Unlock the Secrets to Higher Case Acceptance

By: Debbie Seidel

September 12, 2023

As a dentist, your primary goal is to provide exceptional oral health to your patients.

Even the most skilled and compassionate dental professionals may encounter challenges when it comes to getting their patients to accept recommended treatment plans.

Dental patient case acceptance is a critical aspect of your dental practice’s success, as it not only ensures your patients receive the care they need but also contributes to the financial health of your dental clinic.

In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of case acceptance and reveal the one thing that has proven to increase it.

Why is Dental Patient Case Acceptance Crucial?

Dental treatment plans often involve a range of dental procedures, from routine preventive care and fillings to more complex treatments like full mouth rehabilitation, Invisalign, veneers, and implants. Achieving case acceptance means patients are not only willing to schedule the recommended treatment but also follow through by paying and then keep their scheduled appointments.

Answers to The Above Question:

Improved Oral Health: Accepting and completing recommended treatment leads to better oral health outcomes for patients. Untreated dental issues potentially resulting in more extensive and expensive procedures down the road. Oral inflammation will lead to systemic inflammation.
- This cascading inflammatory response contributes to other systemic diseases such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes, Crohn’s Disease, and even Alzheimers Disease.
Practice Growth: A high case acceptance rate is essential for the financial viability of your dental practice.
- Your case acceptance rate should exceed 60%.
- This ensures a steady flow of revenue and enables you to invest in state-of-the-art equipment, continuing education, and providing the best possible care to your patients.
Patient Satisfaction: Patients who receive the care they want and need are more likely to be raving fans. Raving fans refer friends and family, contributing to the growth of your patient base.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Patients who pay a “reservation fee” at the time they schedule for high end treatment means they are committed to accepting your care.

Think: Less last minute cancellations and less changes in your schedule. Paying a reservation fee means you have a more committed patient!

Dental Case Acceptance Challenges:

Despite the importance of case acceptance, many dental practices do not achieve at least 60% case acceptance.

Common Barriers:

Financial Concerns: Dental treatment can be costly, and some patients may hesitate to proceed with treatment due to financial concerns, even if it’s essential for their oral health.
Fear and Anxiety: Dental anxiety is a common issue that can prevent patients from accepting treatment.
- Patients may delay or avoid necessary procedures due to fear of pain or discomfort.
Lack of Understanding: Patients may not fully comprehend the urgency or importance of recommended treatments, leading to delays or non-acceptance.

The one thing that Increases Case Acceptance year after year is when you understand what your patients want for their smile.

It’s not enough to simply diagnose and recommend treatment; you must also ensure that your patients understand and feel comfortable with the proposed plan. You must have patients “own their disease” and “want what they need.”

How to Initiate Higher Cosmetic Case Acceptance:

Build Trust: Establishing trust is the foundation of effective communication. Patients are more likely to accept treatment recommendations when they trust their dentist.

First ask your patients,”What do you want your smile to look like?” or ask, “What is one thing you would like to change about your smile?”

Switch up your questions about the patients smile desires and make it fun for you and your patients.

Notice how these are not “Yes” or “No” questions. They are open-ended questions that inspire your patients to “think.”

Always be empathetic, listen to the patient concerns, and address all questions and any fears. Learn motivational interviewing skills to more easily show empathy and compassion. *See resources below.

Create Raving Fans: Once you have established trust with your patients and to gain trust, you want to offer something of great value to your patients.

Asking what your patient wants is a great opening to gain patient trust and show that you are doing more than treating a tooth!

The one answer most patients respond with when asked what they want for their smile is, “Whiter teeth.” The 2nd most popular answer is “straight teeth.:”

The list of what patients want for their smile goes on but first learn what your patient wants. As you are seating patients ask what you can do to make the appointment and their smile the very best.

Let’s change the negative connotation around dental appointments into something our patients look forward to!

The Smile Club is a fun way to:

Give patients what they want (Whiter teeth) more easily (Same day)
Give patients what they want, costing them less money and something they want
Increase your cosmetic cases

Educate and Inform: Take the time to educate your patients about their oral health. Use visual aids like X-rays, intra-oral cameras, scanners, and/or dental models to show what’s happening in their mouth. Explain the consequences of not completing necessary treatment.

