What Is Chair Utilisation in Dentistry?
Chair Utilisation measures how effectively a dental practice uses its available chair hours for productive, revenue-generating treatments.
It shows the percentage of potential chair time that is actually filled with patients — a critical driver of profitability and return on investment.
Why Does Chair Utilisation Matter for Dental Practice Owners?
Dental practices invest heavily in surgeries, equipment, and staff — but if chairs sit empty, fixed costs eat into margins.
- High utilisation → stronger profit margins and quicker payback on equipment.
- Low utilisation → wasted investment, higher cost per treatment, lower net profit.
Example:
- Available chair time = 1,000 hours/month
- Booked treatment time = 650 hours
- Chair utilisation = 65%
If utilisation rose to 80%, the same fixed costs would deliver significantly more profit.
How Is Chair Utilisation Calculated?
| Formula | Description |
| Chair Utilisation % = (Booked Chair Hours ÷ Available Chair Hours) × 100 | Measures the efficiency of chair use |
Available hours should exclude public holidays, non-working days, and maintenance downtime for accuracy.
Benchmarks for Chair Utilisation
| Zone | Benchmark | Meaning |
| Recover Zone (🔴) | < 60% | Chairs underused, practice losing margin |
| Protect Zone (🟡) | 60–75% | Stable but with efficiency gaps |
| Maximise Zone (🟢) | 75–90% | Top-performing utilisation |
How Does DentPulse Track Chair Utilisation?
| Feature | Function |
| PCPT™ (Profit Centre Performance Tracker) | Breaks down utilisation by surgery |
| Red–Amber–Green Dashboard | Instantly shows efficiency zone |
| Scenario Planner | Models profit impact of +5%, +10%, +15% utilisation |
| Treatment Mix Overlay | Links utilisation to high/low margin procedures |
| Profit-to-Pocket™ Integration | Shows how utilisation translates into safe drawings |
DentPulse turns chair utilisation into a decision lever, not just an operational KPI.
DentPulse Tip™
“An empty chair isn’t just lost revenue.
It’s fixed costs eating profit every hour it sits unused.”
Related Glossary Terms
- Chair Time Occupancy – measures whether chairs are booked at all
- Revenue per Chair Hour – profit productivity per unit of chair time
- PCPT™ – DentPulse’s tool for tracking chair efficiency
- Profit Triangle™ – associates, chairs, and treatments as profit levers
- Appointment Gaps (Lost Chair Time) – key cause of low utilisation
Glossary Summary Table
| Term | Meaning |
| Chair Utilisation | % of available chair hours filled with productive treatment |
| Healthy Range | 75–90% (Maximise Zone) |
| DentPulse Advantage | Tracks per-surgery utilisation, models profit scenarios |
