Smart Cost-Saving Strategies for Dental Practices
As I enter my 28th year in the dental world, I’ve had the unique opportunity to view private practice from every angle. My husband, a prosthodontist, and I own a dental practice in Boston. Though my background is in marketing, I’ve evolved into our de facto CMO, COO, and CFO—a journey many office managers can relate to.
In our day-to-day, we juggle patient care, team management, production, collections, and overhead. Several years ago, I began taking a closer look at our profit and loss statements and balance sheets. That deeper dive led to simple, smart strategies that significantly reduced our everyday costs—without cutting corners on care or service.
The Importance of Financial Assessment
One of the quickest ways to bring value to your practice is to demonstrate financial accountability. Whether you’re managing clinical supplies or front office purchasing, staying within budget shows leadership and initiative.
When you proactively seek cost-saving opportunities, you reinforce your role as a key decision-maker in the business. These small adjustments don’t require complicated systems—they can be implemented quickly and have immediate and long-term impacts.
*Note: I am not affiliated with or compensated by any companies mentioned below. These are simply tools I’ve found valuable.
Cost-Saving Strategy: Shipping Smarter
In our office, we regularly send thank-you gifts to referral sources. I used to ship these through our UPS account, which was already linked to an ADA discount. But after hearing about Pirate Ship—a shipping platform that offers competitive rates—I decided to compare.
I was shocked. Sending 50 packages through Pirate Ship saved us over $600. Even lab shipments saw a massive reduction. What would have been a $29 UPS shipment came to just $7.08.
Key takeaways:
- Pirate Ship offers significantly lower rates on everyday shipping tasks.
- It’s easy to implement and compatible with your existing workflow.
- It can make a substantial difference when sending labs or routine packages.
Cost-Saving Strategy: Use a Discount Browser
Many offices purchase essentials from retailers like Office Max, Staples, or Target. I discovered that using a browser extension like Rakuten can earn cash-back rewards on everyday purchases.
For example, when I ordered a new trash can from Target, Rakuten automatically gave me 1% back. That might sound minor, but those small savings quickly add up with larger purchases. I’ve earned up to $46 back on bulk orders. Remember to set this up under your employer’s business info—otherwise, it’s considered a misuse of office funds.
Why it works:
- Set-up takes only minutes.
- Automatically applies savings at checkout.
- Demonstrates thoughtful stewardship of practice resources.
A Small Shift with Big Results
Cost-saving doesn’t have to be complex. These tools and tactics are simple to use and produce noticeable results.
By applying a strategic lens to everyday purchases, you can lower your overhead, improve your practice’s financial health, and elevate your role within the team. Taking ownership of these efficiencies benefits your employer and reflects your dedication and leadership as a dental office manager.
About the Author
Laurie Spitz, DAADOM
Laurie and her husband, Steve, a prosthodontist, founded Smileboston Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry, a three-doctor dental practice outside Boston, MA.
Her business, marketing, and public relations degree has given her the background to successfully work in every office capacity (other than clinical), and anything her degree didn’t teach, life has.
As an AADOM spouse, Laurie has a unique perspective, allowing greater optics in every aspect of the organization.
Over the last 27 years, she built a business from scratch, purchased and sold a second office, and evolved to an OON office while raising three kids, two growing up in a pack-and-play behind her desk.
Laurie has been a member of AADOM since 2017 and earned her Fellowship in 2023. She earned her Mastership (MAADOM) in September of 2024 and her DAADOM status in 2025.