When patients leave without scheduling appointments always follow-up with a phone call and an email with a video that explains the risks and benefits of the specific treatment.

Offer Options: Whenever possible, provide patients with different treatment options.
- This not only gives them a sense of control over their care but also accommodates their budget and comfort level.
Clear Financial Discussions: Be transparent about the cost of treatment and discuss flexible payment options and/or insurance coverage.
- Patients are more likely to accept treatment when they understand the financial aspect of treating disease and abnormalities.
- Patients respond favorably when they have a plan in place.
Follow-Up: After presenting a treatment plan, follow up with your patients. Address any lingering questions or concerns and remind them of the importance of timely treatment.
- Call patients within 48 hours if they leave the office and don’t schedule for your care.
- Email videos explaining the necessary treatment needed.
  - In the subject line of this video write, [Video] because people are more likely to open and view a video.

Communicate this important message:

“Prevention saves money. Treating disease costs a lot of money.”

In conclusion, dental patient case acceptance is a critical aspect of every successful dental practice. To increase case acceptance, focus on effective communication. Great communication begins with listening and understanding your patients desires.

Building trust through motivational communication, educating patients, offering options, and addressing financial concerns are all part of this process.

Begin by asking how your patient wants their smile to appear. Listen to the answers they provide you.

By listening to understand your patients desires, you ensure that your patients not only receive the care they need but also feel confident and comfortable in their decisions regarding their oral health.

Remember, the one thing that has proven to increase case acceptance is The Smile Club patient loyalty system. The Smile Club begins by understanding what each individual patient wants.

Grab your Free Case Acceptance eBook HERE.

*Resources.

Motivational Interviewing. https://bit.ly/MotivationalInterview12 Accessed September 12, 2023.
Prima Health Credit. https://bit.ly/3RiT2ri
More about The Smile Club: https://bit.ly/PtRewards

Boosting Dental Practice Success: Cut Out The PPOs

By: Debbie Seidel

July 12, 2023

In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of cutting out PPOs and highlight the proven effectiveness of the Celebrity Smiles Club Patient Loyalty-rewards program in fostering patient loyalty and practice growth.

The PPO Predicament: For years, dental practices have been forced to navigate the complexities of PPO contracts, which often lead to reduced reimbursement rates and increased administrative burdens. While participating in PPO networks can attract new patients, the financial impact and limited autonomy can undermine the profitability and long-term sustainability of a dental practice.

This has prompted a growing number of dentists to reassess their relationship with PPOs and explore alternative strategies to retain patients while ensuring practice growth.

Cut Out The PPOs

By choosing to cut out PPOs, dentists can regain control over their practice and focus on providing exceptional care without the constraints imposed by insurance providers.

Compelling Reasons Why this Approach is Gaining Popularity:

Enhanced Revenue: Without PPO restrictions.
- Dentists have the freedom to set their fees based on the value they provide.
- This allows for fair and transparent pricing, leading to improved profitability and a sustainable practice.
Streamlined Administrative Efforts.
- PPO contracts often necessitate additional administrative tasks, such as pre-authorizations and claim submissions.
- By eliminating PPOs, dental practices can reduce the administrative burden, freeing up time to concentrate on patient care and practice growth.
Improved Patient Experience.
- Removing PPO limitations will allow dentists to focus on personalized care tailored to the specific needs and preferences of their patients.
- This patient-centered approach fosters trust, satisfaction, and loyalty, which are crucial factors in attracting and retaining patients.

