Industry benchmarks 2025 and the next stage of dentistry’s development

In the second half of 2025, the dental industry is increasingly showing signs of structural shifts. According to the Mid-Year Dental Industry Outlook Report by Planet DDS, based on an analysis of thousands of clinics using the Denticon practice management system, it is becoming clear that traditional performance metrics no longer accurately reflect the true state and growth potential of dental organizations. Industry benchmarks are ceasing to be abstract statistics and are transforming into signals that highlight the priorities necessary for maintaining profitability, scalability, and investment appeal in 2026 and beyond.

The gap between treatment plan acceptance and completion as a systemic issue

One of the key findings of the report is the identified gap between patients accepting treatment plans and their actual completion. While approximately 56% of treatment plans are accepted, scheduled, or initiated, only 46% reach full clinical implementation. For large dental networks, this translates to tens of thousands of patients with incomplete treatment and significant volumes of unrealized revenue.

This gap indicates that treatment plan acceptance alone can no longer be viewed as a success metric. Clinical and financial outcomes are shaped precisely at the stage of treatment completion. The reasons for discontinuing therapy are multifactorial and include financial constraints, logistical complexities, patient anxiety, insufficient awareness of the consequences of delaying treatment, and difficulties with follow-up appointments. Collectively, this undermines patient trust and weakens the sustainability of dental organizations’ business models.

Digital patient engagement and the role of technology in increasing treatment completion rates

The report’s data underscores the importance of technological tools in narrowing this gap. Utilizing artificial intelligence to predict the risk of treatment abandonment, digital financial solutions to enhance service accessibility, and bidirectional communication channels helps improve patient engagement and address barriers in a timely manner. Thus, digital technologies are evolving from a supportive element into a key mechanism for ensuring clinical continuity and financial resilience of practices.

Patient flow, retention, and the phenomenon of the “empty chair”

The average new patient acquisition rate is 47 per month; however, nearly 40% of practices record fewer than 19 new patients over the same period. This indicates significant variability in the effectiveness of acquisition strategies. Additional pressure on revenue is created by appointment cancellations and no-shows, which collectively form a persistent “empty chair” problem.

Although the rate of return visits for hygiene patients within a year remains relatively high, retention cannot fully compensate for weak acquisition and losses due to cancellations. For dental groups and DSOs, it is becoming clear that patient acquisition and retention are interconnected components of a unified strategy requiring digital, patient-centric solutions.

Ортодонтия как модель готовности пациентов к долгосрочному лечению

Интересным индикатором поведения пациентов является ортодонтия, где уровень принятия планов лечения достигает 70%. Высокая приверженность объясняется чётко сформулированной ценностью лечения, понятными этапами и доступными финансовыми механизмами. Этот пример демонстрирует, что пациенты готовы инвестировать в лечение при наличии прозрачной коммуникации и предсказуемости процесса. Перенос этих принципов в общую стоматологическую практику может способствовать росту показателей завершённости лечения и общей удовлетворённости пациентов.

Growth under pressure: aligning operational maturity with investor expectations

Despite the outlined challenges, the industry demonstrates steady growth. Practice comparable growth metrics exceed 8% in the first quarter and approach 10% in the second quarter of 2025. However, in an environment of limited access to capital, investor focus is shifting from growth rates to operational maturity. Standardization of digital infrastructure, process automation, and scalability of IT platforms are becoming key markers of value for dental organizations.

Practices relying on fragmented or outdated systems risk not only reduced current efficiency but also a loss of investment appeal in the medium term. Thus, technological modernization is becoming a strategic necessity.

Conclusion: from benchmarks to strategic actions

The industry metrics presented in the Planet DDS report depict dentistry in a state of transition. On one hand, growth is evident, along with high patient willingness to undergo treatment in certain segments; on the other, significant losses persist due to incomplete treatment, appointment cancellations, and technological fragmentation.

For DSOs and multi-location dental groups, the way forward involves bridging the gap between treatment acceptance and completion, implementing digital patient-centric solutions, and modernizing the technological foundation. Organizations that use industry benchmarks not as passive statistics but as a guide for action will set the standards for dentistry in 2026, ensuring both financial resilience and improved clinical outcomes for patients and communities.