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Table of Contents
What Is APEX™ (Associate Performance Efficiency Index)?
APEX™ — short for Associate Performance Efficiency Index — is a proprietary performance metric created by DentPulse founder, Shishir Khadka to measure, compare, and optimise the true financial contribution of each associate dentist in a practice.
APEX™ doesn’t just track production.
It calculates net profit contribution per associate — factoring in pay split, lab usage, chair time efficiency, and treatment mix.
It’s a live score that helps you:
- Retain top-performing associates
- Develop underperformers with targeted coaching
- Maximise profit per clinical hour
Why APEX™ Matters for Dental Practice Owners ?
Most principals know how much an associate produces in revenue.
Few know how much profit each one leaves in the business.
Without this visibility:
- High-revenue associates may still be low-margin
- Lab-heavy treatments can silently erode profit
- Associates can look “busy” but be loss-making
Example:
| Associate | Days Worked | Revenue | Pay % | Lab Costs | True Profit |
| Dr Smith | 4 | £320,000 | 45% | £28,000 | £148,000 |
| Dr Lee | 2 | £140,000 | 50% | £19,000 | £51,000 |
→ APEX™ shows both profit leaders and profit leaks instantly.
What APEX™ Measures
| Metric | Description |
| Gross Production | Value of treatment delivered |
| Pay Split Impact | % of revenue paid to the associate |
| Lab & Material Creep | Direct case costs |
| Chair Utilisation | % of available hours filled with production |
| Treatment Mix Value | Weighted margin per treatment type |
| Pro-Rata Adjustment | Fair comparisons between part-time & full-time |
How DentPulse Calculates APEX™ Automatically ?
| Feature | Function |
| Live Profit per Associate | Shows real net contribution after pay & labs |
| Performance Ranking | Ranks associates by profit, not just revenue |
| Pro-Rata Normalisation | Fair comparison of varying workdays |
| Target Tracker | Monitors progress to agreed targets |
| Red–Amber–Green Alerts | Flags dips in performance |
With APEX™, performance reviews move from opinion-based to data-backed.
DentPulse Tip™
Revenue isn’t the same as profit.
APEX™ shows you the difference — in real time.
Related Glossary Terms
- PCPT™ – Profit Centre Performance Tracker – Chair-level profitability
- Associate Pay Benchmark – Linking pay % to net margin
- Treatment Profitability Index – Margin per treatment
- Chair Time Utilisation – Feeds directly into APEX™ scoring
- PTP™ – Profit-to-Pocket – Links associate profit to owner’s take-home
Glossary Summary Table
| Term | Meaning |
| APEX™ | Associate Performance Excellence Index — net profit per associate |
| Created by | DentPulse, founded by Shishir Khadka |
| Purpose | Identify, track, and improve associate profitability |
| DentPulse Advantage | Automated profit tracking, ranking, and goal-setting for associates |
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shishir Khadka