Celebrity Smiles Club Patient Loyalty-Rewards Program

One effective strategy proven to cultivate patient loyalty and encourage returning visits. The Celebrity Smiles Club innovative patient loyalty program offers a range of benefits that are proven to enhance patient satisfaction and practice success:

Exclusive Benefits: The Celebrity Smiles Club provides your dental patients with exclusive perks and rewards, such as discounts on whitening products, and a free whitening pen at pre-scheduled hygiene appointments.
- When patients enroll they understand more clearly what’s expected when they need to “change” an appointment. “Think about this loyalty program to REDUCE CANCELLATIONS!”
- Patient incentives create a sense of appreciation and exclusivity, making patients more likely to choose and recommend your dental practice.
Engaging Patient Communications: With the Celebrity Smiles Club, dental practices can engage patients through regular communications, including newsletters, email updates, and social media interactions. Tell all your patients about this loyalty-patient rewards system you have.
- Effective patient interactions foster a sense of belonging and keep patients informed about the latest advancements in dental care, further strengthening their connection to the practice.
- Celebrity Smiles Club teeth whitening products are exclusive to dental offices. Patients can’t buy on the internet or in retail stores.
New Patient Referrals: Satisfied patients are more likely to refer their friends and family to your dental practice.
- The Celebrity Smiles Club Loyalty Program motivates patients to spread the word about their dental office and generates more new patients to your dental practice.
Data-Driven Decision Making: A patient loyalty-rewards program provides valuable insights into patient behavior, preferences, and treatment history.
- By leveraging this data, dental practices can make informed decisions about their marketing strategies, service offerings, and patient engagement initiatives.

Conclusion.

Dental practices are increasingly recognizing the benefits of cutting out PPOs to regain control, enhance profitability, and provide exceptional patient care. Alongside this strategy, implementing a patient loyalty-rewards program like Celebrity Smiles Club offers a proven pathway to cultivate patient loyalty and keeps patients on your schedule indefinitely.

Celebrity Smiles Club currently offers free patient loyalty resources to you at no-cost.

Grab them here today because they will not be offered free for long.

These resources are immediately available to every dental practice who uses the Celebrity Smiles Club “wholesale” – dental grade teeth whitening products.

Not sure about implementing this?
Click our calendar link and schedule a quick call to learn more.

5 EFFECTIVE PATIENT RETENTION STRATEGIES TO BOOST PRACTICE GROWTH

By: Debbie Seidel

August 19, 2022

While increasing case acceptance and attracting new patients are essential for practice growth, there’s no better strategy to scale your practice than improving patient retention.

Patient retention is one of the most important aspects of running a dental practice. Let’s face it: People don’t enjoy going to the dentist, which is why more important than not, patients conjure up a myriad of excuses for why they can’t show up to their dental appointments. But by missing dental appointments and neglecting dental preventive and restorative care, patients are negatively impacting, not only your practice — but also their own health.

The ultimate challenge as a dental professional is to help your patient understand the value of their appointment and what it could mean for their dental health and overall health.

Listen to this podcast and adopt a few tactics to BOOST patient retention and provide a better overall patient experience. This is what we discuss in the Raving Fans Podcast!

ABOUT DEBBIE

Debbie Seidel-Bittke, RDH, BS, is a practicing dental hygienist and founder of dental practice solutions.

Click the link below to hear Dr. Len Tau and Debbie discuss how to get new patients in your door, as well as how to reactivate overdue hygiene patients. Debbie will also share her top five patient retention strategies to BOOST your practice growth.

When you listen, you will also learn how to reduce those last-minute appointment changes in your daily schedule and a few tips to improve your current patient experience so patients “want” to return to your dental office.

‍KEY TAKEAWAYS

INTRO (00:00)
WHY THERE’S CURRENTLY A SHORTAGE OF DENTAL HYGIENISTS (02:41)
HOW TO PREVENT PATIENTS FROM CANCELING THEIR APPOINTMENTS (05:59)
THE IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING AN APPOINTMENT PROCEDURE (14:21)
COST-EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR NEW PATIENT GROWTH (18:31)
HOW TO REDUCE LAST APPOINTMENT MINUTE CHANGES (22:38)
TIPS ON GETTING PATIENTS TO ATTEND THEIR REVALUATION VISITS (25:05)
LIGHTNING ROUND QUESTIONS (39:03)

Tune in HERE to listen now!

Check out the information to keep patients on your schedule and our biggest growth strategy called Lifetime Whitening. All the web portal information is no cost when you use our Celebrity Smiles Teeth Whitening System. Learn more here.

