Is Locum Coverage Worth It? A Practical ROI Walkthrough
When you own or manage a dental practice, time off can feel like a luxury you can’t afford. Vacations get postponed, CE courses stay on the back burner, and even family emergencies turn into logistical headaches. Why? Because stepping away often feels like it comes at too high a cost.
But here’s the truth: locum coverage isn’t just an expense. It’s an investment that protects your production, your team, and your peace of mind. Let’s walk through what that really looks like.
The Real Cost of Time Away
Every day you close your doors, the meter is still running. Hygiene chairs go unfilled, patients get pushed weeks (or months) down the road, and your team scrambles to plug holes in the schedule. Beyond the numbers, the stress alone can weigh heavier than the benefits of the break.
Locum coverage changes that equation. Instead of production flat-lining while you’re gone, the practice keeps humming — and your patients are still cared for.
A Simple ROI Example
Let’s look at the math.
Average daily doctor production: $4,500
Average locum coverage fee: $1,000/day
Even if your locum dentist produces just 50% of your average day, that’s $2,250 in production — more than double the coverage fee.
Which means you’ve:
✔ Covered the cost of coverage
✔ Protected your team’s income
✔ Preserved your patient relationships
✔ Bought yourself peace of mind
Everything above that? Bonus.
Real-Life Scenarios
1. Vacation Without Guilt
You finally take that week at the beach. Instead of coming back to a broken schedule and financial dip, you return to a practice that’s steady — because your locum covered new patient exams, delivered same-day crowns, and kept cases moving forward.
2. Continuing Education That Pays for Itself
That advanced implant or clear aligner course you’ve been eyeing? With locum coverage, you can attend, knowing patients are cared for and production continues. In many cases, the new skills you bring back generate far more than the coverage cost.
3. Unexpected Leave
Illness, injury, or family needs happen. A locum dentist ensures your team doesn’t lose hours, patients don’t feel abandoned, and your practice doesn’t lose momentum.
Beyond the Numbers
Of course, the ROI isn’t only financial. The real return is knowing you can step away without everything unraveling. Your patients are supported, your team is steady, and you come back refreshed — not burned out or buried under stress.
That peace of mind? Priceless.
Ready to See Your Own ROI?
Curious how the numbers work out for your specific practice? Try our ROI Calculator — a quick, simple way to plug in your daily production and see the return for yourself.
And if this sparks bigger questions, let’s talk. I’d love to walk you through how Smile Support Co can keep what matters most… intact. 💙