Dentrix Production Goals: How to Set, Track, and Actually Hit Them

A couple of weeks ago, I talked about how to forecast production in Dentrix, where to find it and how to visually see where your practice stands for the month. But here’s the reality…

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Forecasting alone isn’t enough.

If you don’t have clear production goals entered into Dentrix, you’re only seeing half the picture. You might know what’s scheduled, but you won’t know if you’re actually on track to hit your numbers.

So today, I want to walk you through how I approach Dentrix production goals, how to set them correctly, and how to use them to drive real performance in your practice.

Why Dentrix Production Goals Matter

Let me be very direct:

If your team doesn’t know the score, they can’t win the game.

When your team can clearly see:

• What’s scheduled
• What the goal is
• And the gap between the two

Everything changes.

This is where understanding your numbers becomes critical. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend diving deeper into how your reports actually work in Dentrix, because your numbers tell a story and they guide every decision you make. Understanding Your Dentrix KPI’s

Once your team understands the numbers, Dentrix stops being overwhelming… and starts becoming a leadership tool.

Step 1: Start With the Right Numbers (Not Guesswork)

One of the biggest mistakes I see is this:

Practices guess their production goals.

That doesn’t work.

Your production goals should be based on:

• Practice overhead (typically 55–65%)
• Collection goals
• Production-to-collection ratios (around 98%)

This is usually calculated by:

• The doctor
• A CPA or financial advisor
• Leadership within the practice

Once you know what you need to collect, you can calculate what you need to produce.

That’s your foundation.

Step 2: Break It Down by Provider

Now we take that total goal and break it down.

Hygiene Production Goals

Here’s the benchmark I use:

Hygienists should produce 3x their total compensation.

And I mean total compensation, including:

• Wages
• Benefits
• CE
• PTO
• Any additional perks

Once you calculate that, you get a clear daily production goal for hygiene.

Want an easier way to calculate total team compensation?

If you’re not 100% confident in how to calculate total compensation (including benefits, PTO, and overhead), this is where most practices get stuck—and where production goals start to fall apart.

We’ve put together a Total Compensation Calculator from Bent Ericksen & Associates to help you get accurate numbers fast.

👉 Download it here and plug in your team’s real numbers before setting your goals.

Doctor Production Goals

From there, the doctor produces everything else.

Example:

• Office goal: $10,000/day
• Hygiene: $3,000/day
• Doctor: $7,000/day

Simple. Clear. Trackable.

Step 3: Enter Production Goals Into Dentrix

Now we bring it into the system.

Here’s how to enter goals in Dentrix:

1. Go to Office Manager
2. Click Analysis
3. Select Practice
4. Click Setup
5. Choose Goals

Then:

• Select your provider
• Choose the month
• Enter the production goal

I always recommend entering goals at least 2–3 months ahead.

Because if your goals aren’t in Dentrix, your forecasting won’t mean anything.

Step 4: Use Dentrix to Track Performance

Once goals are entered, they show up in:

• Appointment Book Calendar
• Daily Huddle Report
• Production Forecast Report

Now your team can see:

• Where you are
• Where you need to be
• And where the opportunities are

And this is where real change happens.

Because now your team isn’t guessing, they’re adjusting.

Step 5: Build Systems Around Your Numbers

Here’s what I’ve learned over the years…

You don’t fix performance with motivation.
You fix it with systems.

When your team consistently:

• Reviews production daily
• Uses the Daily Huddle Report
• Tracks gaps and opportunities

You create accountability without pressure.

And if your systems aren’t clearly defined, that’s where most practices struggle. Creating structure through SOPs is one of the fastest ways to reduce stress and improve consistency in your practice. Dentrix SOPs: How Clear Systems Improve Dental Team Performance

Because clarity leads to consistency. And consistency leads to results.

Step 6: Turn Insight Into Action

Numbers alone don’t fix anything.

What you do with them does.

This is where your daily workflow matters. Your team needs time, structure, and focus to act on what they’re seeing in Dentrix. Even small adjustments like using your morning huddle to identify production gaps, can dramatically improve results over time. Wrap Up Q2 with a Challenge for Dental Teams

Because the goal isn’t just to track production…

It’s to influence it.

Here’s What I Want You to Take Away

Dentrix is not just a software system.

It’s a performance system, if you use it correctly.

When you:

• Set accurate production goals
• Enter them into Dentrix
• Review them consistently
• And build systems around them

You create clarity.

And clarity leads to:

• Better scheduling
• More same-day treatment
• Higher profitability
• Less stress for your team

My friend, don’t just forecast your numbers…

Measure them against a goal and lead your team to hit it.

FAQs About Dentrix Production Goals

1. How do I set production goals in Dentrix?

Go to Office Manager → Analysis → Practice → Setup → Goals. Enter monthly goals by provider.

2. What is a good hygiene production goal?

A common benchmark is 3x total compensation, including wages and benefits.

3. Why are my Dentrix numbers inaccurate?

It’s often due to incorrect provider selection or missing production goals in the system.

4. Should I track gross or net production?

Net production (collectible dollars) gives you a more accurate financial picture.

5. How far ahead should I enter goals in Dentrix?

At least 2–3 months ahead for accurate forecasting and planning.

If you want help setting this up or getting your team aligned around your numbers, reach out. I’ll help you simplify it and make it actionable. Book a call with me.