May 2026 Benchmarking Report: Top-Quartile Gap Continues to Widen
May 2026 dental practice operating data: median collections $844,200, top quartile $1,185,310, overhead 61.8%, hygienist wage $48.44/hr.
What this report covers: May 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 $844,200 annualized vs $1,185,310 for top quartile. The gap is the largest profit lever in dentistry — closing half of it is worth ~$170,555/year for an average practice.
May 2026 Headline Numbers
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median solo GP collections | $844,200 annualized |
| Top quartile collections | $1,185,310 annualized |
| National median overhead | 61.8% |
| Hygienist median wage | $48.44/hr |
| Avg PPO write-off | 43.5% of billed |
| Avg new patient acquisition cost | $290 |
Sources: ADA HPI Income & Gross Billings Survey, BLS OEWS, Dental Economics monthly Practice Pulse.
