The Best Dental Ads and Why They Work for Patient Attraction

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Dental ads! For many they can be a necessary after-thought. But the best dental ads and why they work are the result of intentional creativity.

It’s not to say that all effective ads are merely creative. In fact, overdone creativity can actually work against ad success.

Here’s what we know about the best ads – generally speaking.

In the dental industry, like other industries, you’re aware that a well-crafted ad can be leveraged to attract new patients and retain current ones.

Here’s why:

”Businesses make an average of $2 in income for every $1 they spend in AdWords. Display advertising has proven to increase traffic to websites by 300 percent.”

But don’t be biased that it’s all about the use of AdWords or display ads. Generally speaking, the best ads contain:

Compelling imagery
Benefit-focused copy/content

SOME OF THE BEST DENTAL ADS AND WHY THEY WORK FOR PATIENT ATTRACTION

1. A serving of the unexpected with a side of benefits.

An Instagram post by Grand Street Dental was created to promote their Invisalign® services. It focused on the emotional decision associated with getting metal braces.

The ad’s image featured a fork with crooked tines. The unexpected symbolism: crooked teeth.

An Instagram timeline scroll on their feed would naturally compel a comment like, “there’s a fork!” Strategically, the copy/content that follows makes no mention of the obvious “fork-in-the-road.”

It does, however, create a compelling case for the benefits of straight teeth over crooked (aka the fork) teeth.

The ad works because:

It uses an unexpected, though compelling, image
It doesn’t overplay the image but instead directs attention to the solution and benefits
It places emphasis on how the practice’s services can solve the problem

2. Keepin’ it local.

Targeted marketing with a local emphasis works for a variety of reasons. This type of promotion is crystal clear about the audience.

You could fill-in-the-blank with any city (yours), add an emotionally compelling image relevant to what you’re promoting, and include a few lines of equally compelling copy.

This type of ad works because:

You can use the effective resources of search engines like Google and social media channels such as Facebook.
Geo-tagging narrows your ad’s reach to a specific city, region, and/or demographic.
Proximity and convenience work in your favor.

3. “Can’t-unsee-that” before & after images.

This isn’t about grossing-out your audience. It’s more about the “shock-and-awe” unveiling.

People often feel their condition is beyond repair. And that’s the power of this type of promotion. You can’t look away! But then you realize there can be a positive outcome.

Here’s why this is effective:

The imagery stops people in their tracks but stops short of being grotesque.
It creates a second look appeal by presenting an obvious solution to the problem.

4. Pop-culture memes.

Promotions that follow the same “before & after” theme can also take a humorous track. The popular ad featuring Lord of the Rings, Gollum, uses humor to send a message.

The normal “before” image of Gollum compared with the off-the-grid “after” image of him has a powerful impact. You laugh then you go “hmmm!”

This promotion works because:

Pop-culture references from movies, TV, and books deliver an unexpected “jolt” of reality but still feel relatable helping your audience to feel in on the joke.
Dental issues create feelings of dread and/or a sense of seriousness. A humorous approach lightens the mood while presenting benefits and solutions.

5. Print-ad with an old-school vibe.

Dental direct mail doesn’t have to always include a “happy, smiling” stock image. In fact, many direct mail promotions or print ads have a numbing effect because we’ve all seen the same images over and over.

Revive an old-school feel with a humorous twist like the ad copy featuring a woman wearing a crown:

“My Dentist told me I needed a crown. I was like, ‘I KNOW, RIGHT?!’”

A crown on her head creates a “duh” response. In reality, a cap or crown required on a tooth is less invasive when you sprinkle in some humor (like the Gollum ad).

The ad is effective because it:

Creates incentive for a second-opinion, a necessary treatment, or an examination.
Creates urgency about a recommended treatment.
Creates a connection from something funny to something that’s beneficial to your patient’s health.

6. “Didn’t see that coming!” storytelling.

An attractive woman, a party, working-the-room, and then she smiles. But that’s where the positive attention comes to a grinding halt. You feel the tension in the room.

That’s how the Crest 3D White Whitestrips ad used video to tell a story. The surprise ending popped up when you least expected it like a jack-in-the-box.

You’re shocked. You feel her pain. And you don’t want to ever feel what she felt.

The ad is powerful because:

It sells without being salesy.
It promotes white healthy teeth without being pushy.
It uses an everyday scenario to reveal an unseen reality.
It releases you from the need to use a heavy promotional approach and instead directly appeal to emotion.
It captivates as it compels.

Trust the results and strategy of the best dental ads and improve your dental marketing.

Effective marketing starts at the idea level. Then turning those ideas into a promotion that compels your audience to take action.

