5 Goals for Improving Patient Experience in Your Pediatric Dental Practice

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1. Make it Personal
2. Help Them Get Acquainted with Your Tools and Technology
3. Establish Trust Through Step-By-Step Communication
4. Use Kid-friendly Themes and “Distractions”
5. Think like a “Therapist”
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Like adults, children seek comfort and security in most situations. Dental care is no exception. That sets the bar high for improving patient experience in your pediatric practice.

An intentionally designed environment can help calm any fear, anxiety, or distrust of dentistry a difficult to treat child may bring to an appointment.

According to Jason Goodchild, DMD,

”When kids are relaxed and compliant, dentistry can be simple and fast. When they are not, that becomes a very different type of challenge,..”

The Most Common Barriers Against Improving Patient Experience

The two challenges your patient experience must confront:

Behavior
Fear

Patient behavior can range from being uncooperative in the moment to general lifestyle issues that require consistent attention, or a previous bad experience to just a bad day.

Fear and anxiety also accompany many patients to dental appointments. These things are not always so much about dentistry as the overall anticipated experience and environmental perception.

Each time you meet these challenges with an increased sensitivity combined with a patient/kid-centric environment your practice grows and becomes placed in a top tier of providers. But how do you get there?

FIVE GOALS FOR IMPROVING PATIENT EXPERIENCE IN YOUR PEDIATRIC DENTAL PRACTICE

1. Make it Personal

Young patients arrive thinking it’s all about their mouth, teeth, and gums. While that’s their personal expectation, there’s more to it than their oral health.

You can put them at ease by directing their attention away from their reason for being there during the first minutes of their chair-time.

Notice something about them and start your conversation/relationship there (e.g. shoes, color or type of clothing, etc).
Make the child comfortable by engaging with their parent or whoever accompanied them to the appointment.

Basically, shift the focus to them first. What will follow is likely to be a more comfortable…and compliant young patient.

2. Help Them Get Acquainted with Your Tools and Technology

Imagine what a dental chair and all your equipment looks like to a child. It’s often “scary” for an adult…so it’s no surprise that a child would have some hesitancy too.

Take the time to introduce them to the specific tools and technology you’ll be using for their appointment. Eliminating the unknown will help them relax and normalize the process.

Give your equipment “fun” names that helps lighten the mood prior to usage.
Allow your patients to ask questions about a particular tool or technology.

3. Establish Trust Through Step-By-Step Communication

Clear communication (without surprises) can help earn trust from your young patients. Think of it like a “show-and-tell” session at school.

“Show” them (within reason) what you’re going to do. Let them see the hand-piece, suction device, etc.
“Tell” them what’s about to happen next using non-threatening or non-aversive language.

4. Use Kid-friendly Themes and “Distractions”

A kid-centric environment sets the tone from the moment a family arrives, parks, and walks in your door. Attention to details from theming to hands-on amenities will help them relax ahead of and during their appointments.

Theme your office with non-threatening, light-hearted, kid-themed decor.

Create an environment from curb to chair that provides kids and families a memorable and comfortable experience at each appointment.
Provide access to kid-friendly programming in your reception area and your treatment rooms.
Use technology kids are accustomed to. Games, images, streaming video, etc help them relax and feel at-home in your dental office.

Use low-tech options such as take-home coloring sheets, books, and kid-centric publications.

5. Think like a “Therapist”

Certainly, your skill set is dentistry. But adding some behavior-management skills can help you help boost your authority and handle those challenging moments.

Patience, good communication skills, and an objective amount of good old-fashioned parental presence can improve patient experience.

Talk eye-to-eye with your pediatric patients. Get on their level and speak their language.
Liven up your conversations with stories, a light-hearted tone, and anything that helps your patients feel comfortable and at-ease.
Ask about their life, their interests, sports, school, etc.

PRIORITIZE YOUR PEDIATRIC PATIENT EXPERIENCE BY SETTING YOUR ENVIRONMENT UP FOR SUCCESS

Outstanding patient experience for children and families begins with a kid-centric mindset and environment. In essence, it’s an investment decision.

Invest in Your Patients

Valuing your patients and their families sets them up for a lifetime of positive health outcomes. And the environment you create can help you achieve a better patient experience.

Reduce patient anxiety and enhance their relaxation
Prime patients and families for their appointments
Create positive dental care experiences

Invest in Your Business

Maintain your edge in the crowded dental service space. Attention to details in your space can transform your environment and the overall patient experience…especially in a pediatric practice.

Create “buzz” in the community you serve
Accelerate patient referrals
Generate positive online reviews

Check out these related resources for upgrading, renewing, and improving patient experience:

What is Patient Experience and Why Does It Matter?

How Theming Creates the Ultimate Brand for Your Business

A Practical Guide to Creating an Exceptional Patient Experience

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience.

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Why You Should Have a Blog on Your Dental Website

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1. Search Engines Like Blogs
2. Potential Clients Like Blogs
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If you don’t have a blog on your website, you’re missing out. You’re missing out on improving keyword rankings on search engines. You’re missing out on increasing organic visits to your website. Most importantly, you’re missing out on opportunities to get new patients. According to Hubspot, businesses that blog receive 67% more leads than those that do not!

There are 2 main reasons why you should have a blog: it helps with your search engine rankings, and it helps potential clients see you as an expert in your area. Let’s dive deeper into what that means.

1. SEARCH ENGINES LIKE BLOGS

Search engines like original content, sites with a high volume of content, and content that is updated on a regular basis. You’re not going to be updating your homepage every month so how do you achieve this? The easiest way to create content is with a regularly updated blog.