5 Strategies to Keep Patients Returning and These Will Also Grow Your Dental Practice.

Sustainability Within the Dental Practice

By: Debbie Seidel

July 16, 2022

                                     SUSTAINABLE

The arrival of summer brings with it new hope for sustainability and greener pastures. As more people become aware of the rising threat of global warming, we can see more improvements in the way businesses — large and small — continue operations.

Sustainable practices have been around for quite some time. This movement encourages people to choose less wasteful methods and products for use in their daily lives. And while the biggest target of the sustainability movement is the bigger corporations, dental practices, too, are now using sustainability in business.

Have you implemented green policies in your dental practice? If not, here are seven ideas you can use right now in your business.

Choose to Go Paperless

Going paperless is a great way to optimize your dental practice workflow. It can make setting appointments more convenient for clients. Plus, automated forms are much more reliable than paper, since paperwork can easily be misplaced. There are over a dozen available software for clinics to buy and download.

A few examples are:

Doodle
Calendly
Arrangr
SimplyBook
Appointlet
Woven
CalendarHero
HoneBook
- There are many other applications and software you can try besides the ones mentioned on this list. Take the time to look research them online to find the perfect app that fits your needs.

Partner With Sustainable Businesses

Partnering with other sustainable businesses can help bring your sustainability goals to fruition. Green businesses use environmentally friendly production processes in their operations, reducing their environmental impact and improving carbon emissions. By partnering with these companies, you — in turn — reduce your energy consumption and as a result decrease your carbon footprint.

Consider switching to a green bank that uses sustainable practices during transactions. You can also transfer to green utilities and energy providers, like Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, and Southern Company — among others. Lastly, consider stocking all-natural oral care products from toothpaste to dental floss.

Use Organic or Eco-Friendly Scrubs

Organic or ethical scrubs are now available in most medical practices — including dental practices. Besides reducing your carbon footprint, one of the best things about these products is that they enhance blood circulation and help increase tissue oxygenation. As a result, your body maintains consistent optimal body temperatures, even while you’re hard at work.

There are plenty of brands that now offer ethical scrubs. A few that come highly recommended are Barco One, Bella Organics Medical, Mediclo, Figs and Skechers. Ethical scrubs can cost anywhere between $30 to $70 on up — so they aren’t inexpensive. However, with the right care, they can last you a long time and are incredibly good for the environment and your health.

Say Goodbye to Single-Use Plastics

The thing that most people don’t know about single-use plastics is that they don’t biodegrade. They just break down into microscopic particles that poison our environment. These microplastics end up in our water sources and food, ultimately entering our bodies later in the process.

Human exposure to microplastics is believed to cause oxidative stress in the body, according to researchers. It can also cause DNA damage and inflammation, among many other health conditions.

For dentists, surface barriers, plastic cups, and patient giveaway bags can all be substituted with more eco-friendly and reusable options.

A few examples include:

Metal or autoclavable plastic
Aluminum foil
Biodegradable bags
Fluoride varnish
Autoclave cassettes in reusable cloth
Reusable fabric bags
Bamboo toothbrushes
Biodegradable floss

Minimize Hazardous and Chemical Wastes

Most dental facilities are already required to use amalgam separators due to the quantity of mercury they contribute to wastewater. Another thing you may do to help is to think about greener alternatives to amalgam restorations. Another technique to make a real impact is to use digital photographs rather than traditional film X-rays.

Order in Bulk

This could be the easiest method for your practice to leave a positive impression on the environment. Bundling orders result in less packaging and lower vehicular emissions.

When you buy in bulk, less vehicles are used to deliver a larger variety of dental office supplies. If you have your supplies delivered in larger quantities, larger packaging allows the delivery truck to be packed more efficiently. By using more efficient transportation, you’re also helping to save the environment by lowering CO2 emissions.

Switch to LED Lighting

LED lamps can last up to 20 times longer than conventional lighting. This not only helps the environment but also saves you money on electricity costs. Some LED bulbs have a lifespan of two to three years — or even decades.

Consider the long-term environmental benefits if everyone made this little change, e.g., less landfill waste, less production of new lights, and reduced shipping and packaging—three major criteria used to evaluate environmental problems.