Check out these related resources to generate dental marketing ideas and create a more sustainable recall system:

5 Dental Marketing Ideas (and Strategies) for Increased Patient Recall

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 a magical patient experience.

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How Dentists Can Eliminate Anxiety in Kids During Their First Appointment

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Use Your Kind Voice and Simple Words
Have a Conversation with the Child Too
High-Five the Good Behaviour
Promote Sedation Solutions Where Necessary
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“I love going to the dentist!” It might be a stretch thinking you’ll hear that from most kids. Even so, that perspective can motivate you as a dentist to deal with anxiety in kids during their first appointment.

Almost 20% of school age children are afraid of a dental visit. Those in that range, and the larger percentage of dental avoiders, increase the challenge of helping families establish good oral health habits.

Can You Give a Parent a Hand?

Parents feel a heavy burden to look after their kid’s health – dentistry included. They’re looking for understanding and an advocate to help them with their child’s attitude about it.

You can share the load by:

Giving them advance “talking points.” Kids appreciate predictability so encourage parents to not drop a dental appointment on them at the last minute.
Establishing a communication thread. A first dental appointment prompts a lot of questions – be ready and be available via phone, text, email, and virtually.
Gathering as much info as possible about their child. Their fears, oral health habits, lifestyle/diet, school and personal interests, etc.
Supply parents with resources that will help prepare their kids for what to expect on their first visit.

Do everything within reason to support a parent’s desire to improve their child’s oral health.

HOW TO HELP KIDS ACTUALLY “LOVE” THEIR FIRST APPOINTMENT (AND EACH ONE AFTER THAT)

Use Your Kind Voice and Simple Words

In essence, ditch the dental speak. You’ll be amazed how simplifying your words can also impact your tone.

Kids feel at ease when you use a friendly, familiar voice. Use simple descriptions when talking about procedures.

Have a Conversation with the Child Too

It’s natural to default to the adult-in-the-room (aka, the parent or guardian). But keep in mind that the child is the one you’ll be treating.

Kids are part of the patient experience too. Showing an interest in their life, their interests, and their fears will create trust and increase their comfort.

High-Five the Good Behavior

Give every kid “praise” when they show bravery during their dental appointment. It could be nothing short of heroic for some kids to hang-in for the duration of a check-up or treatment.

Applause reinforces behavior. Even a small amount of way-to-go’s can lead to a trusting, long-term relationship with you as their dentist.

SOMETIMES YOU NEED SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

There will be those kids that regardless of how you speak to them, speak with them, or reward their good efforts – they need a little more assistance with a first or future dental appointment.

This can apply in a themed, calm, kid-centric environment too.

Promote Sedation Solutions Where Necessary

It’s called “happy gas” for a reason. And it’s better for your young patients that you refer to it as such.

The anxiety reducing effects of sedation dentistry deserve attention – especially for those kids that require a bit more coaxing.

Explain how it works and what to expect.
Confirm with their parent any additional sedation methods (e.g. oral sedation, etc) if there’s a reason they prefer not to use “happy gas.”

Encourage Behavioral Support

There are times when you wear a “therapist’s” hat during a first dental visit. Of course, you’re aware of your boundaries and skill set. But a listening, compassionate ear can be the beginning of helping a child and parent unpack some potential rooted fears.

Have some behavioral therapy resources in-your-hip-pocket. A counseling or therapeutic referral could be just what a child needs if their anxiety is more ingrained.
Watch your “language” and encourage parents to do the same. We’re not talking the “foul” type but rather words like “hurt,” “shots,” “only a little…,” etc. These send up red-flags.
Be patient and supportive. Anxiety in kids about a dental visit can be overcome but it takes time and consistency. Cool heads will prevail – yours not theirs.

Create an environment that reduces (or eliminates) anxiety in kids beginning with their first appointment.

An outstanding patient experience for kids and families begins with a kid-centric mindset and the environment that supports it.

Check out these related resources for upgrading, renewing, and providing anxiety-free dental visits:

6 Calming Strategies for Kids Nervous About Healthcare Appointments

Download Our White Paper: Alleviating Patient Anxiety Through Office Theming

A Practical Guide to Creating an Exceptional Patient Experience

Set kids and their parents up for a lifetime of positive health outcomes. Create an environment that:

Reduces patient anxiety and enhances their relaxation
Primes kids and families for their appointments
Promotes positive dental care experiences

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office into an anxiety-free dental experience for kids.

Grab a free resource you can share with your young patients:

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Reduce Dental Anxiety with “The Kids’ Guide to the Dentist”

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Going to the dentist can be scary for children, so it’s important to address their dental anxiety in a way that’s both kind and encouraging. Helping a child face their fears of the dentist will help set them up for a positive interaction and a stronger lifetime relationship with dentistry.

