Getting Patients to Schedule Bi-Annual Checkups

It’s estimated that one-third of Americans do not visit a dentist on a regular basis, and another ten percent of patients miss appointments without calling to reschedule. Not only is this detrimental to your patients’ overall health, but it affects your practice as well

As dentists, we hold a more personal relationship with our patients. The consequences of overbooking and frustration could mean losing a patient you couldn’t afford to lose in the first place.

Reminder calls

These are an age-old tradition that doctors’ offices use. We’re often familiar with the call to confirm an appointment 24-48 hours in advance. But what about reminding patients when they’re due for a cleaning or procedure when they haven’t booked an appointment?

Communicate with the patient the way they want to be communicated with

There are many platforms out there that will give you the ability to communicate in different methods with different patients.

An elderly patient may expressly want postcard reminders, when a patient in their late teens or twenties would most likely prefer a text over a phone call or email. Does the wife or husband need to be the one to make the appointment?

Change your language when you confirm appointments. 

Be open with your clients about their dental health and the procedures they need

Clearly communicating with your patients what the procedure entails, where in their mouth the issue is and how serious it is to get fixed could greatly increase their commitment to obtaining treatment. The results are even better if you can show your patients the problem spot on the x-ray or using a mirror.

To learn more about effective patient scheduling, and to read the entire article, please visit www.thedentalgeek.com.