We’ve covered several hygiene metrics in our Data Snapshots lately, and this week we have a simple one: Fluoride Percentage. It measures the percentage of patients who receive a fluoride treatment compared to the total number of patients seen for hygiene visits. It’s simple only in definition, however, because it has a huge impact on your revenue, preventative care standards, and your overall patient protection against decay and sensitivity.
I often see this number in the 10-12% range, which indicates a missed opportunity for prevention and production. Think about a practice that sees eight patients per day in hygiene, and charges $50 for a preventative fluoride varnish application. If only one accepts fluoride, that’s 12%, and $50 per day. If five accept fluoride, however, it’s a 62% rate and $250 each day which works out to $3,200 per month, or a little over $38,000 annually. Not to mention more patients are receiving preventative services to protect their oral health.
It represents a huge potential source of steady practice revenue, while simultaneously driving long-term oral health outcomes, so improving your percentage is crucial. You can make an impact with a few strategies:
- Implement a Caries Risk Assessment process. Align around it as a team and use it when you recommend fluoride.
- Assess the language you use when you recommend fluoride. I love the phrase “So that,” because it empowers you to support your recommendation easily and build value for the fluoride treatment.
Like every journey to improvement, this one starts with understanding your current state. Run your numbers, and if you feel like your percentage isn’t where you want it, start implementing countermeasures. Keep measuring and reporting on it, and you’ll see it have an impact on your practice and patients!