But wait, don’t just start spamming your website with whatever topic comes to mind. You also need to create GOOD content to get people to click on your blog. Focusing on educating readers, not just selling services or talking about your business, is key. People want information that will help them personally. You won’t be able to get anyone to read your blog if your posts don’t appeal to your target audience.

Here are some interesting and educational ideas you could write about that might interest parents:

The Top 5 Children’s Toothpastes Ranked by a Dentist.

The Best Halloween Candy for Your Children’s Teeth.

How to Prepare for Your Child’s First Trip to the Dentist.

Are Dental X-Rays Safe for Children?

How to Keep Your Child Calm During a Dental Appointment.

Coming up with additional topics is easy. What questions are the parents visiting your office asking? What are their concerns? Answer the questions that they are asking in person and searching for online.

You can also talk about new treatment techniques and the benefits to your patients. Announce any new equipment or technology being added to your practice – patients will feel confident about going to a dentist that is using up-to-date equipment. Talk about seasonal events, like getting kids ready for back to school.

The more relevant your topics are to your readers, the clicks and engagement you gets, the more search engines view you as an authority on the topic that you write about, boosting your ranking in search results.

As a bonus, your blogs can be shared as a social media post, making your feed a useful source of information, and getting more clicks back to your website.

2. POTENTIAL CLIENTS LIKE BLOGS

Patients like hearing ‘inside’ knowledge about a topic. It helps to build trust and in their mind it will cement you as an expert in your field. Clients will see you as an authority on dental health when you provide answers to their questions. Ultimately, they will seek you out in person to help care for their children’s teeth.

If they really relate to the content, the may share your articles amongst their friend and families, further increasing your potential client base. Be sure to make your blog easy to share through social media and email to encourage this activity!

Not a write? Not a problem!

Not a writer or just too busy? Leave writing to the experts. You can hire copywriters who specialize in dental related topics to create content for your website.

Here are a few good places to start your search for a professional copywriter:

• Upwork.com
• Copywriters.com
• Scripted.com

Here are a few example blogs to inspire you:

There are plenty of dentists out there already who are setting the standard for dental blogs. Check out a few of them to see how you can incorporate a blog into your own website and marketing plan.

A pediatric dental practice blog: Polka Dot Dental Blog

A blog from a DSO: Word of Mouth Blog

A general dentistry blog: 123 Dentists

Check out these related resources for improving your marketing efforts:

The Importance of a Website for Promoting Your Dental Practice

How to Get Online Reviews for Your Dental Office

The Best Dental Marketing Tactics and Strategy

Key Strategies to Jump-Start Your Dental Marketing

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience.

Want more tips for marketing your office? Download the free guide to learn more tips for helping with your online presence.

From our artists to our engineers, we pride ourselves on the level of expertise each team member brings to the projects we create. Our experts want to offer some insight into their work and offer professional advice to help your dental office reach its full potential.

Victoria

Senior Designer
Bachelor of Applied Arts in Visual Communications
Joined IDS in 2010

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Importance of a Website for Promoting Your Dental Practice

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The yellow pages are a thing of the past. Having a website is an important, if not the most important, part of your marketing plan. Today, the majority of your potential clients are using the internet to find the services and products that they need. When someone is looking for a dentist, they are most likely to search online and pick from the results they find there.

Businesses that have a website are often ruled to be more professional or legitimate than those that don’t. Moreover, a website is an additional opportunity to market your services to a wide audience and provide answers to questions and information about your practice.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A WEBSITE FOR PROMOTING YOUR DENTAL PRACTICE

Having an Ineffective Website is Just as Bad as Not Having One at All

However, worse than not having a website is having a bad website. According to a study in 2015 by Adobe, 38% of people stop engaging with content if it is unattractive and 39% will stop engaging if your content takes too long to load. These are just two reasons why it is important to ensure that your website not only exists, but is also attractive and provides a positive user experience.

Options for Building Your Website

For many, the cost of hiring a web professional has been noted as an obstacle to having a website. An online presence is becoming increasingly important for reaching your patients, regardless of the monetary investment. The expense is quite small compared to the potential amount of lost business, so remember to make room in your marketing budget.

While having a professional web developer gives you more control over your online presence, there are different alternatives to building a website from scratch.

It is worth looking into a website template builder, and there are many out there to choose from like:

That’s just to name a few. They provide templates to get you started and have developers on staff who can build a website for you using their platform.

So what do you need to include in your dental website? Check out our infographic for a breakdown of what you should make sure your developer includes on your site:

Check out these related resources for improving your marketing efforts:

Why You Should Have a Blog on Your Dental Website

How to Get Online Reviews for Your Dental Office

Key Strategies to Jump-Start Your Dental Marketing

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience.

Want more tips for marketing your office? Download the free guide to learn more tips for helping with your online presence.

Laura
Web Developer
Joined IDS in 2009

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What is Patient Experience and Why Does It Matter?

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Why should the patient experience matter to your practice?
What does great patient experience look like?
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“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” Those words from Henry David Thoreau have broad application. They especially help answer the question, what is patient experience?

Essentially, patient experience is often less about what’s obvious and more about those in-the-margins or between-the-lines realities that are truly “seen”. Every dental practice operates from a business perspective and a customer (patient) service perspective. The intersection of those business drivers and customer service drivers is where patient experience happens.

WHY SHOULD THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE MATTER TO YOUR PRACTICE?

Consumerism affects your patient families like it does everyone else. Satisfaction with a product or service relies on the acquisition experience as much as cost on some occasions.

It’s said that, “perception is everything…” And your patient experience factors into how they see your services, your team, dentistry in general, and their future loyalty to your practice.