Common Causes of Dental Anxiety

Think about some of the reasons why your anxiety flares up as an adult. The fear of the unknown or remembering uncomfortable experiences are probably pretty big contributors, right? Kids have similar feelings, but coupled with big imaginations that can lead them to picture scenarios that create further fear and anxiety. An anxious child will also focus on previous stressful dental experiences, causing even more anxiety.

Infographic showing common dental anxiety triggers.

ONE WAY TO HELP PEDIATRIC ANXIETY? THE KIDS’ GUIDE TO THE DENTIST ACTIVITY BOOK

Put Young Patients at Ease by Preparing Them for Their Visit

To help put your young patients at ease, we created The Kids’ Guide to the Dentist as a free resource for your office! Follow along as a little lion cub has their first visit to the dentist and meets Dr. Bear! This educational coloring book will show kids what to expect during their appointments and take some of the anxiety out of a dental visit. The book is filled with activities like coloring pages, mazes, and connect-the-dots to keep kids engaged and entertained throughout the story. It’s written with kids language in mind and is perfect for preschool reading levels and beyond.

This guide can be easily printed off from your office printer as a waiting room activity. Or you can send it out to parents as a PDF to share with their kids before their dental appointments.

You can even request a custom version with your name as the dentist in the story, free of charge. Anywhere “Dr. Bear” appears will be replaced with your name instead. You can download the generic Dr. Bear version as well if you don’t want it customized.

Request your copy of the guide from the form below:

You can’t control the past experiences of your young dental patients, but you can control the current and future ones. Understanding what could have contributed to their dental anxiety and your willingness to help them overcome it will truly make a difference in their attitude and appointment success.

Interested in other helpful, free resources for your young patients? Check out these related resources:

IDS Kids Club – Kids can learn to draw with a series of videos and activity sheets!

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How to Help Your Pediatric Patients Overcome Their Fear of the Dentist

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Kids have big imaginations. Unfortunately, this big imagination can imagine scenarios that create fear and anxiety. That reality should mean creating a priority to help your pediatric patients overcome their fear of the dentist. But why?

For the Sake of Their Health

It’s common to avoid those things that create stress and fear. In some instances, this is a healthy reaction. Even so, in the case of dental anxiety or fear of the dentist, avoidance can produce unhealthy outcomes. The results can lead to a short- and long -term impact on a child’s oral health.

Delayed or cancelled dental appointments or treatment produce a downward spiral. Dental pain, general health problems, increased anxiety, and more costly or complex dental treatment can be traced to dental fear that’s not confronted and overcome.

Why Kids Fear the Dentist

First of all, dental fear is a common experience. In fact, it’s estimated that 20% of school age children fear visiting the dentist.

The general issue of dental phobia is categorized among other diagnosed phobias. But the big question is why?

Dental anxiety can be triggered by a number of experiences including:

A previous traumatic experience
A fear of needles
A conditional response promoted by other family members

It’s essential to a child’s oral and general health that their fear of the dentist be sourced and solved. There are promising and practical steps to help kids feel at ease, comfortable, and confident during a visit to the dentist.

HOW TO HELP KIDS OVERCOME THEIR FEAR OF THE DENTIST

Encourage Parents to Model a Healthy Relationship with Dentistry

Parents and the significant adults in a child’s life set the tone for how a child interacts with others. Role modeling can and should include health related encounters like dentistry.

Any talk or response of fear will naturally be picked up by a child. Likewise, positive language and experiences will be associated as well.

Parents can lead the way by:

Allowing their child/children to accompany them to a dental appointment (e.g. a routine teeth cleaning).
Encouraging them to ask questions about what the dentist is doing during an appointment
Sharing how their teeth feel after a cleaning, procedure, etc.
Modeling daily oral hygiene and asking their child/children to join them while brushing and flossing.

Educate Them Early and Often About Dentistry

Early adopters of dentistry will be less likely to experience extended bouts of dental anxiety. Keep in mind that they might not be completely fearless, but they will be more comfortable in the dental environment.

Also consider adding some age-level educational resources to help acquaint kids with what to expect when visiting the dentist. Coloring books, associative games, and youth-oriented books will help educate them about dental appointments, routine procedures, and generally how to care for their developing teeth.

Engage Their Curiosity with a Preliminary Office Visit

Their first visit to the dentist doesn’t have to involve an examination. Why not allow them to experience a somewhat “hands-on,” get-acquainted tour of the dental office?

The environment will be less intimidating if they can walk around, smell the aromas, see the instruments, sit in a chair, etc. A child will begin to make a positive association with dentistry the more they’re exposed to the environment prior to an actual dental appointment.

