What Is Patient Churn in a Dental Practice?
Patient churn is the rate at which patients stop attending or leave a dental practice over a given period.
It measures how many patients you lose compared to how many you retain, and is the reverse of patient retention.
Why Does Patient Churn Matter for Dental Practice Owners?
High patient churn can silently damage both cash flow and long-term valuation.
- Increases marketing costs — you constantly need new patients to replace lost ones
- Reduces patient lifetime value (LTV) — fewer years of treatment and plan income
- Weakens goodwill value in a future sale — buyers pay more for practices with stable, loyal bases
Example:
- Starting patients in January: 2,000
- Lost by December: 200
- Patient churn rate = 10%
That 10% loss could cost £50,000+ annually in lost treatment and plan income.
How Is Patient Churn Calculated?
Patient Churn (%)=Patients Lost in PeriodTotal Patients at Start of Period×100\text{Patient Churn (\%)} = \frac{\text{Patients Lost in Period}}{\text{Total Patients at Start of Period}} \times 100Patient Churn (%)=Total Patients at Start of PeriodPatients Lost in Period×100
What Causes High Patient Churn in Dentistry?
| Cause | Impact |
| Long Wait Times | Patients move to practices with better access |
| Poor Communication | Missed recalls, unclear treatment plans |
| Price Sensitivity | Patients switch when private fees rise unexpectedly |
| Limited Services | Patients leave for practices offering implants, Invisalign, etc. |
| Inconsistent Experience | Staff turnover or poor service quality reduces loyalty |
How Does DentPulse Track and Reduce Patient Churn?
| Feature | Function |
| Hybrid Revenue Model Forecasting™ | Tracks churn impact across NHS, private, and plan income |
| Patient Lifetime Value (LTV) | Connects churn to financial impact |
| CFFP™ Integration | Models churn risk into cash flow forecasts |
| OWS™ Overlay | Links churn to long-term wealth score and valuation |
DentPulse shows owners not just how many patients are leaving, but what that loss costs in profit, cash flow, and practice value.
DentPulse Tip™
“Patient churn isn’t about numbers leaving — it’s about profit leaking.
Retain more, and you grow wealth without more marketing spend.”
Related Glossary Terms
- Patient Retention – the opposite of churn
- Patient Lifetime Value (PLV) – financial measure of retention impact
- Hybrid Revenue Model Forecasting – NHS vs private mix modelling
- Practice Valuation Drivers – churn directly affects goodwill value
- OWS™ (Owner Wealth Score) – includes patient base stability
Glossary Summary Table
| Term | Meaning |
| Patient Churn | Rate at which patients leave a practice over time |
| Purpose | Measures retention weakness and financial impact |
| DentPulse Advantage | Tracks churn across NHS, private, and plans + links to value |