Keep in mind that patient loyalty is a by-product of the comprehensive patient experience you provide. This experience includes:

Arrival and parking
Entry and reception area theme
Front-desk staff interactions
Reception area amenities
In-chair treatment
Post procedure consultations
Check-out, financials, and re-appointment

Every interaction with your facilities and staff reveals how in-tune you are with your patient’s needs regardless of their age.

The goal: put them at ease and elevate the value of your services for their health.

WHAT DOES GREAT PATIENT EXPERIENCE LOOK LIKE?

Adapting to Their Expectations

The patient experience you provide reveals that you understand what it’s like to walk-in-their shoes. Each person or family seeks your services, communicates with your team, and arrives for their scheduled appointment with a set of expectations.

Keep in mind that their expectations might not always match your passion for their oral health. Prioritizing dental care is a process that often begins with pain or an immediate need more than it does a routine commitment.

Making dental care a priority involves consistent communication and positive engagement.

Communicate about…

Smile and appearance goals plus overall oral health goals
Treatment tailored to help them achieve their goals

Create an open environment of communication that doesn’t rely on being “salesy” or over-promoting.

And speaking of environment, patient experience is also…

Creating an Atmosphere

Knowing patient expectations helps you create an environment that anticipates their needs and wants. The tone you set throughout your practice reveals your sensitivity to their emotions about dentistry in general.

Lighten the mood throughout your practice
Leverage themes to create a consistent atmosphere
Listen to their feedback and reviews to make upgrades and improve your patient experience

Engaging Them from the First Interaction

You might call it making a first impression. Remember that patient engagement starts before someone schedules or arrives at your facilities.

Your facility ROI will work to your advantage when you give attention to those vital first-impression strategies.

Phone tone
Informative website
Compelling digital communication (SMS, email)

The more engaging these support tools are the better your ROI and branding will be. Healthcare (these days) is more and more reliant on attention to service details.

You’ll reach, retain, and experience referrals the more you embed a first-impression mindset into your practice culture. Those strategies will elevate your patient experience to new levels that improve your ROI.

Ongoing Education via Useful, Informative Content

It doesn’t matter how state-of-the-art your facilities or technology are if you miss opportunities to communicate how they practically benefit your patients. New technology or the creative use of your physical space can be to your advantage if you connect it to the patient experience.

That connection is how consistently and effectively you educate them about the benefits.

Use digital communication channels to inform your patients (blog, email, social media, etc)
Survey your families/patients to source questions you can answer
Synch your team members to an educational focus – one that listens and then leverages the information for family/patient benefit

NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO IMPROVE THE ROI OF YOUR PATIENT EXPERIENCE

Take your patient experience to new levels. You’ll stand-out from other service providers when you…

Invest in Your Patients

Valuing your patients and their families sets them up for a lifetime of positive health outcomes. And the environment you set can help you achieve a better patient experience.

Reduce patient anxiety and enhance their relaxation
Prime patients and families for their appointments
Create positive dental care experiences

Invest in Your Business

Maintain your edge in the crowded dental service space. Attention to details in your space can transform your environment and the overall patient experience.

Create “buzz” in the community you serve
Accelerate patient referrals
Generate positive online reviews

Check out these related resources to upgrade or renew your patient experience:

5 Tips for Creating the Experience Parents Really Want While in the Waiting Room (But Won’t Tell You!)

Case Study – Adding Theming to Increase Profitability and Patient Satisfaction

A Practical Guide to Creating an Exceptional Patient Experience

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience.

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Dr. Michael Lateiner Interview: Adding Theming to Increase Profitability and Patient Satisfaction

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One of the main benefits of IDS office theming is how it can help you grow your business faster. IDS has themed over 300 offices and more than 30% of our clients have come back to theme a second (or third, or seventh) additional office. Theming has brought them success and allowed them to expand, adding more theming or opening additional locations. This is the story of one of those successful clients.

“In 5 years we became a multi-million dollar office and we attribute a huge amount of our success to IDS.”

Small Start – Big Results

In 2010, Dr. Michael Lateiner came to IDS to add theming to the reception area in his small dental office. His goal was to create a fun space for his patients and to increase the number of patients the practice saw. Focusing on the reception area, he began with a few murals, desk cladding, and a children’s play area.

iDr. Lateiner knew his theming was a great way to connect with kids, but he didn’t yet realize its true potential; his office now had a competitive edge that was memorable, shareable, and drew in kids and parents alike.

Expanding in Popularity

The popularity of Dr. Lateiner’s themed office grew over the next 5 years, increasing his profits and giving him the funds necessary to take over the neighboring office space. He removed the adjoining wall and expanded his treatment area and the reception to make room for even more patients.

With a newly expanded space, Dr. Lateiner was ready for additional theming to help further grow his practice. In 2016 IDS added murals, a photo op, a themed brushing station, and even theming in the x-ray room – more than double what had been installed years before.

Stage 2 of theming – expanding into a larger floor space.

“We hoped IDS theming would provide a 10X return on our investment and, well, our expectations have been exceeded.”

Doubling Down on Theming

In 2017, only a year after Dr. Lateiner’s previous project, he and his wife, Dr. Gloria Fulman, began construction on a new office. They immediately contacted IDS to plan a fully themed office.

“We were so happy with the results from our first office that we had the confidence to open a second one. This time we gave IDS complete creative freedom.”

IDS created travel themed decor, featuring caricatures of a young Michael and Gloria adventuring around the world. Extensive murals, photo ops, and brushing stations transformed this office into a kid-friendly environment that parents and patients love.

“Patients come into the office and are immediately comfortable. The parents can’t stop taking pictures.”

“IDS has the whole package. Their creations help make our patients comfortable, happy, and excited to visit us. This, in turn, creates happy parents who are now more willing to bring their children regularly. The end results allow us to provide better dental care to our patients while ensuring the practice grows profitably.”

