July 2026 Benchmarking Report: Collections Tick Up
July 2026 dental practice operating data: median collections $852,663, top quartile $1,196,002, overhead 61.9%, hygienist wage $48.93/hr.
What this report covers: July 2026 dental practice operating data, regional cost shifts, hygienist comp updates, PPO trends, M&A activity, and 5 Pro-only "what to do this month" recommendations.
Key signal this month:
Median collections at $852,663 annualized vs $1,196,002 for top quartile. The gap is the largest profit lever in dentistry — closing half of it is worth ~$171,670/year for an average practice.
July 2026 Headline Numbers
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median solo GP collections | $852,663 annualized |
| Top quartile collections | $1,196,002 annualized |
| National median overhead | 61.9% |
| Hygienist median wage | $48.93/hr |
| Avg PPO write-off | 43.7% of billed |
| Avg new patient acquisition cost | $296 |
Sources: ADA HPI Income & Gross Billings Survey, BLS OEWS, Dental Economics monthly Practice Pulse.