Equip Them with Positive Vibes, Proactive Habits, and Rewarding Outcomes

Words matter. And when speaking about dentistry it’s vital to choose a positive, inviting tone.

Equally so, good habits are formed when actions are positive instead of negative. Saying, “you have to brush your teeth…” carries the tone that it’s a burden to do so. Instead, make a positive association with dental care by referring to brushing and flossing as a natural part of the daily health routine.

And it can help matters to provide some incentive for being courageous about a dental visit. Find some reasonable motivation and offer it as a “reward” for a child’s positive embrace of a dental appointment.

Create a Calming Environment and You’ll See a Decrease in Fear of the Dentist and an Increase in a Positive Perception of Dentistry

An outstanding patient experience for children and families begins with a kid-centric mindset and environment. Check out these related resources for upgrading, renewing, and providing anxiety-free dental visits:

6 Calming Strategies for Kids Nervous About Healthcare Appointments

Download Our White Paper: Alleviating Patient Anxiety Through Office Theming

A Practical Guide to Creating an Exceptional Patient Experience

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

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office into an anxiety-free patient experience.

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How to Create a Unique Dental Experience in 2021 (and Beyond)

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Uniqueness gets attention. When that uniqueness is intentionally designed to suit your goals, it produces the right kind of attention. That’s why it’s important to consider how to use design to create a one-of-a-kind dental experience for your patients and families.

Your dental practice faces competition so distinguishing yourself from other dental professionals is important. Doing that can and should involve a unique dental experience – including certain features:

Your facility’s physical environment
Your services
Your patient experience around your services.

Innovation at each of those levels helps you create and sustain the brand of atmosphere you desire for your patients. Uniqueness at every level will help you stand out from the competition. Create a memorable patient experience through dental office interior design and decor.

HOW TO USE KEY DESIGN FEATURES TO CREATE A UNIQUE DENTAL EXPERIENCE AND STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPETITION

Go for a “Feeling”

Create a vibe with design.

You know that sense (feeling) you get when you walk into a particular business, restaurant, event, etc.? There’s a certain “vibe” that arises – starting with how the space is designed.

Design engages your patient’s emotions. And as a dental professional you want to tap into the right emotional response from the moment they arrive on your property.

Put patients at ease throughout each zone of your practice – including the clinical area.
Inspire confidence in your services with the technology you select and how you showcase it and inform patients about it.
Use sensory and emotional connect-points to create the atmosphere conducive to the specific services you provide to patients/families.

Add Some Color

Calming greens and warm browns.

Certain color schemes have a recognized impact on emotions. When selecting a color palette, begin with the emotional appeal you want to elicit.

For example, blues and greens are often confirmed by therapists as the easiest colors to focus on. Each color is also noted to have a calming effect on those exposed to them.

Even so, you aren’t limited to greens and blues. In fact, other color schemes can create a unique dental experience for your patients as well.

Natural colors (e.g. browns), wood tones, and stone masonry can create a cozy feeling throughout your practice or in certain areas.
Modern, trendy colors as you would experience in a coffee shop might be the brand of atmosphere you want to create.

Bottom line: like with other unique design elements color creates a comfortable, familiar feel that helps put patients/families at ease.

Use Natural Appeal

Big windows let in natural light and look out on a calming view.

Natural lighting and exposure to appealing outdoor views help create a unique dental experience. The ambiance created by natural lighting produces an energizing response much like being in direct sunlight.

Exposure to natural features gives your patients and your staff a welcome emotional boost.
Where possible consider facing your dental chairs toward outdoor areas that are visibly appealing.
Use lighting solutions that mimic natural light.

Learn more about how colour and natural features can positively affect patients through our free white paper on Alleviating Anxiety in Pediatrics through Kid-Friendly Themed Environments.

Keep it Light, Creative, and Entertaining

Video game entertainment for multiple ages

.

Think creativity with a purpose. The use of entertaining and creative design can produce a unique dental experience for kids and adults.

Entertainment can be informative as well as visually stimulating. Keep this in mind especially as you design around your patient base.

Use entertainment features appropriate to your dental practice’s age demographic(s).
Inspire trust and comfort with creative design that appeals to your patients/families.

Gain Some “Wait”

Provide chairs that accommodate patients/families of all ages and body types.

Your patient waiting area is more than a room. It’s a space that can be maximized for to create a unique and comforting experience.

The waiting or reception area of your practice is where patients/families relax and calm their “nerves” prior to their appointment. A unique waiting area requires intentional design.

Position your chairs for patient comfort rather than traditional space maximization.
Provide chairs that accommodate patients/families of all ages and body types.
Give patients/families mental-space through free wifi, informative and entertaining video content, family-friendly video streams, relaxing (low-volume) music suitable for all ages, etc.

