By now, most dentists have heard of membership plans, how they work, and their benefits, yet many may still be reluctant to make the move, despite how much they dislike dealing with dental insurance plans. Call it human hesitation, but it’s hard to leave something we know.
A new financial analysis recently released by Clerri may just change their minds. The study reveals that patients enrolled in dental membership plans generate significantly higher average per-patient production compared to those covered by dental insurance. This sounds like a benefit that just might be worth leaving the familiar behind.
Some dental membership plan history
More than 70 million adults in the US do not have dental insurance.1 These patients feel exposed and uncomfortable regarding expected costs when they get in your chair. Yet 97% of Americans value oral health and 85% feel they should see the dentist twice per year.1
Membership plans evolved as a solution to this dilemma, as an alternative for people who do not have dental insurance. Dental membership plans are a way to turn uninsured patients into members of your practice. With one annual payment, (think Amazon Prime), patients sign up for a plan that offers them various dental services, and therefore gets them in your chair.
An example of a basic plan, and the minimum of what many membership plans include, is one cleaning, one exam, one fluoride treatment, x-rays, one emergency exam, and a discount on other services.1 With an increased plan membership fee, more services are included. What is included in each package depends on the practice, group, or DSO.
The dental membership plan study results
Patients are paying more attention to these options and many are taking advantage of signing up for dental care at a set annual fee. This in turn allows them more visits and care at their dentist, and dentists report seeing the benefits.
Dental practices, groups, and DSOs that have membership plans reported net production that was 17% higher for patients enrolled in a direct membership plan compared to those covered by standard commercial insurance carriers.2
In a DSO, average production for membership patients was 12% higher compared to the same cash-paying patients before they joined the membership plan.2 This shows that membership plans can be more valuable than the cash payment discounts that some practices offer.
How do those financial benefits become possible in the membership model? Think about those meticulously presented treatment plans you present that are often rejected by patients who fear the price tag. The Clerri study reveals that with a membership plan, case acceptance rates increased, patients focus more on comprehensive and preventive care, and your administrative overhead costs are reduced.
And patient loyalty increases. Patients come to you because they’ve paid their membership fee to you and your practice, and they want to get their money’s worth. For the dental team, there’s the chance to form more meaningful patient relationships because you see them more often, and this leads to trust, which ultimately leads to more case acceptance.
Sounds like a win-win for all involved, right? “Our data clearly shows that membership plans are driving visits, procedures, and strong revenue growth not only for our industry-lead 5,000-plus independent practices that rely on Clerri, but large groups and DSOs as well,” said Alan Press, board member and interim CEO at Clerri. “We’re just getting started. New platform upgrades are coming in 2026 that we hope will lead to even better results.”2
Speaking on behalf of an independent, three-dentist practice, Dr. Matthew Strange spoke about the membership plan at Arbor Dental Group. “We’re seeing fantastic results,” he said. “It’s clear the plan offers significant value and helps our patients prioritize their dental health.” Arbor has experienced a 25% increase in new patients and a 78% increase in cash production since launching its membership plans.2
With these solid stats, now may be the time for your dental practice to seriously investigate a dental membership plan.
Read more about dental membership plans in Dental Economics.
Smile by subscription: An evaluation of dental membership plans in the US
DSOs respond to consumer demand with subscription and membership plans
Inflation getting to you? A membership program can help
References
1. What are in-house dental membership plans? Pearly. 2025. https://www.pearly.co/dentistry-huddle/what-are-in-house-dental-membership-plans
2. Dental membership plans prove better than insurance. Clerri. November 19, 2025. Press release.
