow to your bottom line. But with that said, there are 

effective safeguards you can put in place

 to address this issue. Before we explore these safeguards, let’s examine the key reasons behind no-shows and cancellations. 

Typically, patients miss their appointments when they:

Don’t understand the importance of keeping their appointments

Misunderstand when their appointment is scheduled

Self diagnose and decide to skip their appointments

Worry about bad news and try to avoid the situation

Have a shallow relationship with the provider

There is a wide range of reasons for patients to miss their appointments, but most can be mitigated with improved patient-provider communication and by implementing the following safeguards.

It became widely accepted as a care delivery method after the 2020 pandemic, but thanks to the convenience offered to patients, 

 is here to stay. Outside the initial check-up and actual treatment, consultations and routine post-op visits can be performed remotely. The virtual interactions offer patients the opportunity to 

receive treatment in the comfort of their living room

 or office. The added benefit of leveraging teledentistry is it adds one less reason for patients to rethink or opt out of their dental appointments. 

Another approach that has gained traction is using 

 to collect vital patient information. E-forms are a key feature of modern practice management software (PMS). This feature is now used widely to stay in line with the COVID-19 safety protocols. With this new norm, practices have completely replaced the clipboard and embraced digitization. Another fact that supports this approach is that 

98% of patients who take time to fill out online forms commit to their appointments

COVID-19 has added fuel to the fire of dental anxiety among patients. The risk of exposure is a valid fear. The best way for you to 

 is with communication and education. Ensure you convey the safety protocols and measures followed at your practice to reduce the risks from COVID-19. Launching targeted email campaigns, and updating relevant information on your practice website and 

convey your commitment to patient care and safety

 and encourage patients to follow through with their appointments.

When you provide your patients with the option to make payments in advance, it reduces the instances of no-shows and benefits your collections and accounts receivable. Get paid upfront instead of having to wait for 2-3 months. Paying cash in advance leads to 

. You can provide this option during patient checkout, especially when both you and your patient agree with the importance of scheduling the next appointment.

Offering upfront payment at this stage is apt, as the patient is likelier to take action and commit to their oral health. Another way to make it easy for them to pay is by providing an 

. Make sure that you inform your patient about your prepaid payment options. Market it through your campaigns, newsletters, and phone scripts.

Reminders are an effective way to reduce patient no-shows. Plan your 

and decide on a frequency that works best for your target clientele. Start off with a postcard, followed by email and text reminders. Add a phone reminder a few days before the scheduled appointment. Ensure that you cut down on reminders once you receive confirmation from your patients. Practice management software aids you to launch, coordinate and track your recall campaigns effectively.

reward patients who keep their appointments

. The reward initiatives can include discounts or gift cards. The benefits of such an approach are twofold. You encourage your patients to follow through on your appointments and 

convey how much you value their participation

. Moreover, curating such experiences helps you retain your customers.

Sometimes, patients simply forget an appointment. Send 

 that can include a “We missed you at the practice” message. Follow this up with a phone call to encourage them to reschedule immediately.

It is crucial that your patients know the impact of your treatments on their oral health. If your patients are not invested in the outcomes of your treatment plan, it is unlikely that they will uphold their commitments. 

 before every appointment. Remind them of the benefits of the procedure and the progress they’ve made so far. 

 of the scheduled appointment and ensure that they are fully onboard. A phone reminder before the appointment will help refresh what they already know about the 

Patients skip appointments because they owe your practice money or are worried the procedure will be too expensive. When this happens, it’s time to 

. It’s important that payments never come as a surprise to the patient. This causes anxiety in the patient, especially when they expect hidden expenses from each visit. When 

 and benefits are discussed upfront and agreed upon, patient no-shows due to financial concerns can be avoided. 

 allows you to effectively educate and communicate with your patients. Automating tasks like appointment reminders or confirmation/cancellation emails, filling last-minute openings, and sending online forms and other notifications to engage patients, practices can drastically cut revenue loss and staff workload while reducing patient no-shows and cancellations.

Eliminating No-Shows and Cancellations at Dental Office

For a dental practice, revenue cycle management is the equivalent of the body’s circulatory system and the heart of a practice’s financial success. The revenue cycle incorporates data capture, claims and denials management, and the collection of payments from both patient and insurance receivables. A healthy system works in concert with industry best practices and technical solutions to optimize efficiencies, identify “leaks” and improve operational workflows. As every practice is unique, it is difficult to prescribe a “one size fits all” approach. However, there are key performance indicators, which can and should be followed to measure practice performance. There are several potential KPIs which provide valuable insight into the collection’s performance and financial health of practice including, but not limited to: Collections percentage, Production growth, Aging accounts receivable, Days sales outstanding, Adjustments percentage, and Credit balances. 