Get Personal

A family photo hangs in the waiting room of this dental office.

The more attention to personalization-detail the more your patients will get acquainted with you and your team. Personal touches help build trust and eliminate the overly clinical feel of your practice and facilities in general.

Post professionally framed personal photos and memorabilia throughout your facility.
Theme your practice decor using local artwork, photos, and more that showcases your community connection.

Patients and families “feel” something the moment they arrive on-site. Managing that “feeling” starts with how intentionally you’re designing a positive patient experience.

IT’S A GOOD TIME TO IMPROVE YOUR PATIENT EXPERIENCE

Take your patient care and engagement to new levels. You’ll stand-out from other service providers when you provide a unique dental experience.

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 helpful, 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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How (and Why) to Help Kids with Anxiety About the Dentist

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Why Helping Kids With Anxiety About Dentistry is a Top Priority
Helping Kids With Anxiety About Dentistry Starts With The Potential Causes
Helping Kids With Anxiety About Dentistry Creates Lifetime Patient Relationships
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Good experiences are worth repeating. That truth applies to your strategies for helping kids with anxiety in your dental office – a result that can improve your patient retention too.

Children can sometimes experience fear about their next dental appointment. A positive patient experience can increase the likelihood that they won’t dread it.

WHY HELPING KIDS WITH ANXIETY ABOUT DENTISTRY IS A TOP PRIORITY

Aversion to dental care often begins early. Helping a child face their fears now will help assure their positive, lifetime relationship with dentistry.

Dental anxiety is simply the fear felt about seeking or receiving dental care. It’s also helpful to understand that it goes deeper than merely not wanting to go to a dental appointment.

The fear is real. And here’s why.

Anxiety is the body’s response to a perceived threat or danger. The physical changes that occur inside a person feeling fear attaches to their memory and the particular social situation.

Human beings have a unique relationship with anxiety. For example, a child feeling anxious will engage their memory and imagination to rehearse the experience.

Essentially, a child’s memory of an anxious experience can enlarge it into a potential outcome that produces fear. Whether it occurs or not isn’t the issue – the anxiety is there!

All this to say: dental anxiety is a credible issue for children especially. It could present as…

“Acting out”
Crying
Tantrums
Lack of cooperation
And more…

HELPING KIDS WITH ANXIETY ABOUT DENTISTRY STARTS WITH THE POTENTIAL CAUSES

You can’t control the past experiences of your young dental patients. But you can control the current and future ones as you understand what could have contributed to their dental anxiety.

Embarrassment

Children can feel self-conscious about their oral health as adults do. Tooth decay, bad breath, misaligned or crooked teeth, and more can create embarrassing moments for them.

Needles and “Shots” (Injections)

Kids like adults have a perception about needles. Remember, the anticipated pain associated with a shot or injection can create strong feelings of anxiety prior to a dental appointment.

Anesthesia

The general feeling of being out-of-control is often associated with sedation. For some, wearing a mask or having their nose covered will lead to anxious reactions.

Pain

Who likes pain? Even the thought of a perceived painful experience can lead to anxiety about dental treatment.

Powerlessness

Feeling as if a circumstance is beyond one’s control can cause panic and anxiety. Any pain that’s felt can lead a child to experience a sense that nothing will provide relief.

Time

A long period of time since the previous dental visit can contribute to anxiety in children. It’s common to assume that more problems (e.g. cavities, etc) will be the result of not consistently visiting your office. And in their mind, that’s more potential discomfort and thus more anxiety.

The “Unknown”

Children imagine what a visit to the dentist is like. This especially follows stories they’ve heard or what they’ve gleaned from another’s negative experience.

HELPING KIDS WITH ANXIETY ABOUT DENTISTRY RESTORES CONFIDENCE IN YOUR EXPERTISE AND CREATES LIFETIME PATIENT RELATIONSHIPS

Be The “Right Dentist”

Parents will seek a dentist based on the collective experiences of others. Keep in mind that many search on the assumption that all dentists are alike.

The difference for you could be based on your “reputation” relative to care quality and sensitivity to patient perception – including dental anxiety.

Create a themed environment that’s visibly attentive to children.
Ease anxiety through clear communication about procedures, appointment protocols, and preliminary conversations.
(If applicable) talk about and promote your own family to give the impression that you understand a child’s perspective.

Communicate and Clarify

Provide families as much appointment information as possible. This helps create predictability for their child ahead of their visit.

Give parents/families the resources to answer questions with care and confidence prior to a dental visit.
Chat with the parent/family about the questions their child/children have about dentistry.
Clarify appointment details and eliminate any “surprises” prior to their arrival.
Put kids at-ease about dental care by reminding them of the benefits of good oral health habits.

