Dental patients generally prefer a dentist who focuses on production per hour rather than production per procedure because the hourly mindset aligns far more closely with what patients actually value: time, comfort, fairness, and trust. Here’s a clear, patient-friendly breakdown of why:
✅ 1. Production per Hour = More Efficient Visits
When a dentist thinks in terms of productivity per hour, they naturally aim to use the patient’s time wisely.
That means:
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Fewer, more efficient appointments
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Consolidating treatment when appropriate
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Shorter chair time without feeling rushed
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Less time off work or away from family
Patients appreciate a dentist who respects their schedule and strives to maximize each visit.
✅ 2. Hourly Mindset = Less Financial Pressure on Individual Procedures
A “production per procedure” mindset can unintentionally incentivize:
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More procedures
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Higher-priced procedures
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Unnecessary segmentation of care
An hourly mindset instead encourages dentists to:
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Do the right thing in the most efficient block of time
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Focus on clinical quality instead of billing codes
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Prioritize value for the patient, not the revenue of one specific task
This builds trust — patients feel their needs come first, not the procedure fees.
✅ 3. Better Patient Experience and Flow
Clinics operating on production-per-hour thinking tend to:
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Streamline systems
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Use technology to reduce treatment time (scanners, digital dentistry, SureSmile, Overjet, etc.)
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Keep doctor schedules balanced and predictable
This leads to less waiting, fewer surprises, and a smoother overall visit.
Patients equate smooth systems with competence, which increases confidence.
✅ 4. More Comprehensive, Thoughtful Care
When dentists focus on hourly productivity, they often plan treatment holistically:
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What can we accomplish in this hour?
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How can we reduce the total number of appointments?
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Can we batch procedures (like fillings or quadrant dentistry) to make the patient’s life easier?
It encourages efficiency and thoroughness — not bouncing between patients or dragging out small tasks.
✅ 5. Patients Feel Less Like “a Number”
Production-per-procedure thinking can feel transactional.
Hourly thinking feels relational.
Patients sense when a dentist:
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Is focused on their overall experience
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Wants to make their visit as convenient as possible
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Is optimizing the appointment for them, not for the procedure codes
That builds long-term loyalty and word-of-mouth referrals.
✅ 6. It Aligns with Modern Dental Technology
Digital workflows — like those LADD Dental Group has adopted with SureSmile, Dandy, Overjet, and A-dec efficiency systems — thrive in an hourly efficiency model.
These innovations:
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Shorten procedures
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Improve accuracy
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Reduce retakes and remakes
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Allow more dentistry in less time, improving the patient experience
Patients feel the benefits directly.
In summary:
A dentist focused on production per hour is:
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Efficient
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Patient-centered
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Trust-building
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Aligned with modern digital workflows
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Focused on delivering maximum value in minimum time
Patients overwhelmingly prefer this approach because it translates directly into a smoother, fairer, and more respectful dental experience.
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