Across Australia’s dental sector, practice viability is being tested by rising costs, patient hesitation, and growing administrative demands. The CommBank Dental Insights Report 2024 signals this clearly:
- 78% of dental practices are concerned about the impact of economic uncertainty and cost-of-living pressures on patient demand
- 63% are facing increases in fixed overhead costs
- 64% are actively working to attract or retain patients
- 35% of regional practices say workforce shortages are limiting their capacity and growth
While the report stops short of prescribing solutions, it highlights a pressing need: operational models that are lean, resilient, and efficient—without compromising care.
Next-generation communication platforms that are interoperable with foundational environments, such as Microsoft Teams, and powered by AI-driven workflows and automation offer a practical and scalable approach to meeting these challenges head-on.
Reducing admin overhead—without compromising quality
With rising costs and persistent workforce shortages—especially in regional areas—practices can’t simply add staff as demand rises.
Communication intelligence enables:
- Task automation to ease manual load
- Real-time scripting and sentiment tools to support staff coaching
- Performance insights that help manage workloads and outcomes
The result? Teams that are more productive and consistent—without growing your headcount.
Empowering leaner, smarter teams
With rising costs and persistent workforce shortages—especially in regional areas—practices can’t simply add staff as demand rises.
Communication intelligence enables:
- Task automation to ease manual load
- Real-time scripting and sentiment tools to support staff coaching
- Performance insights that help manage workloads and outcomes
The result? Teams that are more productive and consistent—without growing your headcount.
Improving the patient experience at every touchpoint
Patients expect clarity, convenience, and responsiveness. Disconnected systems and delays erode trust.
With intelligent communication tools, practices can deliver:
- Consistent messaging across channels and sites
- Proactive reminders and follow-ups driven by real-time data
- A professional, seamless experience from first contact to post-treatment
The result? Better retention. Stronger referrals. A growing reputation.
For owners and investors, this is value creation
- Dental group execs: Scale operations without scaling cost and head count
- Operations managers: Free up staff without reducing service levels, reduce dentists’ non-billable admin time
- Investors: Enhance EBITDA, boost retention, and improve operational leverage
The bottom line
The 2024 data is clear: Patient behaviour is shifting, costs are rising, and staff shortages are real. But these pressures also create opportunity—for practices willing to adapt.
At Donnabrook, we help dental operators modernise their communication infrastructure to align with long-term goals and provide lifecycle accountability.
