From the desk of STAC Bizness Solutions CEO, Shawna Aho

Across the country, dental practice owners are grappling with a frustrating trend: rising costs are making it harder to maintain strong profit margins. Payroll, supply costs, equipment, rent, insurance—nearly every line item is more expensive than it was just a few years ago. In response, many practices are looking for ways to tighten their belts.

But here’s the challenge: cost-cutting alone isn’t a long-term solution, at least not one that supports a thriving, growing dental practice. At STAC Bizness Solutions, we help practice owners think more strategically. While it’s essential to keep a close eye on expenses, sustainable profitability often comes not from cutting, but from growing, specifically growing the top line without ballooning overhead.

So how do you grow in an environment where everything costs more? In this post, I’ll explore a few key ideas.

Understand Where Your Dollars Are Going

Before we talk about growth, it’s critical to have a clear, accurate understanding of your current expenses. Many dentists know their big-ticket items—payroll, rent, lab fees—but may not regularly review the smaller costs that add up over time.

We recommend:

• Reviewing your profit and loss statements monthly.
• Identifying fixed vs. variable costs.
• Looking for subscriptions, services, or processes that no longer provide value.

Importantly, don’t view this exercise purely as a way to cut. Instead, think of it as reallocating funds, freeing up cash that can be reinvested into growth strategies.

Cut Costs Without Compromising Growth

Yes, reducing expenses is a natural response to rising costs. But some cuts do more harm than good—especially if they impact the patient experience, team culture, or future potential.

Here are a few SMART ways to reduce spending without sacrificing what makes your practice successful:

1. Renegotiate vendor contracts.
   Suppliers, labs, and service providers may be open to discounts or better terms, especially if you’ve been a loyal client.
2. Streamline administrative workflows.
   Use practice management software to automate reminders, scheduling, and billing. This reduces the need for extra staff hours and cuts down on human error.
3. Consolidate purchasing.
   Buying in bulk or through a group purchasing organization (GPO) can help reduce material costs.
4. Cross-train staff.
   Rather than hiring additional employees, consider training your team to take on multiple responsibilities. This creates flexibility and often increases engagement.

I always stress with clients, “The key is to focus on efficiency, not elimination”. Smart practices reduce waste—not value.

Why Growing Revenue Is Often the Better Strategy

While cost containment plays a role, you can’t cut your way to growth. The most sustainable and exciting path forward is to increase your top-line revenue, bringing in more income without proportionally increasing expenses.

Here’s the good news! This isn’t just about working more hours or seeing more patients. In fact, some of the best ways to grow revenue have minimal impact on operational costs. Here are a few ideas to consider:

Boost Case Acceptance Through Better Communication

Many dental practices lose revenue not because patients fully consider treatment and say “no,” but because they don’t fully understand the benefits of treatment, or the risks of delaying care.

By improving how you (and/or your team) present treatment plans, you can increase acceptance rates and generate more revenue per patient.

Here are a couple practical tips:

• Use visual aids or digital scans to show patients what’s happening in their mouths.
• Train your team in value-based communication—focusing on benefits, outcomes, and long-term health.
• Offer financing options that make care more accessible to your patients.

Reactivate Dormant Patients

Your existing patient base is often your biggest growth opportunity. Patients who haven’t been in for 12+ months are low-hanging fruit – no marketing costs, no lead time.

Some great ideas to consider:

• Running a targeted reactivation campaign by email, text, or phone.
• Offering a limited-time promotion for overdue cleanings or exams.
• Segmenting your list so messages feel personal, not generic.

Even reactivating a small percentage of your inactive patients can have a noticeable impact on monthly production.

Add High-Value Services

One powerful way to increase revenue without expanding overhead is to add services that generate more income per visit. Think about treatments you’re already trained to deliver, or could easily integrate with your current staff and equipment.

Examples include:

• Whitening and cosmetic dentistry
• Clear aligners or retainers
• Same-day crowns (with in-office milling)
• Sleep apnea screening and appliances

By focusing on high-margin procedures, you improve profitability without adding significant operational complexity.

Improve Scheduling Efficiency

Are you maximizing the potential of every day on your calendar? Under-booked days and appointment gaps can quietly eat into profits.

I encourage you to consider these strategies:

• Review your no-show and cancellation rates, and implement reminder systems to reduce them.
• Use block scheduling to prioritize high-value procedures during peak hours.
• Train your front desk team to spot opportunities to fill holes in the schedule, whether with emergency slots, hygiene visits, or follow-ups.

Time is money—and better scheduling means more production without more overhead.

Engage in Strategic Marketing (Without Overspending)

Marketing is often seen as a cost center, but when done well, it should be a revenue engine. That said, not all marketing delivers the same return on investment.

Smart marketing approaches include:

• Referral programs that reward current patients or partner businesses.
• Google Business Profile optimization to increase visibility in local searches.
• Regular email newsletters to stay top-of-mind with existing patients.
• Targeted online ads for high-value services like implants or Invisalign.

The key is to track what works—and stop spending on what doesn’t.

Final Thoughts: Smart Growth Is Sustainable Growth

At STAC Bizness Solutions, we know how tough it can be to balance rising costs with the need to grow. But we’ve also seen firsthand that profitability doesn’t require sacrifice—it requires strategy.

Yes, be mindful of your expenses. Look for inefficiencies. Keep your overhead in check. But more importantly, find ways to deliver more value, attract the right patients, and maximize your revenue opportunities without driving your costs through the roof.

Running a dental practice is a business—but it’s also a service. When you focus on smart, sustainable growth, you not only improve your bottom line—you build something that lasts.

If you’re looking for guidance on how to assess your current financial health, build a realistic growth plan, or make more strategic business decisions, STAC Bizness Solutions is here to help.  Book your free consultation today!