Dentists participating in a health screening at the 1984 annual session completed a brief questionnaire concerning patient turnover. In most dentists' opinions, patients more frequently leave a practice for reasons independent of the practice: they change residences and jobs. Patients' dissatisfaction with how they are treated, with the quality of care, and with pain and anxiety control also are believed to be among the factors "pushing" away patients. Lay referral is the major source of new patients, together with general community reputation and practice location.