Final Thoughts

Sustainability is not something that anyone can easily achieve in a year. It will take quite some time before you make any noticeable changes to your dental practice. The important thing is that you start as soon as you can. Your efforts will compound and eventually create a larger impact on the environment. Take time to read through the seven ideas we shared today. Try to apply them to your dental practice and see how far it takes you.

Thank you to our Guest Author Kartreena Sarmiento.

3 Ways Your Oral Health Affects Your Total Health

By: Debbie Seidel

July 11, 2022

Oral Health is Associated with Our Total Health — Gum Disease Affects Your Total Health

Guest Author: Jennifer Roy

“Health is Wealth.”

In many ways, this saying is true as good health allows us to function well and enjoy life’s greatest pleasures. This includes being able to perform tasks that are essential to our quality of life, which will also bring us overall happiness. It’s also something that no amount of money can bring us if our health is in disarray.

This is why we want to help our dental patients create their best health at all costs.

This is where the following health guidelines become very important to know only us but our dental patients who we care for.

Everyone is responsible for their own health. Many people have health conditions they may not even be aware exist. This is common because most of us live hectic lives.

Many people don’t realize that oral health is an essential factor that affects their total health. “How can this be”, you may ask? This is precisely what we will answer as you continue reading.

Let’s dive in.

1. Excessive Bacteria in the Mouth can Lead to Various Health Conditions

The mouth is an entry point to the body, meaning various bacteria and germs can enter through it. This includes the bacteria that currently exist in the oral cavity.

Typically, bacteria are in insignificant proportions, which means they are harmless. Oral bacteria is kept in control by flossing and brushing teeth routinely. It includes routine preventive care appointments with the hygienist and exams but the dentist. Even properly washing our hands and drying them effectively with something like a blade hand dryer are essential to our total health.

However, if optimal oral health is not present, the bacteria in our mouth can lead to gum infections, tooth decay and tooth loss, which lead to other health concerns.

Bacteria in the oral cavity enter our body through the blood stream and attach themselves to vital organs like the heart and lungs. This can lead to conditions like endocarditis and pneumonia, which become serious health conditions.

Therefore, our message to dental patients is the mouth is a gateway to our body and contributes to our total health.

Keep reading below to learn more about the research regarding oral health and its association between gum disease other other systemic diseases.

2. Periodontal (gum) Disease can lead to Pre-Diabetes and Diabetic Conditions

Research has established that there is a strong link between poor gum health and diabetes.¹

Uncontrolled glucose (sugar levels) plays a key role in poor gum health.

Periodontal disease is the sixth complication of diabetes. Prevalence of severe periodontitis in diabetics as compared to non-diabetics has been found to be 59.6%:39%. The majority of well-controlled studies show a higher prevalence and severity of periodontal disease in diabetics than in non-diabetics with similar local irritation including greater loss of attachment, greater alveolar bone loss, increased bleeding on probing, and increased tooth mobility resulting in tooth loss.²

Therefore, if blood levels are higher than usual, consider this sign patient must take their oral health seriously. This is an important role for us as dental health and preventive specialists to understand our patients value points and speak to the benefits that support their total health.

This includes treating gum disease, routine preventive maintenance that support total health and gums. Optimal oral health supports improved glucose levels for patients with diabetes.

3. Periodontal (gum) Disease can lead to Alzheimer’s and Dementia

There is a strong link between periodontal disease and chronic Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is a severe condition that typically affects aging adults. It results in a specific type of dementia, declining brain and other systemic functions, as well as memory loss. Alzheimers is more commonly seen in adults above the age of 65.²

The important message we must share with our dental patients is that oral health is essential to our total health. Optimal oral health helps but a halt to bacteria that travels through the blood stream which causes various systemic diseases.

Our message to patients must include optimal oral health. This means that dental professionals reinforce the mouth- body connection at each dental appointment.

Health is a blessing that allows us to live life to the fullest. It enables us to pursue our goals which require full physical and mental capacity.

Not many people realize that caring for their total well-being, also includes caring for their oral health.

As we have read in this research, there are many ways that oral health can affect our total health.