Since 2011, the dental industry has experienced a steady and upward trend in aging receivables, with the majority of balances aged greater than 90 days. The good news is that CareStack offers a solution that combines modern technology, effective processes, and industry expertise to kick start the heart and breathe life back into the revenue cycle.

Revenue Cycle Playbook for Dental Professional

Revenue Cycle Playbook for Dental Professionals

From small, solo practices to large, multi-location clinics, these case studies demonstrate the versatility and value of CareStack in improving the patient experience and driving practice . 

Picture this: It is a Monday morning in a busy dental office somewhere in Ohio. The phone is buzzing nonstop, the waiting room is packed, and the practice owner is sipping coffee while scanning the monthly marketing report. The numbers look… fine. Not terrible, not amazing. But one question lingers:

“Are we actually on track to hit our new patient goals this year?”

Turns out, that question is not unique. When we surveyed 38 dental practices across the country, from general practitioners to oral surgeons, most admitted they are asking the same thing.

Who We Heard From: Dental Practices Across the U.S.

Our 2025 Mid-Year Growth Survey captured insights from 38 dental practices across the U.S. These are not just stats on a page but real stories from dental practice owners balancing patient care with business growth. Here is how the mix breaks down:

: The backbone of dentistry, setting the pace for growth across the industry.

: The “one-stop shops” juggling multiple services and marketing them all at once.

: Masters of trust and long-term loyalty, starting with a child’s first visit.

: Specialists relying on referrals and reputation for high-stakes cases.

: The root canal experts, thriving on strong referral ties.

On average, these practices run about 1.8 locations each.

Are Dental Practices on Track With Patient Growth in 2025?

Here is some good news: 79% of dental practices began 2025 with clear new patient growth targets. That shows that the “let’s just see what happens” approach is being ditched by modern dental practices. Dentistry is starting to act more like a business with defined goals and accountability.

The twist? Only 40% of dental practices have passed the halfway point toward those targets.

When asked how confident they feel about finishing the year strong:

 are cautiously optimistic, waiting to see how the second half plays out.

 are worried their current strategies just will not cut it.

The takeaway: having a target already sets you apart. Growth does not happen by accident, and a roadmap beats wandering any day.

Dental Marketing Budgets: Where Practices Are Spending

90% of dental practices invest real dollars into marketing, with most spending between $25,000 and $50,000 per location. On paper, that looks solid.

But here is the catch. 58% say they are not happy with the return. That is the equivalent of buying a fancy fishing rod, casting every day, and still coming home without dinner. The effort is there, but the strategy is off.

Many practices are casting wide nets for visibility instead of tracking what actually hooks patients. Without sharper targeting and smarter tracking, marketing dollars slip away fast.

Every dental practice surveyed has some sort of social media presence. But only 29% post 2-3 times a week, which is just enough to stay relevant. The rest? A couple of posts a month. That is like entering a marathon in flip-flops. You are technically in the race, but you are not really running.

76% are on Google Business Profile, Facebook, and Instagram, which are now the bare minimum. But too many practices treat their pages like digital waiting rooms. Quiet. Predictable. Forgettable.

Social media should not be wallpaper. It should grab attention, show personality, and make patients feel like they know you before they ever book. Otherwise, it is like renting a billboard and leaving it blank.

Dental Marketing Agencies: Partner or Passenger?

55% of dental practices hire a marketing agency, expecting a pit crew to tune up their growth engine. But nearly 20% say they have no idea what their agency is actually doing.

It is like paying a personal trainer who claps while you lift invisible weights. You are sweating, but are you getting results?

Too many agencies churn out content without driving growth. Only 52% of dental practices post weekly on social media, even with agencies on board. That is not enough.

Consistency wins trust. Patients may not book today, but if they see you show up regularly with value and warmth, you will be the one they remember when it matters.

Paid Ads for Dentists: Precision Over Budget

Two-thirds of practices are putting their ad dollars into Google Ads, with Meta trailing far behind at 8%. Direct mail still makes an appearance, surprisingly holding the same slice as Meta.

18% admit they do not know which channel requires more of their budget. That is like playing poker without looking at your cards.

The top performers are not spending more; they are spending smarter. They run intent-driven campaigns, track every click to booked appointments, and fine-tune strategies weekly. 

Translation: clicks are nice, but booked patients are better.

Top Dental Practice Growth Challenges in 2025

Every dental practice dreams of growth, but here are the biggest hurdles:

: With a dentist on every corner, visibility alone is not enough. Differentiation is the name of the game.

: Agencies that deliver vague reports instead of real results are a major frustration.

: Some dental practices expect champagne results on a soda budget.

: Changing communities are reshaping patient needs, from senior care to pediatric growth.

The message is clear. Winning practices move quickly, adapt to shifts, and make sure every dollar works harder.