Check out the office in this video tour:

Around the World office Decor Video Tour

Invest in the full potential of your office and become an IDS success story like Dr. Michael Lateiner and Dr. Gloria Fulman.

IDS office decor will benefit your office. We see it again and again with our existing clients. Contact us to become a successful member of the IDS family too!

Interested in learning more about themed environments? Check out these related resources on IDS customers:

See more examples of jungle theming here.

See more examples of travel theming here.

Hear more great stories of happy IDS customers here.

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience. Or download our inspiring look book and start imagining the possibilities in your office.

Want more tips for marketing your office? Download the free guide to learn more tips to help you get more patients in your dental office.

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Dental Office Theming is Big News for Local News Stations

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Media Pitch Template
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One of our favorite perks to theming offices all over North America is getting to see our offices pop up in local news across the country. Not only is this a great way for a dental office to get extra exposure and free advertising, but it will make you proud knowing your office is newsworthy.

This is a great opportunity for some free dental office marketing. Don’t miss that chance to get your themed office in the news. Local news channels love to show off unique and exciting stories in the community. Whether you get in the newspaper or manage to bring out a whole news camera crew, any free promotion is welcome.

Here are a couple of examples of themed offices that have made the news to give you some ideas on how to pitch your story to your local news provider.

Practice Finds its Niche with Young Patients

“We’re the Walt Disney World of dentistry,” said Trey Anderson with a laugh.

Smile Town Dentistry Profiles of Excellence

“I knew how challenging it was to get my brother into appointments and my parents experienced an equal amount of stress,” explains Dr. Chadha. “I wanted to help other families; that’s why we decided to open offices that are fun for children of all ages and specially designed to accommodate families with special-needs children.” Dr. Kanani adds, “We are here to help, and we are empathetic to their needs.”

Technology, fun approach to dentistry help make Big Smiles in Milford

“We want to make the whole office fun… We don’t want them to be scared,” said Eunice Lee, one of two pediatric dentists at the office.

The Smile Start Interactive Center at the PDAO Bentonville office is used for new patients aged four to eleven to focus on education and training. In this simulation center, kids can practice brushing and flossing on a large replica of a mouth, look at plaque through microscopes and feel and smell giant cavities. Staff observes each patient to coach them on how to correct their technique, and there’s even a test at the end to keep kids paying attention and taking dental hygiene seriously, while having fun!

We hope these offices inspire you. So don’t be shy, you have a cool and unique office, get your office in the news! Here’s a template you can use to invite a news crew to your office.

Contact a journalist directly if you can, not just the generic news station contact. Your story could get lost in the shuffle. Find someone who writes about topics similar to your business.

The subject line of your email pitch must contain your news hook – the one thing that makes your story stand out and demand a journalist’s attention.

Try one of these:

1. “Amazing kid-friendly [Jungle/Ocean/Etc] themed office comes to [local area]”
2. “A dental office kids can’t wait to visit!”
3. “From fear to fun, how this local dental office is changing the way kids feel about the dentist.”

And include in your body:

[Journalist Name], I know you like to write about [local business/events/children/health] and thought this story would be of interest to you. Please find attached below a story about a unique dental office experience designed to reduce anxiety in children.

Make it easy on the journalist you have contacted. Tell them a bit about your history in the area. Any philosophies you have around treating patients. Talk about the problem you are solving for consumers – making going to the dentist easier for both kids as well as their parents. Describe your office and how it is designed to entertain and relax children, better priming them for their appointments. Feel free to allude to any awards you have won for your services.

Attach a photo! A themed office is designed to sell itself.

Lastly, invite the journalist to contact you if they need any more information.

Thanks,
[Your Name]
[Contact details]

Has your office been featured in the news? Share a link with us to see at info@idskids.com

Check out these related resources for improving your marketing efforts:

Connect Your Social Media Platforms Together To Save Time

3 Quick Tips on Using Theming as a Social Media Promotional Tool

Key Strategies to Jump-Start Your Dental Marketing

Add a Cool Google Office Tour to Make Your Business Page Stand Out

Want more tips for marketing your office? Download the free guide to learn about branding basics, social media tips, ways to improve your online efforts, plus event and promotional ideas.

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Creating Online Buzz Starts Offline for Dental Practices

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1. Run Social Media Contests
2. Create Shareable Moments for Your Patients and Their Parents
3. Ask Your Clients for an Online Review
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When creating a digital strategy, marketing teams typically think in terms of online activity and create digital content designed to convert views into clicks. Clicks then convert into appointments, with bonus points whenever it’s a new patient. But here’s the thing – it’s NOT a one-way street.

Your digital strategy is incomplete if it doesn’t consider driving activity in both directions: digital converting into a physical visit, and physical visits converting into patient-driven activity online.

It’s an often-overlooked component, yet it’s highly effective at creating buzz around your brand and recruiting visitors as brand evangelists. It’s something that’s being done more and more by major malls and hospitality brands, and there’s no reason your practices can’t benefit too. You may not be able to buy word-of-mouth advertising, but you can certainly create the conditions that encourage those conversations, shares, and likes!

If your practices are family-friendly or pediatric-focused, there are some proven techniques for converting patient visits into digital traction by tapping into the network of local parents online.

HERE ARE A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE WAYS TO ENCOURAGE ONLINE INTERACTION WITH YOUR CLIENTS:

1. Run Social Media Contests to Increase Social Media Engagement

Budget for prizes and set a goal. Determine whether you’re trying to increase social media followers, generate more leads, or want to increase brand awareness.

