Dental Patient Communication

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3 Ways Tech-Savvy Dentists Stay Connected with Patients In Between Appointments

by Naomi Cooper July 3, 2019

As a dentist you have a unique relationship with your patients in that you may only see them a couple of times a year. It’s hard to forge a relationship when you only see the other person every six months.

Luckily for dentists, there are some really innovative tools on the market to help streamline your communication to stay connected with your valuable patients all year long.

Make sure your website is optimized for patients today. Contact information needs to be easily accessible, online appointing is preferred and above all, make sure it’s user friendly.
Don’t just rely on the patient communication features that came standard with your practice management system. Enhanced communication solutions offer features like real-time text messaging straight from the front desk computer and software that can automatically fill the holes in the daily schedule.
Always follow up with a survey. Post-appointment surveys not only demonstrate your commitment to patient satisfaction, but help you gain valuable insights about the overall patient experience and allow you to correct any weaknesses that may exist.

For more tech-centered strategies for dental patient communication, check out my Dental Products Report article here.

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What Do Your Dental Patients Really Want? Here’s How to Find Out

by Naomi Cooper March 6, 2019

What if I told you that by asking one seemingly simple question, you could unlock the secret to each patient’s internal motivations?

No, I’m not a mind reader, and you don’t have to be one yourself in order to find out what your patients really want. You just need to start a more effective dialogue with your patients. And any dentist can start by asking:

If there were one thing you could change about your smile, what would it be?

Here’s why it’s so amazingly effective:

It’s open ended, forcing the patient to say more than just yes or no.
Nearly 99% of people think their smile is their most important social asset.
Yet more than a third of Americans are unhappy with their smile.

Patients typically spend money on things they want, not necessarily on items they actually need. Asking this question allows you to align your treatment recommendations with their aesthetically-driven desires, improving patient satisfaction and driving your production levels up.

For more insights into how this one question can drive greater production levels at your practice, check out my Dental Products Report article here.

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How to Improve Your Dental Production Without Spending a Dime

by Naomi Cooper May 7, 2018

What if I told you that you could potentially increase your production numbers simply by asking each of your patients one single question?

I’m sure small talk doesn’t rank highly on your list of things you love to do, but the fact is that establishing open communication with your patients builds loyalty and trust and can influence case acceptance.

In order to make your chair side conversations flow more naturally, here is one foolproof question to ask:

“If there was one thing about your smile that you would like to change, what would it be?”

It’s a simple enough question that can yield a wealth of valuable insight into the mindset of each of your patients. See, they’ll likely respond with something they want (Straighter teeth! A whiter smile!), which gives you the opportunity to frame the conversation around how your treatment recommendations align with their cosmetic desires, which helps earn their buy in to proceed with treatment.

The good news here is that any of the clinical members on your team can initiate this conversation; it doesn’t have to fall solely on the dentist’s shoulders. Plus, asking a question like this demonstrates to patients that you and your team are willing to go the extra mile for them, which helps build loyalty and trust.

And as you and your team start to have this conversation with more and more of your patients, your case acceptance will start to improve an production will inevitably rise…all without spending a dime on any marketing.

To learn more about the power of patient communication, check out my Dental Products Report article on this very topic.

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Dental Patient Communication: 4 Tips for Selling Your Services

by Naomi Cooper December 16, 2015

As you work to attract and maintain more patients in the coming year, remember that people respond to different personal approaches. One aspect of the dentist/patient relationship that can be particularly difficult to navigate is how to offer comprehensive care without alienating your patients.

Here are 4 ways to gauge your patients’ interest in cosmetic procedures:

When a new patient comes for their first visit, conduct an intake survey. Ask about their interest in the various treatments and products you offer. You may want your patients to retake this survey every so often to be sure you are aware of any changes in their attitude towards elective treatments.
Talk with your patients. Ask them one specific question: If you could change one thing about your smile, what would it be? This helps get the conversation flowing and reveals to you what their motivations and goals are. Get a sense of how things are going. And if you get the impression that for whatever reason they may not be interested in a cosmetic treatment, trust your instincts and hold off on the hard sell.
Avoid pocketbook diagnosing. Don’t fall into the habit of holding yourself back from talking about elective procedures because you assume to know what they’re capable of spending based on what you know about them (i.e., they drive a luxury SUV or they’re in the middle of a messy divorce).
Conduct follow-up surveys with your patients. Find out if their visit was a positive one. Ask for feedback on how to improve their experience and use that feedback to inform how you approach each patient at their next visit.

While your skills as a dentist will bring patients in, it is important to remember that your chairside manner will keep them coming back. Listening to your patients and asking for feedback will go a long way toward improving patient communication, retaining patients and attracting more referrals in 2016 and beyond.