What Is the No-Show Rate (FTAs/DNAs) in Dentistry?
The No-Show Rate (also known as FTAs – Failed to Attend or DNAs – Did Not Attend) measures the percentage of booked appointments where patients fail to turn up.
It’s a critical metric because every no-show equals lost chair time, lost revenue, and wasted staff resource.
Why Does the No-Show Rate Matter for Dental Practice Owners?
High no-show rates create silent profit leaks:
- Chairs sit idle but fixed expenses still run.
- Associates and staff lose productivity.
- Marketing spend is wasted on patients who never show.
Example:
- 1,000 appointments booked in a year.
- 80 patients don’t attend.
- No-show rate = 8%.
If each appointment = £150 revenue → £12,000 lost revenue.
What Is a Healthy No-Show Benchmark?
| Patient Type | Target |
| Private | < 5% |
| NHS | < 7% (higher DNA risk) |
| Plans/Capitation | < 4% (patients already paying) |
Anything above these benchmarks signals operational or patient engagement issues.
Common Causes of High No-Show Rates
- Weak recall/reminder systems
- Long wait times between booking and appointment
- Lack of cancellation policy enforcement
- Patients not financially committed (no deposits)
- Limited payment/finance options
How Does DentPulse Track No-Show Rate?
| Feature | Function |
| Lost Chair Time (Appointment Gaps) | Converts DNAs into lost revenue metrics |
| CFFP™ Overlay | Forecasts cash flow impact of no-shows |
| PulseBenchmark™ | Compares no-show % against top-performing practices |
| Profit-to-Pocket™ | Shows how missed revenue reduces owner drawings |
| Scenario Planner | Models impact of deposits or stricter recall systems |
DentPulse turns DNAs from a frustrating admin stat into a profit protection KPI.
DentPulse Tip™
“A 5% no-show rate might sound small — until you realise it’s a full chair’s worth of revenue lost each month.”
Related Glossary Terms
- Appointment Gaps (Lost Chair Time) – operational measure of missed utilisation
- Treatment Conversion Funnel – upstream driver of show rate
- Treatment Deposit – tool to reduce no-shows
- Chair Time Utilisation – % of actual productive use of chair hours
- Patient Recall Effectiveness – system to keep patients engaged
Glossary Summary Table
| Term | Meaning |
| No-Show Rate (FTAs/DNAs) | % of patients who fail to attend booked appointments |
| Healthy Range | < 5% private, < 7% NHS, < 4% plans |
| DentPulse Advantage | Converts DNAs into profit impact + action plans |
