Did you know that according to the American Dental Association, there are over 200,000 active dentists in the United States? In this sea of professionals, how can you distinguish yourself? How can you ensure that your practice is not just another dental office but the go-to place for oral health care in your community?

It brings to mind the famous quote by Walt Disney: “Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends.” This isn’t just great advice for creating magical theme parks; it’s also a winning strategy for a new dental practice.

Building a successful dental office involves more than just offering standard dental services. It’s about creating a unique brand, earning trust, and delivering a patient experience that keeps them returning and recommending you to their friends and family.

Let’s delve into seven essential strategies that will help you establish your brand, build a strong reputation, and ensure you become a leading figure in the oral health landscape of your community.

Encourage Patient Reviews

One of the best ways to improve your reputation is by encouraging satisfied customers to leave you reviews. There are different ways you can do this and various forums that people can use to leave reviews.

Of course, your branding is important, too – as we will discuss further below – but third-party reviews are very helpful in lending you extra credibility. It is estimated that 86% of people look at online reviews before deciding on a dentist.

There are different ways that you can encourage this among your patients:

• Ask Personally: At the end of a successful appointment or procedure, ask your patient to consider leaving a review. Explain that feedback helps you improve your practice and also assists others in finding reliable dental care.
• Make It Easy: Integrate a review option directly on your official website and social media channels. The easier it is for patients to leave reviews, the more likely they are to do so. Include a link on your mobile site and email or text reminders.
• Google Reviews: Encourage satisfied patients to leave reviews on your Google Maps location. Many people search for local services via Google, and positive reviews can significantly boost your practice’s visibility.
• Follow-up Emails or Texts: After a visit, send a follow-up email or text thanking patients for choosing your practice. Include a gentle request for a review and a link to the review platform.

Remember, offering monetary or service-related incentives for reviews can create a perception of bias and potentially violate some platforms’ guidelines. Encouraging genuine reviews that reflect your patients’ experiences is best.

Create a Unique Brand for Yourself

A powerful personal brand is not merely a name or a logo; it’s a consistent story that sets you apart. As a dentist, your brand is an amalgamation of your philosophy, specialty, and the unique experience you offer your patients. By carefully cultivating this brand, you can become more than a healthcare provider—you can become a trusted figure in your community and a recognized expert in your field.

Here are a few key steps to create a compelling brand for your dental practice:

• Identify Your Unique Value Proposition: What sets you apart from other dentists? Maybe you’re a family dentist with a knack for making children feel at ease. Or perhaps you’re a specialist in cosmetic dentistry, helping people transform their smiles. Determine your unique value proposition and let it guide your branding efforts.
• Consistency is Key: Ensure that your branding is consistent across all platforms. Whether it’s your website, social media, brochures, or office decor—every element should communicate the same message and evoke the same feelings. Consistency builds trust and helps patients remember and recognize your brand.
• Highlight Your Specialty: Your specialty should take center stage in your branding. Highlight the procedures you specialize in on your website, blog, and social media. Share success stories, before and after photos, and patient testimonials that showcase your expertise.
• Engage Your Community: Don’t limit your brand to dental services. Engage your community online and offline. Participate in local events, share valuable oral health tips on social media, and support local causes. This enhances your brand visibility and positions you as a community leader.

Remember, creating a successful brand doesn’t happen overnight. It requires careful planning, consistent effort, and a genuine commitment to your patients and community.

Cultivate Trust through Consistency and Transparency

Trust is the cornerstone of any successful dentist-patient relationship. Consistent and transparent communication in every aspect of your practice and marketing efforts is critical to earning this trust. Here’s how to embody these values:

• Timely Communication: Ensure that you promptly respond to patient inquiries and follow-ups. Dental treatment isn’t a one-and-done deal—it’s an ongoing relationship that extends beyond the dental chair. After a procedure, check in on your patients to ask about their recovery and address any concerns they might have. This level of care shows your commitment to their well-being and helps build lasting relationships.
• Clear Expectations: Transparency is key when discussing procedures with patients. Be upfront about the procedure, including any potential risks and benefits. Give them a clear picture of the expected outcomes, recovery process, and cost. Including any additional fees in the total amount upfront can prevent future misunderstandings and ensure your patients feel informed and comfortable.
• Honest Marketing: Your marketing materials should accurately reflect the services you provide. Avoid exaggerating claims or making promises you can’t keep. This honesty also extends to your online presence—ensure that your website and social media profiles provide accurate, up-to-date information about your practice.

By embodying consistency and transparency, you’ll foster trust with your current patients and appeal to potential patients seeking a reliable and caring dentist.

Be Active on Social Media

Social media is an additional way for you to get your name out. And each platform provides different ways for you to engage with the public. You can use Instagram to show pictures of your office, for example (this is important as you want to prove to people that you are hygienic and up-to-date with your equipment). You can also highlight before-and-after stories of people who have successfully undergone procedures.

You can also launch a Facebook group to share patient stories. Start by encouraging your early page followers to ask questions so that you can share your expertise. This can help alleviate people’s concerns about getting work done.

Whichever media you choose, make a conscious effort to reach out to people (follow people on Instagram that you would like to be followed by, for example), and encourage staff, friends, and family to help you get the ball rolling by asking their circles to get involved.

Offer Financing to Patients

One thing that you can do for your patients is offer in-house dental financing. This can effectively establish yourself as a new dentist and make people aware of your clinic. Financing options can include loans for particular types of procedures, such as braces, crowns, or veneers.

Offering manageable financing options can help you acquire new patients, increase your revenue, and lead to higher patient satisfaction rates.

Partner with Other Local Businesses for Promotions

Another way to help you get your name out is by partnering with local businesses that might complement yours. If you’re trying to encourage your patients to eat better, you can partner with a local health food store on a monthly promotion or perhaps in sponsoring a local event.

This can be an effective way to get your name out and prove to the public that other businesses have enough faith to partner with you. If your event is offline, you can pass out materials to participants or think of a creative way to get people to remember you, like giving out free toothbrushes.

Play to Win with Your Triangle Offense

If you’re a basketball fan, particularly of the 1990s Chicago Bulls, you’ll remember their groundbreaking “Triangle Offense.” This game-changing strategy, conceived by Phil Jackson and Tex Winter, involved three players forming a triangle on one side of the court. It wasn’t about the players operating in isolation but working in unison, effectively passing the ball and creating opportunities for each other.

This strategy, much like in the game of basketball, can also be applied to building your brand and reputation as a new dentist. The success of your practice relies on not just one but a combination of tactics working together in harmony – your version of the Triangle Offense.

• Your first player is your Website Maintenance. It’s the foundation of your strategy, helping you to establish an online presence and provide valuable information to your patients.
• The second player is your Social Media Management. This platform allows you to engage with your patients, share updates and create an authentic connection with your community.
• Lastly, but no less important, is your CRM and Patient Outreach. This involves keeping an updated patient database, maintaining regular contact, ensuring repeat visits, and fostering relationships.

By utilizing these three players effectively, you’re not just maintaining a balance but creating a dynamic, interconnected system. Like the Bulls in the 90s, this well-executed strategy will revolutionize your dental practice and enhance your reputation within your community.

Be Your Community’s Favorite Dentist

If you go about your marketing efforts right, you may successfully gain and maintain a strong reputation in your community. Be sure to keep in touch with your patients regularly, keeping them informed when it is time for checkups and following up on completed procedures. Also, encourage patients to spread the word about you in whatever ways possible. This will help ensure you keep progressing positively toward continued success.