No matter how well your practice is performing today, there’s always room for improvement. Continuous, intentional refinement of your systems creates exponential growth over time.

“If you want to see big results, you need to do things continuously.”
– Anna Powers, Forbes Magazine

Management expert W. Edwards Deming said that successful businesses commit to continuous improvement—identify what’s working, solidify it, and enhance everything else.

10 Systems to Refine for Growth

1. Know Where You Are

Conduct a thorough analysis of your practice’s critical systems. At Jameson Management, we track 25 systems. Get clear on your numbers and ask:

• What’s working?

• What could be better?

“It’s the little things that make the big difference.”
– Malcolm Gladwell

Even small improvements across multiple systems can lead to major growth.

2. Set and Track Goals

Practices that write goals and follow a clear action plan see at least 10% growth. (Revisit Article 2 for our step-by-step system.)

“Create a definite plan and begin at once—whether you’re ready or not.”
– Napoleon Hill

3. Increase Hygiene Retention

Improve your hygiene retention rate by 5–10%.

• Educate patients with targeted follow-ups.

• Use patient financing to reduce cost barriers.

• Make sure all family members are scheduled.

• Track retention closely.

“Optimal oral hygiene and preventive care have never been more important.”
– Karen Davis, RDH, RDH Magazine, 2020

4. Use Photography More Effectively

Practices that use photography as we teach see up to 25% higher case acceptance. Use it:

• For every new patient

• In case presentations

• During hygiene exams

• To document diagnosed but incomplete treatment

• For before/after visuals

• During emergencies

• For insurance documentation

• In marketing and patient education

Build a strong photo library and use it daily. Are you really using photography to its fullest?

5. Increase Use of Patient Financing

Encourage one more patient per week to use financing.

• $500/week × 48 weeks = $24,000/year

• $1,000/week = $48,000

• $500/day × 200 days = $100,000/year

Most of this goes straight to your bottom line. See Article 4 for full patient financing strategies.

6. Improve Case Acceptance

Even a 5% increase in case acceptance can dramatically grow your profit. Focus on:

• Engaging your current patient base

• Presenting new treatment options

• Offering consultations for incomplete treatment

• Promoting financing options

• Delivering clear, personalized communication

About 70% of new patients come from referrals—your happy existing patients are your best marketing.

7. Maximize Hygiene Services

• Study non-surgical periodontal therapy

• Stay up to date on coding and procedures

• Offer adult fluoride, oral cancer screenings, Arestin

• Aim for 40–50% of hygiene productivity from perio care

• Upgrade services and patient education

8. Elevate Customer Service

Add three new customer service protocols. Build a practice where people don’t just come for dentistry—they come for the experience.

The 3 Pillars of Outstanding Customer Service:

✅ Attitude:

• Show genuine care.

• Be positive and patient—even with difficult people.

• Empower your team and recognize great service.

✅ Communication:

• Every touchpoint matters—phone, email, website, social media.

• 60% of communication is body language, 30% tone, and 10% words—choose your words wisely in text and email.

• Train your team to listen deeply and respond with empathy.

✅ Teamwork:

• Respect and communicate with one another.

• Patients can feel team tension. If you’re not aligned, your patient experience suffers.

Outstanding service begins internally. The energy of your team creates the energy of your practice.

9. Expand Your Marketing

Add three new marketing strategies this year. Then repeat the mantra:

“When do you market? Always. When do you stop? Never.”

Define your ideal vision. What do you want your practice to look like? Who can help you get there? What needs to happen next?

Don’t let your practice be forgotten—let people know who you are, what you do, and why choosing you is a great decision.

Explore marketing resources at GROW by Jameson for fresh ideas.

10. Diversify Your Treatment Mix

According to the ADA, dentistry includes the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of conditions in the oral and maxillofacial area. Are you offering the full scope of services your patients need?

Consider:

• Expanding your post-grad education

• Bringing in specialists or associates

• Extending facility hours

• Utilizing space and resources fully

• Being mindful of overhead while increasing offerings

IN SUMMARY

These 10 improvement areas are practical, achievable, and powerful. Implement even a few consistently and you’ll see exponential growth—in production, profitability, and patient satisfaction.

Keep this article series on hand. Review it. Revisit it. Apply it. Improvement is never finished—but the rewards are worth the effort.

Your goal: Increase your production—and Collect What You Produce.

Read the 10-Part Collect What You Produce series here