What are the Expenses of a Dental Practice?

A variety of expenses incurs in establishing a dental practice and operating it effectively. A good financial background, industry awareness, level of commitment, marketing strategy, etc., are the few factors that are required to run a successful dental practice. 

Setting up a dental clinic is not just about setting up the equipment and getting a space, a sound clinical knowledge and the ability to understand the various aspects of your business are also required to attain success. To maintain business profitability, in the present and future, a financially wise dentist must keep track of their expenses. In most practices, dental supplies, lab fees, insurance fees, employees’ wages, and property costs make up most of the cyclical expenditures.

To begin your dental practice, without putting a load on your finances, you can opt for a loan. To cut off the cost, you can start your business by opening your office in an affordable area. Let’s take a look at the usual expenses of running a dental practice. 

Dental Treatment Costs
Various technologies and medical instruments are required to perform dental procedures. Dental chairs and hard equipment are some of the basic requirements to start a dental practice. Besides the equipment costs, there are other one-time costs, such as dental drills, X-Ray sensors, and basic dental instruments. Also, because of the daily wear and tear, these equipments may require replacement over some time.

While performing dental procedures, various costs happen at a unit level. These includes:

• Dental Fillings:  Dental fillings are one of the most common procedures which involve dental drills, dental burs, and filling material. White dental burs cost ranges per 10-pack at $15.60 approximately, electric dental drill cost ranges from around $1700 to $3600, and about one- or two-colored resin filling materials cost up to $90 to $250. 
• Tooth Extraction: The tooth extraction procedure requires local anesthesia, syringe, needles, cotton, dental forceps, etc. A single pair of dental forceps cost around $15 to $35 and total tooth extraction may cost around $219-$4,000.
• Root Canal Treatment (RCT): An RCT procedure costs around $300-$2,000 per patient.
• Dental Implants: In the dental implant procedure, metallic screws are used. The total costs of dental implants are high and they may range from $3,000 to $4,500.

Dental Clinic Running Cost
To run a dental practice, first, you need a space where you can see your patients. Property costs depend on the location you choose for your clinic. For a dental clinic, hygiene is of utmost importance, which leads to maintenance costs. There are other miscellaneous costs to run a dental clinic such as monthly bills, refrigerators, staff, marketing costs, etc., that add up in the cost of dental practice. 

Marketing Costs
To go up in the dental practice game, a good marketing strategy is also required. A website design team, marketing materials, legal consultation, etc., are important aspects when starting your dental practice. You should not forget to include this cost in your overall expenses. 

Besides the above-mentioned costs, there are other expenses related to employees’ salary and you also require some capital to play around with. 

A dentist is always under pressure to provide the best services along with covering all the fixed and running costs in order to generate profit. By proper planning and knowledge, dentists can effectively manage and market their practice, to provide effective care and generate revenue.