Understanding Your Metrics: Production

In this blog series, we’re diving into metrics—also known as key performance indicators (KPIs). These numbers are essential for running a smooth, profitable dental practice. Too often, offices don’t track them and instead “guess” how things are going. But numbers don’t lie. When you track them, you can improve them. And remember—what you focus on grows.

Since production is often viewed as the most important number, we’ll start here.

What Is Total Production?

Think of Total Production as your practice’s heartbeat. It’s the total dollar value of all dental treatments completed in a given period—before any adjustments or write-offs. Many doctors hesitate to share production numbers with their team, worrying it might seem like they care more about money than patients. But the truth is, both can coexist. Patient care should always come first, and while you can’t put a number on compassion or clinical excellence, production does reflect the trust patients place in you and the impact you’re making. Sharing production numbers with your staff is simple about giving you benchmarks to guide growth, get your team working toward a collective goal, and ensure the practice thrives. Production isn’t just about revenue; it’s about how much care patients have entrusted you to provide. Making this simple mindset swap or presenting production as the heartbeat of practice to your team because of the impact your making is sure to get everyone on board. 

Why Does This Metric Matter?

Tracking Total Production gives you a clear, objective measure of your practice’s output. By monitoring it regularly, you can:

• Spot trends: Are you growing month-over-month? Do you notice seasonal dips?

• Evaluate provider performance: See who is excelling and who may need support or training.

• Set realistic goals: You can’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you are. Production is your starting point for creating achievable growth targets.

How to Track and Benchmark

Most practice management software can generate a monthly production report. Run this report on the first of each month, and break it down by provider. This gives you detailed insights into individual and team performance.

When benchmarking, there isn’t a single “magic number” to hit. Instead, focus on consistent monthly growth. Celebrate wins, learn from losses, and aim to beat last month’s number.

How to Boost Your Production

Here’s the good news: Production isn’t the result of one action—it’s the sum of many small wins. Improvements in case acceptance, patient retention, scheduling efficiency, and provider productivity all feed into stronger production numbers.

One of the biggest factors is scheduling. Ask yourself:

• Is my schedule set up to maximize production?

• Do I have the right number of team members to support the planned procedures?

• Are providers—including hygiene—producing at their full potential?

• Am I providing my staff a template to schedule a productive day?

Even if your staff doesn’t calculate or discuss daily goals, they need a scheduling template that makes those goals possible. Without it, your schedule can work against you instead of for you.

Production is your baseline metric—the place where measurement and growth begin. Every other KPI we’ll cover in this series ties back to it. By refining your systems and empowering your team, you’ll see your production grow—and with it, your practice’s success.

👉 Want to keep learning? Join our email list and follow along with the full Knowing Your Metrics series here!