Provide a “Calming” Experience

Your dental practice environment sets the tone for a child’s dental appointment. From the moment they arrive assure them that your office is a “kid-friendly” place to receive dental care.

Manage each transition during their visit. When appropriate allow a parent/family member to accompany their child as necessary during the appointment.
Enhance their feeling of security by letting them bring personal items from home (e.g. stuffed animal, blanket, etc).
Lighten the mood by asking about their interests, hobbies, accomplishments, etc.

CREATING A CALMING ENVIRONMENT FOR HELPING KIDS WITH ANXIETY CAN PRODUCE A POSITIVE PERCEPTION OF DENTISTRY AND ENHANCE PATIENT RETENTION

Outstanding patient experience for children and families begins with a kid-centric mindset and environment. Check out these related resources for upgrading, renewing, and providing anxiety-free dental visits:

5 Goals for Improving Patient Experience in Your Pediatric Dental Practice

Our Top 5 Hands-Free Waiting Room Ideas to Engage and Entertain Patients

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

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

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office into an anxiety-free patient experience.

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What Makes a Dental Practice Successful

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If you’ve ever talked-up a business to a friend you probably said something like – “…there’s just something about that place…” That “something” involves a lot of factors. And the same applies to what makes a dental practice successful.

Success isn’t random. In fact, it requires consistent, intentional energy.

Brand First

The term, “DNA,” might be a useful analogy. A successful dental practice has a certain “DNA” or perhaps you’re more inclined to call it brand “identity.”

From patient care to patient satisfaction to patient experience there are success-drivers at the “cellular” level of every successful practice.

Your practice has a brand identity whether you give attention to it or not. It’s that unique brand identity your patients and families will reference when returning, reviewing, and referring your services.

”Being unique is all about giving your potential patients a reason to choose you over other local dentists. It doesn’t matter whether you focus on a particular speciality or you offer different dental services. Creating a unique perspective on quality dental care services has the power to net and retain many clients.” ^[1]

But what other qualities are needed to create a successful practice?

WHAT MAKES A DENTAL PRACTICE SUCCESSFUL

A Unique Environment (and Culture)

The uniqueness of your practice environment and culture help to preserve your competitive advantage. You’re likely aware that your services don’t solely determine success. But how you deliver those services in alignment with your practice culture will impact your successful outcomes.

Culture is reflected in your…

Personality
Style of leadership
Practice vision and values
Workflows and systems
Team management, communication, and expectations

Generally speaking, culture is how you “run” your practice.

And then there’s your environment. A unique environment is designed on the foundation of your practice culture.

Environment involves a variety of factors.

Design and theme
Amenities
Emotional appeal from curb-to-chair

A unique culture and environment require intentionality. Allow your team to evaluate and contribute to ongoing improvements. And listen to patient feedback and reviews for insight into improvement factors.

Efficient Systems and Workflows

System efficiency is a key to dental practice success. According to the ADA,

”The top 10 percent of dental practices understand that their internal systems are essential to their success. Using outdated systems can easily impact the quality of service you offer to your patient.” ^[2]

Efficient systems and workflows that drive practice success include:

Up-to-date technology that improves your patient care standards from scheduling to treatment protocols.
Balancing production increases with outstanding patient experience.
A culture of ongoing improvement within your practice management strategy.

Training enhanced communication across all practice departments that flows into patient interactions.

Expanded Services

Earlier we noted that your services do not (solely) determine your practice success. But certain services driven by public and/or patient need WILL contribute to the ongoing success of your dental practice.

Again, it’s the uniqueness of what you provide and the culture that supports it that will set your practice apart. Expanding your services provides you an opportunity to grow your patient base.

Adding services…

Gives you a slight edge on your competitors based on what you provide.
Catches the attention of prospective and new patients who are searching for a specific oral health solution.

Expanding your services requires that you listen to what your current patients are asking about.

Listen for trends relative to their oral health goals, problems, and pain points.
Leverage your patient demographic knowledge to improve schedule and specialty options (e.g. early and late appointments, services that appeal to a specific age group, etc).

Patient Engagement

Knowing that you should consistently engage your patients and then how you engage them is vital to dental practice success. Think of patient engagement as the overall patient experience you provide.

Next to your practice environment, an online presence is key to making a first (engaging) impression.

Design (or redesign) your dental practice website as an informative, easily-accessible platform. Highlight your services, your team, and provide a clear call-to-action (CTA) for contacting, scheduling, and/or requesting information.
Provide a secure patient portal on your website. Give patients access to pre-treatment forms (e.g. health history, necessary appointment information, etc)
Deliver useful content via a blog page on your website. Answer questions and provide solutions using conversational (non-technical) language in your posts.
Maintain a consistent presence on social media. Highlight your practice culture and environment (events, milestones, etc) alongside links to helpful oral health content your create and/or curate from other sources.
Ask for reviews and referrals. And use the information in your reviews (positive and negative) to refine and improve your patient engagement strategies.

