Staying aware of and addressing dental patient concerns

As part of running a practice, it is inevitable that patients will cancel appointments or choose not to undergo treatment from time to time.

Dentists should keep several things in mind when such occasions arise. While there is no reason to be rude or unnecessarily confrontational, dentists or their staff members should try to make clear that cancellations or last-minute requests to reschedule present a significant inconvenience and disrupt the practice’s schedule, potentially affecting other patients as well.

Avoiding the issue entirely can send the message that it is not a problem, unintentionally encouraging repeat behavior, Dental Products Report notes. To deal with this, staff and dentists must be prepared to be firm while remaining friendly and professional. Striking that balance can be challenging, but can be key to the long-term functionality of a practice.

It can be difficult to pinpoint and improve on issues with patient communication because they are intangible rather than quantitative. The matter can come up when a patient chooses not to receive treatment. They may be doing so for financial reasons, but assuming that is the case can be unwise and lead to further misunderstandings in the future.

Reaching out to patients

If a patient refuses treatment, it might be a good time to check in with him or her and ensure that he or she does not have other concerns or reservations. Patients may not always fully understand the nature or importance of a treatment, or they may have misconceptions that cause them to worry or feel afraid.

The only way to deal with that kind of issue is by taking the time to offer explanations and answer questions. While money can be a factor in decision-making, often other factors are the deciding ones. Understanding treatments, their benefits and the consequences of skipping them and the confidence in their dentist tends to be the greater concern for many.

While pressuring patients can backfire, clear explanations are a necessity. Patients may not be prepared to take the initiative to ask the questions that are on their mind. Uncertainty may cause them to shy away from starting the discussion, and that can lead to avoiding treatment.

Content Generated by BHG.

Marketing and managing a practice’s online information

Dentists seeking to attract new patients should ensure they manage and control their practices’ online presence.

One marketing expert recently noted that online searches through Google + Local are commonly used by potential patients. As this and other online resources grow in popularity, electronic marketing tools and resources will become even more vital in determining whether a practice can attract new attention. Once a potential patient is convinced to visit, the practice can bring them back on its own merits.

To establish a practice online, a variety of tools are available. Social media networks may prove valuable, although staff members and dentists themselves may need to be careful that they avoid discussing certain matters online for liability reasons. Giving advice or discussing a patient’s personal medical information could lead to a number of issues.

Specialized software may be available to help dentists manage their online presence, Dentistry IQ notes. Such applications can help to track patient reviews, collect and sort information from different social media sites and increase online visibility, among other advantages. While specialized tools of this nature are an expense, they can be worthwhile. It may be wise to consider software and hardware updates to a practice simultaneously.

While doing so might seem unwise, it could minimize the period of disruption as the dentist and staff adjust to changes, and help to ensure that any compatibility concerns are addressed. Such a comprehensive set of changes could necessitate dental practice financing in order to afford the upgrade, but the advantages may be worth it.

Managing online information

A practice’s presence online can include a wide variety of information. While reviews might be useful to help understand what impressions and opinions patients have about a practice, other data can be useful in a number of ways. Mentions of a practice may include contact information or other data which could need to be updated over time, for example.

Social media can also be used to advertise to prospective patients and stay in touch with current ones. Individuals linked to a patient may see that he or she attends a practice and ask them for their opinion as a result, leading to beneficial referrals. Dentists should ensure that they and their staff are prepared to fully harness these tools to maximum effect.

Content Generated by BHG.