Dentrix Production Forecasting: 3 Simple Ways to Track Your Monthly Goals

I had one of those conversations recently that reminded me why I love what I do.

A dental team asked me a question that most practices aren’t even thinking about:
“How can we see our forecasted production for the rest of the month in Dentrix?”

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That’s a next-level question. That’s a team that isn’t just working day-to-day… they’re thinking ahead. They want to know:

• Are we on track to hit our goals?
• Where do we have opportunities for same-day treatment?
• Where can we still fill the schedule?

And here’s the reality: Dentrix can absolutely show you this. In fact, there are three different ways to track your forecasted production most teams just don’t know where to look.

Why Dentrix Production Forecasting Matters

Before we get into the “how,” let’s talk about the “why.”

If you’re only looking at production day by day, you’re already behind.

High-performing practices are constantly asking:

• Where will we end the month if nothing changes?
• Where are we below goal?
• Where do we have room to grow production?

That’s how you move from reactive to proactive.

And Dentrix gives you the data you just need to use it.

And if you’re not already preparing your schedule ahead of time, this is where your systems start to break down. Your forecasting is only as good as your preparation. That’s why building a strong pre-visit system is critical. If you haven’t dialed that in yet, I highly recommend reading this:
👉 Why the Pre-Visit Checklist Is the Most Important System in Dentrix

Because when your schedule is clean and prepared, your forecasting becomes accurate and actionable.

Option 1: The Dentrix Appointment Book Calendar (Fastest View)

This is the simplest and most overlooked tool.

In the upper left corner of your appointment book, there’s a small calendar. That calendar shows your scheduled production across the month.

Here’s how I recommend using it:

• Enter daily production goals for each provider
• Compare scheduled production vs. goal
• Look for gaps and opportunities

You can instantly see:

• Which days are under goal
• Where you can add treatment
• Where your team can push for same-day dentistry

Option 2: The Dentrix Daily Huddle Report (Best for Quick Forecasting)

The Daily Huddle Report is one of the most powerful tools in Dentrix and most teams barely use it.

This report shows:

• Yesterday’s production
• Today’s scheduled production
• Remaining production for the month
• Monthly production goals

This is where things get real.

If nothing changes, this report tells you exactly where you’ll land at the end of the month.

That means no surprises. No guessing. No scrambling at the end of the month.

Just clarity.

And this ties directly into how your team communicates and prepares each day. If your morning huddles aren’t structured and intentional, you’re missing the opportunity to act on this data. If you want to strengthen that piece, this is a great next read:
👉 Day of the Visit: How to Run an Efficient Check-In and Check-Out Process

Because forecasting only works if your team is aligned and ready to act on it.

Option 3: Scheduled Production Forecast Report (Most Detailed)

This is the hidden gem.

Most teams don’t even know this report exists because it’s not in the traditional Reports section.

Inside Dentrix, this report breaks everything down by provider:

• Number of working days
• Total scheduled production
• Average production per day
• Daily production goal
• Variance (above or below goal)
• Number of appointments
• Production per appointment

This is next-level visibility.

If you want your hygienists and doctors to truly understand their performance, this is the report to use.

The Most Important Piece: Production Goals

Here’s where most practices fall short…

They look at production but they don’t set goals.

If you enter production goals into Dentrix:

• They show up in your calendar
• They appear in your Daily Huddle Report
• They drive your forecasting reports

Without goals, your data means nothing.
With goals, your data becomes a roadmap.

Gross vs. Net Production (This Matters More Than You Think)

Let me be very clear about this:

Gross production does not equal money in the bank.

If your practice is in-network and using fee schedules, your true number is net production (collectible dollars).

That’s the number that matters.

Because at the end of the day:

• Gross production = inflated
• Net production = reality

And I care about reality.

Final Thoughts

If you want to run a smarter, more profitable practice, you cannot wait until the end of the month to see how you did.

You need to know every single day where you’re going to land.

Dentrix gives you three powerful ways to do that:

1. The Appointment Book Calendar
2. The Daily Huddle Report
3. The Scheduled Production Forecast Report

Use them. Compare them. Build them into your daily workflow.

Because when your team can see the numbers, they can change the outcome.

My friend, I’d love to hear which one you start using first. And I look forward to watching your journey of becoming a high-performing dental team.