BEING INTENTIONAL IS KEY TO WHAT MAKES YOUR DENTAL PRACTICE SUCCESSFUL

Check out these related resources on culture, environment, and patient-facing strategies that lead to dental practice success:

The Best Dental Marketing Tactics and Strategy

What is Patient Experience and Why Does It Matter?

Jump-Start Your Dental Marketing with These Key Strategies

And make an investment that helps assure your successful outcomes.

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

A Practical Guide to Creating an Exceptional Patient Experience

Download Our White Paper: Alleviating Patient Anxiety Through Office Theming

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 make your dental practice successful.

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The Best Dental Marketing Tactics and Strategy

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What’s the most strategic thing you do in your dental practice (besides patient treatment)? Dental marketing! But what is the best dental marketing tactic and approach?

Before you answer and take the next step, your success could rely on a shift in thinking about your overall approach to dental marketing.

Is It Really About “Tactics?”

That’s an even more important question to this discussion. Thinking tactically about your marketing is an advantage with one caveat:

Assuring that your marketing tactics still create a connection with your audience rather than a feeling of being “conquered.”

Perhaps that’s the deeper issue with a marketing narrative that borrows from battle-worn language (e.g tactics, strategy, etc).

But not to overthink the language you use (another common misstep in marketing). You could probably use a kick-start however you approach finding the best dental marketing strategy to acquire (and keep) dental patients.

Lifetime Patient Value

The best start to any marketing effort is understanding what Phil Bressler discovered. Bressler was a top Domino’s Pizza franchisee in Baltimore, Maryland.

He calculated that a loyal pizza customer was worth approximately $4,000 to his franchise. Those figures were based on the math that the average pizza customer would purchase 50 $8 pizzas on average annually.

That’s $4,000 over a ten-year span!

Consider how that insight could transform your patient experience – beginning with your dental marketing. Thinking in terms of lifetime patient value (LPV) could change much about how you approach not just marketing but every aspect of your practice.

Front-desk conversations
Treatment planning, scheduling, and clinical conversations
Your marketing initiatives

An LPV (Lifetime Patient Value) perspective sees your dental marketing strategies not as an isolated, one-time encounter…but as a series of encounters that creates ongoing engagement for “life!”

Compel more inquiries
Build your patient list
Solve problems with informative, useful content

USE CONTENT AS THE BEST DENTAL MARKETING TACTIC FOR CREATING LOYAL, LIFETIME PATIENTS

Solve Problems with Solution-focused Content

Patients value services that ultimately solve their problems. The path to a specific solution often involves creating awareness of a problem or highlighting a desired result.

Pain is a common problem-solution motivator. Another could be perceptions about being healthy or achieving a certain appearance.

Your dental services provide solutions to those and more. And the best dental marketing helps highlight the core motivation for your services as solutions.

Answer Questions with Informative, Useful Content

Marketing often defaults to a “selling” narrative. And that understanding is what sets content apart as a best dental marketing strategy.

Ultimately, the value of content is that it answers the questions the public and your patients are asking. Dental content marketing creates a bond that leads to trust between you and your “audience.”

In essence, their questions allow you to educate/inform them via intentional content with answers to their questions about a particular issue or service.

Use your blog content to answer specific questions being asked by your patients/families.
Create and deliver email content containing links to your informative blog content or other on-topic content.
Curate and share content on your social media “channels” that answers patient/family questions.

Listen to Patient Interactions and Reviews to Create Patient-centric Content

Every patient conversation – face-to-face or online – contains something of value. The more intuitively you and your team listen the more patient-focused your content will become.

Listen beneath the surface and between-the-lines of what a patient/family is saying or asking.
Mine patient reviews (positive and negative) for nuggets of insight that can improve your dental marketing via a content-based strategy.
Get to know your patient’s/families’ emotional connections to dentistry.

Content that connects will ultimately be the result of leveraging your patient conversations and communication.

And remember, it’s not about a one-and-done tactical approach. The best dental marketing strategy is a commitment to creating lifetime patient value: loyal patients who trust you for solutions to problems and answers to questions.

Maximize the best dental marketing strategy and create lifetime patient loyalty.

An effective dental marketing strategy starts with the patient-persona. And getting acquainted with each patient’s persona can improve your marketing success.

Check out these related resources to generate ideas and create a best dental marketing strategy for your practice:

How to Get More Patients in Your Dental Office (And Create Long-Term Loyalty)

5 Dental Marketing Ideas (and Strategies) for Increased Patient Recall

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 about branding basics, social media tips, ways to improve your online efforts, plus event and promotional ideas.

