Free calculator
Orthodontic patient lifetime value calculator
This calculator estimates what one new orthodontic patient is worth to your practice over time: the treatment fee, retainers and follow-up revenue, plus the referrals and family members who start because of them. It then shows the most you can afford to spend to win that patient. With the example values below, one new patient is worth about $7,050, and spending 10% of that means a maximum acquisition cost of $705.
- Built for orthodontic practices
- Nothing is saved or sent
- Last checked October 17, 2026
What you will need
- Average treatment fee$
- Retainers and follow-ups$
- Referral rate%
- Family starts%
- Acquisition budget share%
Calculator
Enter your practice’s numbers
What each input means
Where to find each number
Use the last 12 months where you can.
| Input | What it means | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Average treatment fee | Typical total fee for a full treatment | Fee schedule or average case value in your practice software |
| Retainers and follow-up revenue | Average extra revenue per patient after treatment | Retainer replacements and post-treatment visits divided by finished cases |
| Patients who refer a new start | Share of patients whose referral leads to a new start | Referral source field on new-patient records |
| Family member starts | Share of patients with a sibling or parent who later starts | Family links in your practice software |
| Acquisition budget share | How much of a patient’s value you are willing to spend to win them | Your own business decision |
How it works
The method
Every figure comes from your own inputs. Formula last checked October 17, 2026.
1. Direct value
Direct value = average treatment fee + retainers and follow-up revenue.
2. Referral and family value
Referral and family value = (referral rate + family start rate) × average treatment fee. Only one level of referrals is counted, so the result stays conservative.
3. Lifetime value
Lifetime value = direct value + referral and family value.
4. Maximum acquisition cost
Maximum acquisition cost = lifetime value × the share you are willing to spend. This is revenue, not profit, so set the share with your margins in mind.
Worked example
One example, calculated in full
Example values only, not benchmarks.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Direct value | $5,000 + $300 | $5,300 |
| Referral and family value | (20% + 15%) × $5,000 | $1,750 |
| Lifetime value | $5,300 + $1,750 | $7,050 |
| Maximum acquisition cost | $7,050 × 10% | $705 |
Common answers
Lifetime value by treatment fee
Assumes $300 of retainers and follow-ups, 35% combined referral and family starts and a 10% acquisition budget.
| Average fee | Lifetime value | Maximum acquisition cost (10%) |
|---|---|---|
| $4,000 | $5,700 | $570 |
| $5,000 | $7,050 | $705 |
| $6,000 | $8,400 | $840 |
| $7,000 | $9,750 | $975 |
Limits
When this estimate does not apply
Treat the result as a planning figure, not a valuation.
Not covered
- Referrals of referrals
- Costs of delivering treatment
- Patients who stop treatment early
Less reliable when
- Your practice is less than a year old
- Fees vary widely by treatment type
- You have no referral source data
Get advice instead when
- Valuing a practice for sale
- Setting budgets for several offices
- Insurance mix changes your average fee
Who made and checked it
Built and checked by SEO Engine Boost
This tool was built by SEO Engine Boost and its method was checked by Dr. Mahmoud Elsheikh, a dentist completing a Master of Science in Dentistry in Orthodontics and an SEO consultant with more than five years of experience.
Last checked: October 17, 2026. Changes: first version.
FAQ
Patient lifetime value calculator FAQ
How is patient lifetime value calculated here?
Direct value is your average treatment fee plus retainer and follow-up revenue. The calculator then adds the value of referrals and family members who later start, using the percentages you enter, to give a lifetime value per new patient.
What is the maximum acquisition cost?
It is the share of lifetime value you are willing to spend to win one new patient, applied to that lifetime value. It gives you a ceiling to compare against your actual cost per start from ads or SEO.
Where do I get the referral and family percentages?
From your own records: how many new starts named an existing patient as the referrer, and how many were siblings or parents of existing patients. If you do not track this yet, start recording the source of every new patient.
Should I use production or collections?
Use whichever you track consistently, and say which one you used when you compare results over time. Collections give a more conservative figure.
Free tools
More free tools for orthodontic practices
- Marketing budget calculator
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What unanswered calls cost each month - Google Ads ROI calculator
Cost per inquiry and per start from ad spend - Google reviews gap calculator
How far behind nearby practices your reviews are - Case acceptance rate calculator
How many consultations turn into starts - SERP snippet preview tool
How your title and description look in Google - Review reply generator
Privacy-safe replies to Google reviews - Google Business Profile checker
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