CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for dental offices in Gulfport, MS
Dental offices in the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area: 127 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs an 8-person team.
- Establishments
- 127CBP 2023
- Employees
- 963mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 29.8U.S. 39.9
- Rank
- 145th of 918areas by count
How many dental offices are in Gulfport, MS?
There were 127 dental offices in the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 621210, Offices of Dentists). They employed 963 people in mid-March and paid $47.5 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 145th out of 918 areas with published figures for dental offices.
Measured against its 427,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 29.8 dental offices per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 39.9, so Gulfport, MS is 25.4% below the national figure. The average establishment here has 7.6 employees, compared with 7.6 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $49,296, 18.8% below the national $60,718.
| Measure | Gulfport, MS | Mississippi | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 127 | 915 | 135,665 |
| Mid-March employees | 963 (moderate noise) | 6,596 | 1,028,889 |
| Annual payroll | $47,472,000 | $352,421,000 | $62,471,602,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 7.6 | 7.2 | 7.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $49,296 | $53,430 | $60,718 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 29.8 | 31.1 | 39.9 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at dental offices in Gulfport, MS
Of the dental offices in Gulfport, MS that had employees in March 2023, 32.3% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 37.7%). 73.2% had fewer than ten. For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 41 | 32.3% | 37.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 52 | 40.9% | 35.4% |
| 10–19 employees | 28 | 22.0% | 22.0% |
| 20–49 employees | 6 | 4.7% | 4.5% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 0.4% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Why the phone matters for dental offices in Gulfport, MS
Dental appointments are booked, moved and confirmed by phone, and a new patient whose call goes unanswered can simply dial the next practice on the list. Front desks also juggle insurance questions and hygiene recalls while patients are standing at the counter.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for dental offices in Gulfport, MS:
- A parent calls to reschedule two children's appointments around school.
- The front desk calls a list of patients who are overdue for a cleaning.
- A new patient calls to ask whether the practice accepts their insurance plan.
Texting patients
Dental front desks text appointment confirmations, reschedule requests and simple directions to the office.
Team texting on Callata runs from your business number, so replies come from the practice or shop rather than someone's personal phone. It turns on after the one-time $49 carrier registration (10DLC) is approved.
Phone system pricing for an 8-person dental office
The average dental office in Gulfport, MS has 7.6 employees, so an 8-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 8 users would run $240.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $199.60 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $159.00 a month for 8 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $972 less than RingCentral for a dental office in Gulfport, MS of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $159.00 | $1,908.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $152.00 | $1,824.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $184.00 | $2,208.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $199.60 | $2,395.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $216.00 | $2,592.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $240.00 | $2,880.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Getting a local number in Gulfport, MS
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 228 has the most, with 247 of 260 exchanges (95%). A local number lets patients in Gulfport, MS call without dialing out of area. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, and which numbers are open in an area code depends on carrier inventory when you choose.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 228 | 247 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 601 | 13 | Central | 1947 | 769 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
What dental offices in Gulfport, MS get with Callata
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Gulfport, MS is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Practices that handle protected health information should review their own privacy obligations before recording calls, enabling AI summaries or texting appointment details, and keep clinical conversations out of text messages unless their policies allow it.
Frequently asked questions
How many dental offices are there in Gulfport, MS?
Census County Business Patterns counted 127 dental offices in the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area in 2023. They employed 963 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for an 8-person dental office?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 8 users cost $240.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $199.60 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $159.00.
What area code should a dental office in Gulfport, MS use?
Area code 228 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 601. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a dental office?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute. Practices that handle protected health information should review their own privacy obligations before recording calls, enabling AI summaries or texting appointment details, and keep clinical conversations out of text messages unless their policies allow it.