Which dental patients are best routed into a low-cost consultation rather than a free or diagnostic visit? Patients with a specific limited concern, often around a single tooth, plus patients whose fear profile makes them likely to no-show on free appointments unless they have money on the line. The first group includes patients who call describing one missing tooth, one painful tooth, or one specific aesthetic concern. The low-cost format suits them because the visit can address the one problem directly: a single film, a focused diagnosis, and a clear next step on that specific issue. Some of these patients turn [...]