The better the prize, the more activity you’ll generate. Find some local products as a prize to support other businesses in your area. Aim your contest prizes at both kids and adults (adults are the ones who will be doing the majority of the posting, so make it worth it for them). Promote this prize while your patients and their families are in the office.

One of the most straightforward ways to run a contest is for each time a parent tags the practice and uses a special hashtag, they get entered in a draw to win a fun family prize.

You can also ask your clients to follow you on social media to be entered, ask followers to share a specific post to promote your dental office on social media, and ask people to like and comment to get entered in a draw to increase engagement on your page.

When people like, comment, and share your posts, social media algorithms recognize this activity and more people are likely to see you and learn about your business.

Learn more about social media contest ideas in our free marketing guide.

2. Create Shareable Moments for Your Patients and Their Parents to Post Online

Let’s face it – parents are always looking for an opportunity to capture an adorable photo of their kids and then share it with friends and family. Even better is when they get the subtle brag that shows how much fun their little one had during a recent visit to the dentist. (FUN at the dentist – your kids must be amazing!)

The trick here is to create a setting that helps ensure photos are share-worthy. A charming sculpted character with whom to pose, a colorful wall mural or some ‘photo booth’ props are all methods that help curate the perfect photo inside your office. Make sure your brand is carefully yet subtly included and you’re well on your way to supercharging your social media presence.

Curating share-worthy moments is even more effective when you combine a photo op with a contest, like the one mentioned above – share your photo with our character, tag the practice, and you’re entered to win!

3. Ask Your Clients for an Online Review

If you are committed to offering an above-expectation experience for your patients, there’s nothing wrong with asking for a Google or Facebook review at the end of a visit. This can be done via an on-site tablet, a text message follow-up, or even a polite reminder on the back of your appointment cards.

If you’re worried about negative reviews (it can happen to the best of us), you can filter clients at the very beginning of the process into two streams:

1. Not happy? Please let us know so we can make it right (i.e. they are not asked to leave a Google review, instead a feedback form that goes directly to management).

2. Happy? Great – please tell the world by posting a Google review!

By using these three simple techniques, you will see a big boost to the online activity around your brand. Because it’s buzz coming from your clients, it will be regarded as more genuine and will do more for referrals than your own content or paid ads ever could.

Check out these related resources for how to attract more dental patients:

The Importance of a Website for Promoting Your Dental Practice

The Best Dental Marketing Tactics and Strategy

How to Get Online Reviews for Your Dental Office (and Respond to Negative Ones)

Jump-Start Your Dental Marketing with These Key Strategies

The 3 Social Media Sites You Should Be Promoting Your Business On and Why

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience.

Want more tips for marketing your office? Download the free guide to learn more tips to help you get more patients in your dental office.

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The 3 Social Media Sites You Should Be Promoting Your Dental Office On and Why

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Facebook
Linkedin
Instagram
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In the age of technology and digital communications, it is becoming increasingly important to market your dental practice through social media. Traditionally, mailed leaflets, phone calls, and word-of-mouth were the main sources of new clients. There are approximately 247 million U.S. social media users as of 2019. That is a massive market waiting to be tapped by your practice. By using social media, you are able to put a face to your business and quickly and effectively reach out to previous and potential clients.

There are three main social networking sites that are best for reaching and interacting with your client base: Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin. Each serves a specific purpose and can be utilized in different ways.

THERE ARE 3 SOCIAL MEDIA SITES YOU SHOULD BE PROMOTING YOUR BUSINESS ON AND HERE IS WHY

1. Facebook

Facebook is the most commonly-used platform, so having a Facebook account is a must.

Facebook is best used when looking to connect with audiences and to share information with those who are interested in your practice. You post content like:

Photos of your patients who are cavity-free
Celebrate your staff during special events like birthdays
Promote events, like if you’re setting up a booth at a local fair or doing a talk at a school
Informative content, like articles on the latest dental technology
Information relating to your practice such as contact information, hours, and a map of your office
Updates that are relevant to your clients, like closures due to Covid-19

Post consistently; several times a week is best for reaching those who follow you.

Facebook can also help you to gather feedback and comments from your existing patients. Be sure to monitor patient comments and respond promptly to both positive and negative comments.

Be warned, Facebook is a money-making business and will want to charge you to share your content with a wider audience to get more reach and engagement with your posts. The key is to create content that users actually want to see and your content will spread organically.

Use Facebook for:

Audience Reach: With over 2.8 billion monthly active users, Facebook is a platform that caters to a broad audience, making it an excellent choice for reaching a diverse range of potential patients.
Engagement Features: Facebook offers various engagement features, including posts, photos, videos, events, and reviews. You can create a business page, share educational content, promote special offers, and interact with your community through comments and messages.
Content Opportunities: You can share a variety of content on Facebook, such as dental tips, educational videos, patient testimonials, and updates about your dental practice.
Community Building: Facebook allows you to create a community around your dental practice. You can engage with patients through comments, private messages, and events.

2. Linkedin

LinkedIn is an excellent platform for promoting your dental office, especially when you want to engage with a professional audience, build relationships within the healthcare industry, and establish your practice as an authority.

Remember to maintain a professional tone and image on LinkedIn. While other social media platforms may focus more on casual interactions, LinkedIn is a platform where professionalism and credibility are highly valued.

Use Linkedin for:

Professional Networking: LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that allows you to connect with other professionals in the healthcare industry. It’s a great platform for sharing educational content, industry news, and professional achievements.
Build Credibility: By sharing informative articles, participating in discussions, and showcasing the expertise of your team, you can build credibility and trust among potential patients and other professionals in the field.
Educational Content: Share informative content about dental health, advancements in dentistry, and your team’s expertise. This can help build trust among potential patients.
B2B Opportunities: If your dental office provides services to businesses or professionals, LinkedIn can be a valuable platform for B2B networking.

