I agree with most hygienists that this figure is below the level their education, effort and value of service dictates. RDH Magazine stated that in 1999, the national average for hygienist’s salary was $26 per hour. Let’s consider how dentistry in general shapes up regarding hygiene profitability. Sadly, in too many offices, hygiene net won’t pay for a staff trip to the Dairy Queen! I contend that in a well-managed office, hygiene net alone should easily fund the entire team’s retirement plan. Subtracting the sum of salary, applicable percentage of office overhead expense and supplies devoted to hygiene from productivity determines annual hygiene profit or loss. (A rough estimate should suffice, as pumice, fluoride, etc. (Don’t include lab bills, chair-side’s salary, or non-hygiene dental supplies.) Have a staff member determine the cost of supplies used specifically in hygiene.
(Many experts consider 33% of total production coming from hygiene to be an ideal ratio.) Multiply this percentage times the total of all office expenses that support hygiene, such as rent, utilities, front office staff salary, phone, insurance, etc. If a practice produces $500,000, of which hygiene produces $150,000, hygiene accounts for ($500/$150=) 33% of all productivity. Next, calculate what percentage of total office production is derived from hygiene. Get help from your accountant, if needed. Then calculate total hygienist’s salary investment including all benefits paid, FICA, Medicare, Workman’s Compensation, etc.
To discover your existing hygiene profitability, first precisely determine last year’s hygiene production (I’d suggest including everything billed in hygiene, such as sealants, x-rays, fluoride, teeth-lightening cases, study models, etc. Wise travelers begin every journey by establishing their exact current location. Once a factual information base has been established, we’ll consider a powerful strategy that will delight patients, hygienists and dentists, while enabling motivated offices to increase hygiene profitability several hundred percent above the paltry national average. Many dentists are unable to provide a definitive answer to the above stated poser, despite the facts that: a) Healthy soft tissues are the basis upon which all excellent dental treatment rests, and b) No modern practice can claim to have optimized clinical or economic success until maximizing hygiene department function.Īllow me to share data that can enhance readers’ essential hygiene awareness, as well as enabling every dentist to easily and accurately calculate his or her current hygiene profitability.