What High-Performing Dental Practices Do Differently

The standouts in our survey are not spending recklessly. About 60% of confident dental practices invest $25,000 to $50,000 per location, but with sharp precision. They know which KPIs matter, track them in real time, and adjust strategies quickly. Marketing is treated as a growth engine, not just an expense.

Agencies play a big role, but not always a positive one. 19% of practices working with an agency or consultant report dissatisfaction. Why? Because hiring an agency is not a growth strategy on its own. The high performers treat agencies as partners, setting clear KPIs, reviewing results, and aligning every dollar with business goals.

Here is the twist: 29% of dental practices without an agency have already hit more than half of their new patient growth targets. By owning their marketing, testing campaigns, and staying close to the data, they are often moving faster than peers who rely too heavily on outside help.

General practitioners are setting the pace, with 45% already past half their goals thanks to hands-on marketing. Specialists also show strong momentum, with 42% halfway there by staying focused on their niche.

The contrast is clear: Generalists often go solo, Specialists lean on agencies, but the winners in both groups stay intentional and disciplined.

Generalists vs. Specialists: Same Struggles, Different Path

For General Practitioners, the story is a little lopsided. About 55% aren’t happy with the return on their digital marketing spend, which is kind of like paying for a premium gym but never seeing the abs. To make matters trickier, 23% admit they don’t even know which channel eats up the most budget. And here’s the kicker: over half of GPs don’t work with an agency or consultant at all. That means they’re juggling fillings, follow-ups, and Facebook ads solo, which rarely leads to gold-standard results.

Specialty practices, meanwhile, play in a different lane. You’d think their niche services would give them an edge, but 63% are just as frustrated with their ROI. The twist is that nearly 70% of specialists partner with agencies or consultants. The problem? Many of those partnerships fall flat, weighed down by fuzzy strategy, poor alignment, or campaigns that simply fizzle. Add in the fact that half of specialty practices post less than once a week on social media, and it’s no wonder they struggle to stay visible in a world where attention spans refresh faster than TikTok feeds.

The contrast is clear: GPs tend to go solo and wrestle with focus, while specialists lean on agencies but stumble on consistency. Different playbooks, same headaches. The real takeaway? Whether you’re a GP or a specialist, it is not about how much you spend; it is about being intentional, consistent, and actually making your strategy work as hard as you do.

How Dental Practices Can Finish 2025 Stronger

Our survey makes one thing clear: dentists are ambitious, but execution is where growth slips. Budgets are flowing, intent is high, but strategies are not sharp enough, and tracking is not tight enough.

The good news? Turning the year around does not require a complete overhaul. It just takes tightening a few bolts:

: Target smarter, optimize weekly, and make agencies prove their value.

: Post with consistency and personality, not just placeholders.

: In crowded markets, being memorable matters more than just being visible.

The second half of 2025 is a chance to flip the script. Practices that move with clarity, consistency, and creativity will not only finish strong but roll into 2026 with serious momentum. Want the full breakdown of wins, worries, and what’s next for dental growth this year? Read the complete 2025 Mid-Year Dental Growth Survey Report.



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The 2025 Mid-Year Dental Growth Report for Practices: Wins, Worries, and What’s Next

In today's world of dental practice, patient satisfaction is a crucial element. It isn't just about delivering quality treatment but also about providing an experience that leaves the patients feeling respected, cared for, and valued. Monitoring and measuring patient satisfaction is vital to building a thriving practice and ensuring quality care. This is the reason why more and more dental practice owners and dental healthcare providers are turning to patient satisfaction surveys.

5 Benefits of Patient Satisfaction Surveys

Surveys enable you to measure how satisfied the patients are with the overall level of care they receive. Surveys can also be used to drill down further, reviewing staff performance, concerns, and so on.

Survey responses reveal specific areas where the dental practice might need to make changes, such as wait times, appointment scheduling, or the comfort of the office environment.

A patient satisfaction survey provides valuable feedback and can help the practice make necessary adjustments to improve patient loyalty and retention. This helps create long-term relationships and a loyal patient base.

Patient satisfaction surveys can provide insight into how patients perceive the friendliness, professionalism, and competence of the dental office staff, including administrative personnel, hygienists, and dentists.

Feedback helps streamline marketing efforts by enabling practices to address issues before they lead to negative word-of-mouth publicity or reviews.

At CareStack, we understand the importance of patient emotions. That is why we provide a patient review form that can be passed on to the patients so that you can assess where you stand.

With our patient review system, you can identify the experience of each patient and find ways to improve your service.

Any dental healthcare professional can offer a patient survey, but if you truly try to understand your patients' concerns, you can have happier and more loyal patients and a more thriving practice.

Maximizing Your Dental Business With Patient Satisfaction Surveys

What serves to be a greater satisfaction for a customer than a notification that rings “Appointment booked”? Of course, there’s no alternative to the convenience offered by an online dental scheduling software.

