The Critical Importance of Hygiene Recall in a Dental Practice
- Russ Ledbetter
- Feb 5
- 3 min read
Hygiene recall is one of the most neglected — and misunderstood — systems in a dental practice. That is a costly mistake.
When hygiene recall is weak, practices stall. They tread water. They stay busy but don’t grow. And most dentists have no idea why.
Here’s the reality:
The hygiene department is directly responsible for roughly 35% of total practice production. In addition, it drives a large portion of the doctor’s diagnosed dentistry. When you add it all up, hygiene typically accounts for 75% or more of a practice’s total production, directly and indirectly.
You cannot ignore 75% of your practice and expect growth.
Why Hygiene Recall Has Such a Massive Impact on Production
Most dentists underestimate hygiene because they only look at what hygiene produces directly.
That’s a mistake.
Hygiene:
Produces about 35% directly
Generates 40%+ indirectly through diagnosed treatment
Supports nearly all long-term growth
The remaining 25% of production usually comes from:
New patients
Emergency visits
If hygiene recall is weak, the entire practice suffers — even if new patient numbers look strong on paper.
How Hygiene Recall Is Commonly (and Poorly) Managed
In most practices, hygiene recall is worked:
Sporadically
Reactively
Out of urgency
The most common trigger sounds like this:
“Oh no, we have a hygiene opening tomorrow.”
That is not hygiene recall. That is damage control. Very few offices consistently work hygiene recall 1 month out.
Why? Because hygiene recall is:
Boring
Frustrating
Time-consuming
And unless a practice is large enough to justify a dedicated Hygiene Recall Coordinator, it usually gets pushed aside in favor of more urgent tasks.
The Trap That Keeps Practices Stuck
Many practices say:
“We fill most of our hygiene openings each week. What’s the problem?”
This mindset is exactly what keeps a practice stalled.
If you are only filling holes in the schedule, no growth happens.
True growth occurs when:
Hygiene is booked far enough out that capacity becomes an issue
Additional hygiene days or columns are required
The practice expands naturally
A Case Study That Explains It Clearly
I once worked with a father-and-son practice bringing in 60–70 new patients per month.
On the surface, everything looked great.
When I reviewed their hygiene numbers from the prior year, I was shocked. They had not grown at all.
How is that possible?
It’s only possible if:
60–70 new patients are coming in each month
And 60–70 existing patients are quietly falling off the books
They weren’t growing — they were leaking.
Once we fixed hygiene recall and stopped the patient loss:
Growth accelerated rapidly
Hygiene expanded
The practice went from 2 doctors / 3 hygienists to 4 doctors / 6 hygienists
They eventually outgrew their building and constructed a new one
What Happens When Hygiene Is Properly Booked Out
When hygiene recall is aggressively and consistently worked, several things happen automatically:
Fewer No-Shows and Cancellations
When patients know they can’t be seen for 6 months if they cancel, behavior changes. People keep appointments.
Easier Same-Day Filling
A full hygiene schedule gives you options. Patients booked months out are often thrilled to come in sooner.
Supply and Demand Works in Your Favor
A full schedule increases perceived value. Scarcity drives compliance.
Stability and Predictability
Hygiene becomes consistent, reliable, and far less stressful to manage.
Why Hygiene Recall Is an Investment, Not a Chore
Yes, hygiene recall takes time.
But the return on that investment is enormous:
More consistent production
Less schedule chaos
Reduced stress for the dentist
Increased profitability
Practices that commit to hygiene recall don’t just grow — they grow faster, with less friction.
The Bottom Line
If your practice feels busy but stagnant…If you have strong new patient flow but little growth…If your hygiene numbers look flat year after year…
Hygiene recall is almost always part of the problem.
Fix that, and everything else gets easier.
About the Author
Russ Ledbetter is a dental practice management consultant with Dental Consulting Experts, The Ledbetter Group. For over 35 years, he has helped dentists increase production, reduce stress, and build stronger, more accountable teams — without changing diagnosis or fee schedules. His work focuses on fixing the systems behind scheduling, hygiene performance, and practice inefficiencies that quietly limit growth.
Struggling with Hygiene Recall or Flat Growth?
If your hygiene department isn’t growing — even with strong new patient flow — patients are falling through the cracks. We help dentists build reliable hygiene recall systems that stabilize schedules, reduce no-shows, and drive sustainable growth — without adding stress to the doctor or team. Schedule a complimentary consultation to find out what’s limiting your practice’s potential.
