Liquidity management for orthodontic practices is crucial for economic stability and long-term success. Many orthodontic practices struggle with fluctuating revenues, even though the order situation is good. The reason often lies in a lack of financial management structures.
With LeanOrthodontics®, Dr Martin Baxmann has developed a system that combines treatment excellence with business efficiency. His experience from over 15 years of international teaching and managing the multi-award-winning Orthodentix® practice group flows directly into practical concepts. Orthodontic liquidity management encompasses much more than traditional accounting.
It combines treatment planning, billing processes and cash flows into a holistic management tool. You will receive concrete tools to anticipate and actively avoid financial bottlenecks. The approach is based on structured processes that can be applied directly in everyday practice. More than 1,864 international course participants have already successfully implemented these methods in their practices and report measurable improvements within a few weeks.
Recognising and solving typical liquidity bottlenecks in orthodontics
Orthodontic treatments often last between 18 and 36 months. These long treatment periods create specific challenges for orthodontists in terms of liquidity management. While material costs, laboratory orders and staff salaries are incurred immediately, income is spread over the entire treatment period. Without systematic planning, liquidity gaps arise that can jeopardise practice operations. The LeanOrthodontics® programme provides clear strategies for balancing this discrepancy between expenditure and income.
Another critical factor is missed appointments and so-called no-shows. Every missed check-up appointment delays treatment progress and the associated billing items. Liquidity management for orthodontic practices must take such default risks into account and have countermeasures in place.
Receivables management as part of liquidity management for orthodontists
Outstanding receivables place a considerable strain on liquidity. Orthodontic practices face complex billing situations involving health insurance payments, patient contributions and private services. Professional receivables management is therefore at the heart of liquidity management for orthodontists. The challenge is to speed up payments without straining the relationship with patients. Dr. Baxmann's concept combines efficient processes with appreciative communication.
Health insurance contributions are usually reimbursed after treatment is completed. With treatment lasting 2 to 3 years, this can lead to considerable pre-financing. Liquidity management for orthodontic practices takes this special feature into account through targeted interim invoicing and quarterly statements. Patient co-payments, on the other hand, require clear communication at the beginning of treatment.
Transparent cost plans and binding payment agreements significantly reduce the risk of default. Factoring solutions can stabilise liquidity as a supplementary tool, but they are no substitute for systematic receivables management. Optimising the dunning process is also part of liquidity management for orthodontists.
Automated payment reminders, staggered reminder processes and defined escalation levels ensure prompt payment. At the same time, the patient relationship remains intact because professional processes avoid personal confrontations. This balance between economic consistency and a cooperative approach is what distinguishes successful practices.
Orthodontics Liquidity management and efficient billing processes
The quality of billing directly influences liquidity. Incorrect or incomplete billing leads to queries, reductions and payment delays. Structured orthodontic liquidity management therefore begins with the correct documentation of each service provided. The LeanOrthodontics® system provides clear standards for treatment documentation that meet both medical and billing requirements.
Digital billing systems significantly speed up the processes. Integration into existing practice software enables automated workflows from service recording to invoicing. Liquidity management for orthodontic practices benefits from shorter turnaround times and reduced error rates. Modern interfaces to billing service providers or factoring partners complement these efficiency gains. The investment in the appropriate infrastructure pays for itself through faster payment receipts and lower personnel costs.
Regular billing checks are part of professional liquidity management for orthodontists. Monthly analyses of open items, turnaround times and rejection rates provide important management information. Deviations from target values are identified and corrected at an early stage. This continuous improvement of billing processes stabilises liquidity in the long term and creates planning security for investments and personnel decisions.
Liquidity planning for practice founders in orthodontics
The start-up phase places special demands on liquidity management for orthodontic practices. High initial investments in practice equipment, devices and staff recruitment place a strain on finances while the patient base is still being built up. Realistic liquidity planning allows for 12 to 24 months until the practice is operating in a financially stable manner. The business plan should take appropriate reserves and credit lines into account.
Orthodontic liquidity management in the start-up phase requires particularly close controlling cycles. Weekly liquidity overviews show the current financial situation and enable quick reactions to deviations. The following table provides guidance values for liquidity planning in different practice phases:
| Establishment (Year 1) | 6 to 9 months' worth | Weekly | Cost control |
| Development (years 2 to 3) | 4 to 6 months' worth | Fortnightly | Sales development |
| Established (from year 4) | 3 to 4 months' worth | Monthly | Return optimisation |
| Expansion | 6 to 8 months' worth | Weekly | Investment control |
LeanOrthodontics® supports practice founders with a structured mentoring programme. Dr. Baxmann and his team provide support in developing individual liquidity concepts that are tailored to the respective practice situation. The combination of professional expertise and entrepreneurial experience helps to avoid typical start-up mistakes. From the initial business plan to an established practice, the programme offers the right tools for every stage of development.
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