Dental Industry Spent $6.6 Billion on Administrative Transactions, Index Finds

Posted: July 2, 2026

Dental Industry Spent $6.6 Billion on Administrative Transactions, Index Finds

Edited by Dentaltown staff

DataSpring, the health care data organization formerly known as CAQH, is calling on dental providers to contribute to its 2026 Index, the annual benchmark that most recently found the dental industry spent about $6.6 billion processing administrative transactions in a single year.

The DataSpring Index tracks how widely the dental and broader health care industries have adopted electronic administrative transactions and estimates the savings available from replacing manual processes. Its most recent edition, the 2025 report, drew on data from 2024.

That report found the dental industry conducted about 5.2 billion administrative transactions at a cost of roughly $6.6 billion, with an estimated $1.9 billion in potential savings still available by shifting more of that work from manual to electronic methods. It credited dental practices with greater automation in claim submissions while pointing to claim payments and remittance advice as areas with room to improve.

Providers continue to absorb most of the labor and time costs tied to manual administrative work, according to the report.

Dental providers can take part in the 2026 Index by completing a survey online or by submitting a form to DataSpring, with a participation deadline of Aug. 3.

CAQH rebranded as DataSpring in June, several months after converting from a nonprofit to a for-profit company in January. The American Dental Association, which operates a free credentialing service on the platform, has said that service continues for dentists without interruption.

Sources:
ADA News, “DataSpring, powered by CAQH, seeks dental providers for 2026 index,” by Mary Beth Versaci, June 26, 2026: adanews.ada.org/dataspring-2026-index
DataSpring Index (powered by CAQH): dataspring.com


Dental Industry Spent $6.6 Billion on Administrative Transactions, Index Finds

Views: 11
Sponsors
Townie Perks
Townie® Poll
What part of a dental office do you feel makes the strongest first impression on patients?
  
The Dentaltown Team, Farran Media Support
Phone: +1-480-445-9710
Email: support@dentaltown.com
©2026 Dentaltown, a division of Farran Media • All Rights Reserved
9633 S. 48th Street Suite 200 • Phoenix, AZ 85044 • Phone:+1-480-598-0001 • Fax:+1-480-598-3450