What Is Chair Occupancy in Dentistry?
Chair Occupancy measures the percentage of available dental chair time that is scheduled (booked with patients), regardless of whether the treatment is high-value, low-value, or actually delivered.
It shows how effectively the practice fills the diary — but not necessarily how profitably.
Why Does Chair Occupancy Matter for Dental Practice Owners?
- High Occupancy = Strong diary management, fewer gaps, stable patient flow.
- Low Occupancy = Lost opportunity, wasted staff time, and revenue shortfall.
- But high occupancy without treatment mix optimisation can still mean low profit.
Example:
- Available chair time = 1,000 hours/month
- Booked hours = 800
- Chair occupancy = 80%
If most of those 800 hours are filled with low-margin check-ups, profit may still underperform.
How Is Chair Occupancy Calculated?
| Formula | Description |
| Chair Occupancy % = (Booked Chair Hours ÷ Total Available Chair Hours) × 100 | Measures diary fill rate |
Total available hours = working days × clinical hours × number of chairs (minus holidays & downtime).
Benchmarks for Chair Occupancy
| Zone | Benchmark | Meaning |
| Recover Zone (🔴) | < 65% | Chairs under-booked, revenue leakage |
| Protect Zone (🟡) | 65–80% | Stable booking levels but efficiency gaps |
| Maximise Zone (🟢) | 80–90% | Optimal booking level, near capacity |
⚠️ Above 90% occupancy can signal overbooking and risk of burnout or bottlenecks.
How Does DentPulse Track Chair Occupancy?
| Feature | Function |
| PCPT™ (Profit Centre Performance Tracker) | Tracks occupancy by surgery in real time |
| Appointment Gap Analysis | Identifies unbooked or DNA slots |
| Treatment Mix Overlay | Distinguishes between high vs low-margin bookings |
| Scenario Planner | Models impact of raising occupancy by +5% |
| Profit-to-Pocket™ | Connects occupancy levels directly to owner drawings |
DentPulse ensures occupancy isn’t just about “full chairs” — but profitable chairs.
DentPulse Tip™
“Full chairs don’t always mean full profits.
True success comes when high occupancy meets high-value treatment mix.”
Related Glossary Terms
- Chair Utilisation – measures productive treatment time, not just bookings
- Appointment Gaps (Lost Chair Time) – key cause of low occupancy
- Revenue per Chair Hour – value generated from booked time
- PCPT™ – tracks per-chair occupancy and efficiency
- Treatment Profit Optimizer Index™ – ensures booked time is profitable
Glossary Summary Table
| Term | Meaning |
| Chair Occupancy | % of chair hours booked with patients |
| Healthy Range | 80–90% (Maximise Zone) |
| DentPulse Advantage | Tracks diary fill + treatment mix + profit overlay |
