What Is Patient Retention Rate in a Dental Practice?
Patient Retention Rate measures the percentage of patients who continue attending a dental practice over a given period.
It is the opposite of patient churn and reflects how effectively a practice keeps patients loyal to ongoing care, treatment plans, or membership schemes.
Why Does Patient Retention Rate Matter for Dental Practice Owners?
Retaining patients is far more profitable than constantly acquiring new ones. High retention:
- Increases Patient Lifetime Value (LTV) — more treatments per patient over time
- Improves cash flow stability (especially with Denplan or practice plan income)
- Raises goodwill valuation — buyers pay more for loyal patient bases
- Reduces marketing spend — less dependency on constant new patient flow
Example:
- Starting patients in January: 2,000
- Still active by December: 1,850
- Retention rate = 92.5%
This high retention boosts both recurring income and future practice value.
How Is Patient Retention Rate Calculated?
Patient Retention Rate (%)=Patients at End of Period – New Patients AcquiredPatients at Start of Period×100\text{Patient Retention Rate (\%)} = \frac{\text{Patients at End of Period – New Patients Acquired}}{\text{Patients at Start of Period}} \times 100Patient Retention Rate (%)=Patients at Start of PeriodPatients at End of Period – New Patients Acquired×100
What Drives Strong Patient Retention in Dentistry?
| Factor | Impact |
| Access & Availability | Patients stay if recalls and emergencies are managed well |
| Service Mix | Offering implants, Invisalign, and hygiene increases loyalty |
| Plans & Memberships | Denplan/practice plans “lock in” patient loyalty |
| Patient Experience | Friendly staff, short waits, and clear communication |
| Trust & Continuity | Long-term associates build consistent relationships |
How Does DentPulse Track Patient Retention Rate?
| Feature | Function |
| Hybrid Revenue Model Forecasting™ | Shows how retention impacts NHS vs private vs plan income |
| Patient Lifetime Value (LTV) | Connects retention rate to long-term financial impact |
| CFFP™ Forecasting | Models retention on cash flow stability |
| OWS™ Integration | Includes patient loyalty as a factor in long-term wealth scoring |
DentPulse turns retention into a financial KPI, not just a patient satisfaction metric.
DentPulse Tip™
“Retention isn’t just loyalty — it’s financial security.
Keep more patients, and you keep more profit.”
Related Glossary Terms
- Patient Churn – % of patients lost during a period
- Patient Lifetime Value (LTV) – revenue generated per patient over time
- Hybrid Revenue Model Forecasting – NHS vs private mix analysis
- Practice Valuation Drivers – retention is a key goodwill factor
- OWS™ (Owner Wealth Score) – reflects long-term stability from retention
Glossary Summary Table
| Term | Meaning |
| Patient Retention Rate | % of patients who stay with the practice over a given period |
| Purpose | Measures loyalty, stability, and growth potential |
| DentPulse Advantage | Tracks retention across NHS, private, and plans + links to cash flow and valuation |