3. Instagram

Instagram is a platform that allows your practice to post and tag a single photo or a small scrollable gallery. This social media platform relies on hashtags and photo filters to create an image for your practice and name.

Instagram can be used as a tool for your staff to share office life, post photos of kids who are in the daily ‘no cavity club,’ and celebrate office events. It is less formal than Facebook and a great tool for connecting to your younger patient base.

Instagram is the best platform for reaching millennials (your family-aged audience) and other users who appreciate a good picture or video. If you have a themed office that means you’ll have an endless supply of visually interesting content to grab the attention of the cool, millennial moms in your area.

The Instagram app.

On top of attracting new patients, Instagram is a great place to attract good staff. Job hunters will often head to Instagram to find out the culture of a company they are looking to work for to see if they will be a good fit.

Use Instagram for:

Visual Appeal: Instagram is a highly visual platform, making it ideal for showcasing your dental practice through high-quality images and videos. This is particularly useful for highlighting before-and-after dental work, office aesthetics, and the team.
Engagement with Visual Storytelling: Use Instagram Stories and Reels to share behind-the-scenes glimpses, patient testimonials, and quick oral health tips. Visual storytelling can be powerful in creating a connection with your audience.
Hashtags for Visibility: Utilize relevant hashtags to increase the visibility of your posts and reach a broader audience interested in dental health.

SOCIAL MEDIA IS WORTH THE EFFORT FOR YOUR DENTAL OR MEDICAL BUSINESS

It may sound time-consuming to utilize social media, but it often only takes a few minutes a day.

By cross-posting your content to all three of these sites, you can consistently and efficiently reach out to patients who are interested in your practice with considerably less time. There are even programs that help you manage all of your accounts from one place, such as Hootsuite.

Placing advertisements on these platforms allows you to reach new clients without spending a fortune. Each of these sites also offers analytics so that you can immediately see who is following your practice, which types of posts generate the most interest, and track current dental trends.

Social Media is about more than simply posting content. The content you create is also pivotal to your success. Featuring events in the community, educating patients on the importance of dental health and lifestyle changes, and highlighting opportunities for clients to interact with your practice are all key.

In order to create a ‘buzz’ around your practice, you can enter your office into dental design and local business competitions. This recognition not only increases the prestige of your office, it is the perfect promotional opportunity to share with your followers on social media.

The great thing about social media is that you can let your patients market your practice for you!

A themed office gives patients plenty of photo opportunities that they want to share to their social media profiles. Choose a hashtag that relates to your office and encourage patients to tag your practice in the photos they take. Not only does this increase word-of-mouth recommendations, it also makes patients feel connected and excited about your office. A happy practice is a social practice and your patients will be happy to promote your dental office on social media!

When using these platforms, keep in mind:

Consistent Branding: Maintain consistent branding across all platforms, including your logo, business information, and visual style.
Educational Content: Share informative and educational content about oral health. This not only positions your practice as an authority but also provides value to your audience.
Engagement: Actively engage with your audience by responding to comments, messages, and reviews. Encourage patients to share their positive experiences.
Promotions and Specials: Use social media to promote any special offers, discounts, or events happening at your dental office.

Remember to review and adhere to the specific guidelines and policies of each platform. Regularly analyze the performance of your content to understand what resonates best with your audience and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Check out these related resources for improving your social media efforts:

Connect Your Social Media Platforms Together To Save Time

3 Quick Tips on Using Theming as a Social Media Promotional Tool

The Best Dental Marketing Tactics and Strategy

Jump-Start Your Dental Marketing with These Key Strategies

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience.

Want more social media tips for marketing your office? Download the free guide!

Micaela

Social Media Marketing Coordinator
Bachelor of Design in Visual Communications
Joined IDS in 2007

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How to Get Online Reviews for Your Dental Office (and Respond to Negative Ones)

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How to Get Good Reviews
How to Respond to Negative Reviews
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Reviews matter for small businesses, especially if you cater to the public. Online reviews bring the benefit of social proof, something we have talked about before. Social proof is the influence that the actions and attitudes of other people have on your own behavior and decisions. 91 percent of people regularly or occasionally read online reviews. 84 percent of people trust online reviews as much as the recommendation of a friend.

HOW TO GET ONLINE REVIEWS FOR YOUR DENTAL OFFICE

So we all know reviews are important, but how do you get them? Here are a few tips and tricks you can use to get ahead of the competition.

Claim Your Online Business Profiles

If you want to have control over your reviews, be sure to claim your online profiles. This means either setting up a profile or claiming the default listing created by review sites. Make sure you have a presence on Google, Facebook, Yelp, and any industry-specific sites where your business can get reviewed.

If you must begin small, begin with taking control of your Google Business Page. Google reviews are the most important type of review for a dentist. Unless being referred, the first place a parent is going to go to find a pediatric dentist or doctor is Google to search for dentists in their neighborhood. If there are a number of options in an area, they will begin looking at reviews. For a small business competing against similar establishments in the same area, Google reviews can often be an important tiebreaker.

Make it Easy for Your Customers to Review You

Add links to your review pages on your website. Include links with your email correspondence and any e-newsletters. Make it easy by making it accessible.

Offer Incentives to Get More Reviews

Now that you are ready to receive and respond to reviews, how do you get them? Begin by offering incentives. This is helpful especially when you are a new business and do not have a lot of reviews. Offer a $5 gift card to a local coffee shop if they leave a review. Or create a contest where every good review is an entry into a prize draw – make sure you announce the winner on a social media to create excitement.

