What Are Fixed Costs in a Dental Practice?
Fixed Costs are the structural costs tied to delivering treatment — fixed amounts or percentages that apply per patient, per treatment, or per NHS/plan contract, regardless of patient flow.
They differ from fixed expenses because they are treatment-linked commitments, not monthly overheads.
Why Do Fixed Costs Matter for Dental Practice Owners?
While fixed expenses weigh down a practice every month, fixed costs are built into production itself.
- Associates are paid a fixed % of revenue or a set UDA rate.
- Hygienists and therapists often earn fixed day/session rates.
- NHS contracts and patient plans provide fixed income streams — but also lock the practice into fixed delivery costs.
Example:
- NHS UDA value: £25
- Associate paid £12.50 per UDA (fixed split)
- Regardless of patient attendance or lab variation, that cost per unit is fixed.
Common Fixed Costs in Dental Practices
| Category | Examples |
| Associate Pay | Fixed % split or UDA rate |
| Hygienist/Therapist Pay | Daily/session rates |
| NHS Contracts | Fixed delivery costs tied to UDA commitments |
| Capitation Plans | Guaranteed patient service costs per member |
Fixed Costs vs Fixed Expenses
- Fixed Expenses = “The bills you pay to open the doors” (rent, salaries, software, CQC).
- Fixed Costs = “The fixed commitments built into every treatment delivered” (associate splits, NHS UDAs, plan commitments).
DentPulse separates the two because owners feel the pressure differently: one hits the bank account monthly, the other eats into margin per treatment.
How Does DentPulse Track Fixed Costs?
| Feature | Function |
| Profit Triangle™ Integration | Tracks associate pay splits as fixed cost commitments |
| PulseBenchmark™ | Highlights practices overpaying vs benchmarks |
| Treatment Profitability Index™ | Accounts for fixed cost inputs when ranking treatments |
| Profit-to-Pocket™ Overlay | Shows how fixed costs erode net take-home |
DentPulse ensures fixed costs are seen, measured, and optimised — not assumed.
DentPulse Tip™
“Fixed costs are the shadow in every treatment.
They’re not overheads, but they decide whether production adds or drains profit.”
Related Glossary Terms
- Fixed Expenses – recurring monthly overheads
- Variable Costs – costs that rise/fall with treatment volume (labs, materials)
- Profit Triangle™ – associates, chairs, and treatments as profit levers
- PulseBenchmark™ – benchmarks fixed % costs against top practices
- Treatment Profit Optimizer Index™ – measures margin after fixed costs
Glossary Summary Table
| Term | Meaning |
| Fixed Costs | Structural commitments tied to treatment delivery |
| Purpose | Reveal true margin per UDA, plan, or private treatment |
| DentPulse Advantage | Benchmarks, integrates into Profit Triangle™, protects owner margin |
