Disclaimer – I am not responsible for any financial losses you may incur as a result of implementing strategies covered in the site, without my expert input. For full disclaimer check out our internal process
Table of Contents

What Is PulseBenchmark™ in Dentistry?
PulseBenchmark™ is a proprietary benchmarking system created by Shishir Khadka, founder of DentPulse, that classifies a dental practice’s profitability into three zones — Recover, Protect, and Maximise — based on net profit margins and cost benchmarks from top-performing practices.
It gives practice owners an instant diagnostic of where their practice stands financially.
Why Does PulseBenchmark™ Matter for Dental Practice Owners?
Most dentists don’t know if they’re underperforming or on track compared to peers. Accountants may provide raw numbers, but not context.
PulseBenchmark™ fixes this by showing:
- Recover Zone (🔴 < 7.5% net profit) → urgent leaks, risk of cash stress
- Protect Zone (🟡 7.5–10%) → stable but vulnerable margins
- Maximise Zone (🟢 > 10%) → efficient, scalable, investor-ready practices
Example:
- Practice revenue: £1,000,000
- Net profit after expenses: £60,000 (6%)
- Classified: 🔴 Recover Zone
- PulseBenchmark™ highlights staff and lab costs exceeding benchmarks, pointing directly to ProfitLeaks Radar™ for fixes.
How Does PulseBenchmark™ Work?
Metric | Benchmark Insight |
Associate % | % of revenue paid to associates compared to peers |
Lab & Materials % | Combined cost efficiency vs industry standard (e.g. ~5% for materials) |
Fixed Costs % | Rent, staff, and overheads benchmarked to top practices |
Net Profit Margin | Final classification: Recover, Protect, Maximise |
How Does DentPulse Apply PulseBenchmark™?
Feature | Function |
Automated Zone Classification | Calculates profit % and assigns practice zone |
Data Accuracy | Uses treatment-delivered revenue, not cash collected, avoiding common errors in Xero/QuickBooks |
Red–Amber–Green Dashboard | Shows exactly where a practice sits today |
Action Links | Connects to ProfitLeaks Radar™, APEX™, PCPT™, and TPOI™ for targeted improvements |
OWS™ Overlay | Links profit zone to long-term wealth outcomes |
DentPulse turns benchmarking into a living, owner-level tool, not a one-off report.
DentPulse Tip™
“Benchmarking without context is noise.
PulseBenchmark™ shows exactly where you stand — and where you need to go.”
Related Glossary Terms
- RPM Method™ – Recover, Protect, Maximise framework
- Ultimate Profit Maximiser Matrix™ – visual dashboard powered by PulseBenchmark™
- ProfitLeaks Radar™ – tool for Recover Zone fixes
- Profit Triangle™ – associates, chairs, treatments as levers
- Profit-to-Pocket™ – connects profit zone to safe drawings
Glossary Summary Table
Term | Meaning |
PulseBenchmark™ | Proprietary DentPulse tool for profit zone classification |
Purpose | Diagnose Recover, Protect, Maximise zones with benchmarks |
Created by | Shishir Khadka, Founder of DentPulse |
DentPulse Advantage | Real-time, automated, treatment-based revenue benchmarking |

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shishir Khadka