Ask the Right People to Give You Online Review

When looking for reviews, ask the right people. If you have a referral program set up and are able to track referrers you have a great resource at your disposal. If someone refers a friend to your office they are obviously happy with your services. Send them a thank you for the referral, a referral gift, and of course, a link to leave a review.

Once you encourage your customers to leave reviews, make sure their efforts are rewarded with a reply from your business. Reply to every good review with a thank you. And be ready to reply to every negative review as well.

Earn Your Reviews

If you want good reviews, then you’ll have to earn them. Have great services, a friendly staff, and an amazing themed office that makes their kids calm and happy! Our clients often have excellent reviews talking about the fun environment created by adding games and themed decor.

“The kids loved playing on the iPads on the wall and in the hot air balloon while we waited. Great experience!”

“We also love the play area-lots of things to do while the kids are waiting.”

“Super clean and decorated beautifully – it made the kids more excited to be there. Would recommend without hesitation.”

“Had a TON of eye candy for the kids (awesome decor and video game screens all over the place!)”

If your clients genuinely like your business, you’ll get the reviews you want. Get more marketing tips like these in our free guide.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WHEN YOU GET A BAD REVIEW?

The majority of review sites will not allow you to delete a bad review, so be prepared to deal with them and use them to your benefit. Handling a bad review in a professional manner can actually be just as helpful as a good review as it can show how you handle negative situations.

Also, consumers trust a 4.5 star review more than 5 stars as they feel an imperfect score to be more truthful and reflective of the business. 5 stars are just too good to be true.

But back to how to handle those reviews. Here’s a quick rundown of points you should remember when you get a bad review:

You want to respond as quickly as possible so that other people are not able to read this angry review without your side of the story. But be cautious. Don’t respond in the heat of the moment or you may say something you don’t want out in public.
Do your homework. Make sure you know your employee’s side of the situation before you craft a response.
Take responsibility for your part in the problem and offer a sincere apology. Even if the review is unjustified, be empathetic to the reviewer’s complaint. Let them know you understand their frustration and will help them with their issue. This shows others that you care about your customers’ opinions and feelings and will hopefully calm the anger of this particular reviewer.
Thank the reviewer for taking the time to bring this issue to your attention. Let them know you pride yourself on excellent customer service and appreciate the opportunity to make things right.
Don’t go into too much detail in your reply. Offer to take the conversation offline. You don’t want to start a debate with an irate customer on your wall of reviews, so offer to have to call or email to further discuss the issue. If you’re dealing with an online troll, just walk away. That’s a fight you’ll never win. Anyone reading the review of a troll will know when someone is just being a bully compared to leaving a legitimate review

With these tips and tricks, you have the know-how to get you on the right path to gain more reviews.

Want more tips for marketing your office? Download the free guide to learn about branding basics, social media tips, ways to improve your online efforts, plus event and promotional ideas. Or check out these strategies to help market your dental business.

Check out these other marketing and patient experience related resources:

Key Strategies to Jump-Start Your Dental Marketing

What is Patient Experience and Why Does It Matter?

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Engage, Entertain, and Educate Children with Themed Decor

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Engage
Entertain
Educate
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IDS has gained notoriety as being the go-to company for creating office spaces designed with children in mind. When we design for kids we of course engineer the toughest product available, but we also look at the psychological side of how our creations will help children prepare for an appointment.

For this, we follow the Three E’s: Engage, Entertain, and Educate!

How to Create an Engaging, Entertaining, and Educational Experience for Children Visiting Your Office

Visiting a dentist’s office can be an intimidating experience for children, but with the right approach, it can become a moment of fun, learning, and even excitement! By focusing on engaging, entertaining, and educating young patients, your practice can transform into a space where kids feel at ease and even look forward to their visits. Here’s how:

Engage Children

Passively sitting and waiting for an appointment can cause anxiety to grow, especially for children. At IDS, we believe in engaging kids’ minds and bodies to keep them calm, distracted, and entertained, creating positive memories they’ll associate with your office.

Imagine walking into a space where children can explore, learn, and play while they wait. By providing interactive activities that stimulate curiosity and creativity, you can turn what might be a stressful experience into something they enjoy.

You won’t see faces like this at an IDS themed office:

Young patients aren’t just at the dentist for treatment—they’re there to learn! Engaging kids in understanding their oral health empowers them to take better care of their teeth at home. Whether it’s interactive displays, fun activities, or hands-on games, these moments of engagement set the foundation for healthy habits and confident smiles.

The goal? A better overall appointment experience, smoother treatments, and continued care at home.

Entertain Children

Time flies when you’re having fun! This phrase exists for a reason. The busier someone is during a time interval, the faster that time interval will feel like it has passed. There is a lot less time for a child to get anxious, bored, or build up tension about an upcoming procedure if they are lost in play.

From the study Influence of Positive Distractions on Children in Two Clinic Waiting Areas:

“Data analysis shows that the introduction of distraction conditions was associated with more calm behavior and less fine and gross movement, suggesting significant calming effects associated with the distraction conditions. Data also suggest that positive distraction conditions are significant attention grabbers and could be an important contributor to improving the waiting experience for children in hospitals by improving environmental attractiveness.”

IDS gaming tablets, slides, theaters, and play forts provide a number of outlets for kids to burn energy and reduce stress. Whether they are crawling around a play area, laughing at a funny kids movie playing in the theater, or using their mind to solve puzzles on an iPad, kids are having fun!

The proof is in the reviews from parents. Taken from actual online reviews of our clients:

“Makes coming to the dentist fun and something to look forward to!”

“My son left the dentist with a huge smile, asking to come back again!!”

“If you’re a kid and you need to go to the dentist, this is the place to go! The atmosphere is fun, friendly, and eases the anxiety of seeing a dentist!”

If our theming isn’t fun for kids, then we’re not doing our jobs!