With the convenience offered by online dental scheduling, you can say goodbye to your administrative hassles and dedicate your time to patient care.

So are you ready to transform your dental practice and take it to the next level? If so,

5 dental marketing strategies for online scheduling,

5 Dental Marketing Strategies for Online Scheduling

Enhance Online Presence Through Valuable Feedback

Earning the trust of existing customers is the foundation for building a strong online presence. These existing customers are familiar with the usage of 

 and asking for their valuable feedback can be done by linking review requests with 

. This creates a strong compelling reason for potential customers to reach out and make their decision in full confidence.

The era of making an appointment at the front desk is over and it’s time for people to switch to a smarter solution. This switch doesn’t come easily unless you create a compelling prompt that evokes curiosity and calls upon immediate action. Therefore the strategic placement of a meaningful Call-to-Action prompt like “

” can encourage potential customers to take immediate action with a single click. This boosts patient engagement and creates conversions for your dental practice website. Here are some examples: 

Request Appointment

Making An Appointment

In the context of dental care, social media platforms have the potential to reach a larger audience by increasing awareness of their services. With the help of social media, you can address the significance of 

 and bring in more potential customers through educational posts, interactive polls, and high-value testimonials. In this case, a post with a good CTA for online dental bookings can bring a lot to the table in terms of engagement.

Power of Social Media

 strategy is a game-changer for patient engagement. In simple words, applying the knowledge of dental SEO makes it easy for potential patients to find you when they need you. For instance, if someone is in the urgency to book a 

, they would search the query keyword and click on the top 5 suggested results in Google. With the help of relevant keywords, you can drive more traffic to possible conversions.

In the end, the best SEO strategies put in a lot of emphasis on website user experiences such as fast page load time, mobile-friendly design, engaging headings, and informative content.

how can a dentist rank #1 in search engine results?

https://delmain.co/blog/dental-seo-guide/

Optimizing Google My Business Listing (GMB)

Google By Business is a powerful tool for 

. By integrating a custom link for the online dental booking system, you can make it more convenient for patients to book appointments anytime and anywhere.

Make sure to update your listing with accurate information, upload quality photos of services, encourage patients to leave reviews, and respond to reviews constructively. This helps build credibility around your services and eventually convinces potential patients to opt for an online dental booking service.

In terms of convenience, opting for an advanced 

 is the solution for your practice management needs. With 

Virtual Assistance for front desk administration



, is at every step of the way to ensure that all your practice goals are met on a timely basis. Boost patient engagement, elevate the game of dental marketing, and make informed decisions with CareStack's practice management software.

Online Appointment Portal

How does the dental scheduling software work?

 is to simplify the process of online bookings for patients. This helps you to save time and reduces the load of the front desk. It has all the tools to maximize your productivity such as appointment reminders, daily appointment lists, single URL management, Pay-by-text, etc

What is the best practice for increasing engagement with online scheduling?

You can showcase the available option of an 

 on your website with a good CTA. It’s recommended to use CTA’s such as, book your appointment now, schedule an appointment, or request an appointment.

 practices are centered around streamlining operations for more patient engagement. Some important tips to remember are, to send appointment reminders, provide convenient time slots, plan appointments ahead, and allow rescheduling in times of urgency.

Next Level With Online Bookings

Take Your Dental Practice To The Next Level With Online Bookings

Consciously putting yourself in your patient’s shoes(search results), offering them the best service possible, and making them choose your practice over other gazillion options is the jackpot you need to hit.

In this fast-paced and ever-evolving dental market, standing still will move you backward.

Your patients are more informed than ever, and digital marketing has steered some new and easy ways to reach them.

Having a solid online marketing strategy to attract, engage and retain patients by leveraging data and technology efficiently is crucial for a dental practice to stand out in the crowd today.

While planning your marketing strategy for 2023, you should think about adding social marketing, digital marketing, and some cutting-edge marketing tools to it.

This blog will analyze the benefits of the various marketing mediums, dental marketing tips and strategies, and how to implement them effectively to get the results you look for.

Why is Digital Marketing Important for Dentists in 2023

Running a dental practice is a challenge in itself.

 in place will make your practice stand out and help you connect with your target audience.

 refers to any marketing methods conducted through electronic devices which utilize some form of a computer, including online marketing efforts conducted on the internet.”

 is as necessary for any other business existing in this era. If wisely engaged, it can prove highly effective and beneficial.

 will gain your practice the credibility, reach, and reliability your patients seek. This will have a direct positive impact on the number of new patient conversions.

Let’s look at some statistics to understand how important is digital marketing for dentists.

By 2027, the dental market in the United States is projected to witness a substantial growth of $15 billion+, representing a 100% increase.

77% of patients will choose a provider that offers online scheduling. 

 can make your practice stand out and be approachable to prospective patients.

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