How Much Does It Cost to Spend on Facebook Ads? A Dentist’s Guide

If you run a dental practice, you already know how competitive the local market can be. Every week, a new clinic opens its doors and starts fighting for the same patients you are trying to attract. Facebook Ads can put your practice in front of potential patients at the exact moment they are ready to book — but only if you know how to budget and control costs.

The question is, how much should a dentist spend on Facebook Ads to get a steady flow of new patient appointments without overspending?

1. What Affects the Cost of Facebook Ads for Dentists

Facebook ads work on an auction system. That means your cost depends on how competitive your audience is and how engaging your ads are. For dental practices, these are the main cost drivers:

• Targeting High-Value Patients: People searching for services like dental implants, Invisalign, or veneers are valuable leads. Many dentists target them, which increases competition and cost.
• Location: If you are in a big city with multiple clinics per neighborhood, expect to pay more than a small-town practice.
• Ad Quality: Facebook rewards well-designed ads with lower costs. A poor ad will cost more to run and bring fewer clicks.
• Campaign Objective: Choosing “Leads” or “Conversions” usually costs more than “Engagement” but brings higher-quality patient inquiries.

2. Typical Spend for Dental Practices

Here is what most dentists can expect:

• Daily Budget: $20 to $100 per day for lead-generation campaigns
• Cost Per Click (CPC): $2 to $8 for competitive dental keywords and audiences
• Cost Per Lead: $30 to $150 depending on the service and location

For many practices, $1,000 to $3,000 per month is enough to bring in consistent new patient leads and allow for ongoing optimization.

3. How to Maximize ROI on Dental Facebook Ads

• Use high-quality before-and-after photos of actual patients (with permission).
• Offer specific promotions, such as “Free Whitening with a New Patient Exam.”
• Target locally and include a clear call-to-action to book an appointment.
• Retarget visitors who looked at your website or Facebook page but did not book.

4. Scaling Your Ad Spend

Once your campaign is consistently generating patients at a profitable rate, increase your budget in small increments. Many dental clinics double their monthly leads simply by scaling their best-performing campaigns.

The Bottom Line

Facebook Ads for dentists are not about spending the most money — they are about spending it where it brings the best results. With the right targeting, offers, and ad creative, you can turn Facebook into a predictable patient acquisition channel for your practice.

Get in touch — we are here to help dentists attract more high-value patients with Facebook Ads that work.