Educate Children

Last, but not least, we want to encourage the education of your patients when they visit your office. While making sure kids are having fun is our main goal, we want to ensure that we have an impact on the health of children as well.

Chair-side education is the current model for delivering information to patients. But is this the best way for them to absorb information? Studies show that using passive learning vs active learning creates a stark contrast in the retention of a lesson.

Many studies have found that, while individuals have various learning styles, on average people remember 90% of what they do compared to 20% of what they hear.

When you were a student, did you learn more in a lecture hall or when you were actively working on a patient’s mouth? Kids are the same. Passive learning disempowers the student and takes the fun out of learning.

It is important that education is fun at a young age. Research has shown that if students do not consider a learning activity worthy of their time and effort, they might not engage or may even disengage all together in response (Fredricks, Blumenfeld, & Paris, 2004).

Waiting rooms are a place where children can experience hands-on learning through dental education kiosks and experiment with large replica teeth and other educational installations while still feeling as if they are just playing. IDS has lots of dental education ideas to share with you.

A large tooth with a cavity that emits a foul stink when you press a button gives a vivid demonstration of what actually happens to a rotten mouth. That’s a memorable way to teach good dental habits!

Transforming Visits into Experiences

IDS is dedicated to helping your patients have the best possible experience when they visit your office. Create a memorable patient experience through dental office interior design and decor. Every office we create is ready to Engage, Entertain, and Educate!

IDS theming is not an expense; it is an investment in your business.

Invest in Your Patients

Valuing your patients and their families sets them up for a lifetime of positive health outcomes. And the environment you create can help you achieve a better patient experience.

Reduce patient anxiety and enhance their relaxation
Prime patients and families for their appointments
Create positive dental care experiences

Invest in Your Business

Maintain your edge in the crowded dental service space. Attention to details in your niche can transform your environment and overall patient satisfaction…whatever your dental niche.

Create “buzz” in the community you serve
Accelerate patient referrals
Generate positive online reviews

Learn how you can help improve your patient experience with: A Practical Guide to Creating an Exceptional Patient Experience

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience.

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The Most Common Barriers Against Improving Patient Experience

FIVE GOALS FOR IMPROVING PATIENT EXPERIENCE IN YOUR PEDIATRIC DENTAL PRACTICE

1. Make it Personal

2. Help Them Get Acquainted with Your Tools and Technology

3. Establish Trust Through Step-By-Step Communication

4. Use Kid-friendly Themes and “Distractions”

5. Think like a “Therapist”

PRIORITIZE YOUR PEDIATRIC PATIENT EXPERIENCE BY SETTING YOUR ENVIRONMENT UP FOR SUCCESS

Invest in Your Patients

Invest in Your Business

Check out these related resources for upgrading, renewing, and improving patient experience:

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1. SEARCH ENGINES LIKE BLOGS

2. POTENTIAL CLIENTS LIKE BLOGS

Not a write? Not a problem!

Here are a few example blogs to inspire you:

Check out these related resources for improving your marketing efforts:

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THE IMPORTANCE OF A WEBSITE FOR PROMOTING YOUR DENTAL PRACTICE

Having an Ineffective Website is Just as Bad as Not Having One at All

Options for Building Your Website

Check out these related resources for improving your marketing efforts:

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WHY SHOULD THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE MATTER TO YOUR PRACTICE?

WHAT DOES GREAT PATIENT EXPERIENCE LOOK LIKE?

Adapting to Their Expectations

Creating an Atmosphere

Engaging Them from the First Interaction

Ongoing Education via Useful, Informative Content

NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO IMPROVE THE ROI OF YOUR PATIENT EXPERIENCE

Invest in Your Patients

Invest in Your Business

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Small Start – Big Results

Expanding in Popularity

Doubling Down on Theming

Invest in the full potential of your office and become an IDS success story like Dr. Michael Lateiner and Dr. Gloria Fulman.

Interested in learning more about themed environments? Check out these related resources on IDS customers:

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Check out these related resources for improving your marketing efforts:

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HERE ARE A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE WAYS TO ENCOURAGE ONLINE INTERACTION WITH YOUR CLIENTS:

1. Run Social Media Contests to Increase Social Media Engagement

2. Create Shareable Moments for Your Patients and Their Parents to Post Online

3. Ask Your Clients for an Online Review

Check out these related resources for how to attract more dental patients:

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THERE ARE 3 SOCIAL MEDIA SITES YOU SHOULD BE PROMOTING YOUR BUSINESS ON AND HERE IS WHY

1. Facebook

Use Facebook for:

2. Linkedin

Use Linkedin for:

3. Instagram

Use Instagram for:

SOCIAL MEDIA IS WORTH THE EFFORT FOR YOUR DENTAL OR MEDICAL BUSINESS

It may sound time-consuming to utilize social media, but it often only takes a few minutes a day.

The great thing about social media is that you can let your patients market your practice for you!

When using these platforms, keep in mind:

Check out these related resources for improving your social media efforts:

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HOW TO GET ONLINE REVIEWS FOR YOUR DENTAL OFFICE

Claim Your Online Business Profiles

Make it Easy for Your Customers to Review You

Offer Incentives to Get More Reviews

Ask the Right People to Give You Online Review

Earn Your Reviews

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WHEN YOU GET A BAD REVIEW?

With these tips and tricks, you have the know-how to get you on the right path to gain more reviews.

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How to Create an Engaging, Entertaining, and Educational Experience for Children Visiting Your Office

Engage Children

Entertain Children

Educate Children

Transforming Visits into Experiences

IDS theming is not an expense; it is an investment in your business.

Invest in Your Patients

CONNECT WITH A CREATIVE CONSULTANT