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How to Get More Patients in Your Dental Office (And Create Long-Term Loyalty)

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Prioritize and Refine Your Communication
Manage Your First Impression
Seek Feedback and Strategize Around It
Use Social Media the Right Way
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There’s no doubt that dentistry is a health essential and that you’re committed to helping people prioritize their oral health. This priority is probably one of the factors that drives you to strategize about how to get more patients in your dental office.

It’s a win-win, really!

Patients improve their dental health.
Your practice increases its patient base.

Keep Your Competitive Edge

More and more dental practices are launching. The irony is that at the same time less and less people are seeking dental care.

That reality creates a competitive market.

Carving out your place in a seemingly saturated and lower-demand niche requires strategic planning and competitive execution of those strategies.

HOW TO GET (AND KEEP) MORE PATIENTS IN YOUR DENTAL OFFICE

Prioritize and Refine Your Communication

Everything about your dental practice communicates something. It’s vital that what’s being seen and heard by your new and current patients leads to long-term relationships.

Remember that communication is a two-way street. What you say and what your patients hear, see, and experience are two distinct realities.

Patients will often decide if they’re being heard during the first interaction they have with you and your team.

Are you listening to their fear, pain, and goals?
Are you “talking-over” them when discussing their treatment relative to finances or timing?

Make communication a top priority for patient acquisition (and patient retention).

Use engaging language on phone calls, in face-to-face interactions, and online.
Honor their responses to appointment scheduling, treatment presentations, and financial conversations.
Give them the opportunity for feedback via reviews and referrals (more on that in a moment…)

Manage Your First Impression

The first encounter a prospective patient has with your dental practice will likely determine their next steps. And these days that encounter will be online a majority of the time.

First impressions are typically formed through your website and/or an online search. This reality drives how to get more patients in your dental practice through digital strategies.

Start with your website. Think of it as a 24/7 salesforce investment.

Is it current? Make sure your images, staff information, open hours, services, contact information, etc. are up to date.
Does it look appealing? Relevance includes design and ease of use (navigation).
Is it responsive? Screen layout and mobile capability are key responsiveness factors.
Are you being found online? This is a question of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and your capability of being located through organic (fresh, original) content and local keywords.

And…

Routinely train “friendliness” into your team across every department. From the front desk to your clinical team to those responsible for insurance and financials – keep the impression friendly and engaging.

Emphasize “etiquette” (greeting, etc.).
Exemplify kindness and courtesy.

Seek Feedback and Strategize Around It

It makes sense that you might not truly know how you’re doing as a dental practice unless you ask. It’s been said that, “feedback is the breakfast of champions…”

That means every patient interaction is ripe for review. You’re perhaps aware that many patients are quick to provide positive or negative feedback.

It’s better for your practice that you welcome their feedback – however it’s served. People (your patients included) like to know their voice and opinion matters.

Create a feedback loop that’s easily accessible. Use an online form or a timely follow-up text, email, or phone call post appointment.
Ask them specific questions relative to their experience with their treatment, your team, and your practice overall.
Give them an opportunity to share insights about how you could improve. This helps them get on the solution-side of their experience (rather than the problem-side of it).

And when you receive feedback/reviews (positive or negative):

Create a processing loop. Have a default response throughout your practice that consistently listens to any and all feedback and patient reviews.

Share patient responses with specific team members (when applicable) and your entire team as a training opportunity.
Mine your online reviews for improvement “nuggets.” Use all feedback (positive or negative) to make changes where necessary.

It makes sense to have a presence on social media these days. But being on social media and using your chosen channels effectively requires being intentional.

Lack of activity can be almost as detrimental as too much of the wrong kind of activity on social media. For example, sharing content but not engaging those who read or comment is equally as ineffective as randomly sharing content without any strategic goals.

Post content according to what creates the most engagement. Research daily frequencies (two times per day is a common sweet spot) and the optimum time of day to post your content.
Curate and share content that will be of interest to the dental-seeking public and your patients.
Balance curated (of-interest) content with personal (in-house) content (e.g. team, services, promotions, etc).
Respect privacy and HIPAA compliance on all posts that reference a patient or treatment. And avoid distasteful images or overly technical or clinical themed content (does anyone really want to see that?).

OPEN THE DOOR TO NEW STRATEGIES ON HOW TO GET MORE PATIENTS IN YOUR DENTAL OFFICE

Your environment sets the tone for how effectively you attract (and keep) patients. Set your environment up for success from the very first impression.

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

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

The Importance of a Website for Promoting Your Dental Practice

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

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

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.

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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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.