Harmful bacteria in the mouth can lead to various conditions linked to the heart, lungs, diabetes and also Alzheimers, just to name a few.

We hope this information proves helpful and inspires you to share the important message with your dental patients that oral health affects our total health. When we have optimal oral health we have a much better chance to live a happy and healthy life.

Yes, Health is our Wealth!

Optimal health is how we achieve wealth!

Optimal oral health is the most important message to patients in our dental office. This is one reason dental patients will return for their routine appointments.

This why your patients will pay for your services. Sharing this message of health with your patients makes them feel like you really care for them. It’s why they will become your raving fans and refer all their friends and family members to your office.

“Dental Professionals are in the business of helping their patients live a longer and healthier life!”
Debbie Seidel Bittke, RDH, BS

References Accessed July 2022.

10 Tips to Improve Your Dental Practice

By: Debbie Seidel

March 22, 2022

Dental Office Treatment Room with new technology — Dental Office Treatment Room with Updated Technology.

It’s not easy to run a dental practice. The dental profession has never been more demanding or stressful than it is now, and dental practice owners bear a significant portion of this strain or weight. Patients have never had more dental treatment alternatives. They can conduct a short internet search or create a quick social media post asking their friends for advice.

This means that mastering the art of running a successful dental office boils down to focusing on a few essential aspects of the entire patient’s experience. As a result, you can provide the best treatment to your patients while assisting your team and avoid unnecessary effort.

10 Helpful Tips To Improve Your Dental Practice.

Here are some simple yet effective techniques to improve the efficiency in your dental office right away:

1. Expand Your Services

Consider strategies to increase your offering to improve value, boost your competitive position, and stimulate the curiosity of potential patients when it’s time to expand your patient base. For example, perhaps the size of your current dental practice limits your production potential, and you’re considering enlarging or hiring more staff.

Just keep a few things in mind to get the proper balance. You never want to overwork your team or make adjustments that negatively impact the patient experience. Hence, you can carefully analyze the resource allocations required to make this adjustment vital.

2. Provide Flexible Financial Options

Patients like to pay using different payment options. By providing multiple choices, patients would love to get treatments and return for ongoing dental care.

Aside from insurance coverage, accessible financial options include debit, credit, personal check, and cash. As a dentist, you can provide specific financing to ensure that personal financial situations do not influence dental health care selections.

3. Embrace Clinic Culture

Creating a positive and healthy workplace culture positively impacts the patient experience. Some of the most successful dental clinics have figured out fostering a positive work environment. Your clinic decoration and physical environment influence your clinic culture. Your distinctive method of doing things, when fine-tuned, can increase productivity, attract top talent, and keep patients coming back for more.

Gather all of your team members and have an in-depth talk about your dental clinic’s day-to-today operations. Also, discuss its long-term goals to establish and strengthen your clinic culture. Employees will be happier and more caring if they all work towards the same goal, and your dental clinic will grow.

4. Automate Your Billing Desk

Manual billing takes time and exposes you to the risk of human error. For example, tracking down patients to collect co-pays and processing insurance claims may be time-consuming and costly for all parties involved. Automated billing can help you get paid faster, offer your team more time to focus on other aspects of the business, and give you more peace of mind.

To get the work done right the first time, you should invest in top-rated billing software. If you have the resources to invest in automation, it is easier. When your staff spends less time preparing paper claims, you might be astonished at how much money you can save.

5. Train Your Dental Team/Hold Meetings Regularly.

Continuous dental team training is significant for keeping personnel happy, productive, and effective. Investing in training demonstrates that you care about their careers and can help to foster a positive work atmosphere that fosters success.

Every morning, meet with your personnel to go over the needs of patients who have appointments that day. During subsequent sessions, bring up any patient difficulties and brainstorm ways to avoid them from happening again. These meetings don’t have to belong; simply a quick huddle will do, but they can help enhance productivity significantly.

6. Improve Patient Experience by Empowering Your Patients.

Patients are swiftly adapting to the rise of digital communication tools, and they are better at ease knowing that they have fewer options for communicating with the clinic. Allow your patients to communicate in various ways, including over the phone, through text, via email, and snail-mail.

Allowing your patient to visualize exactly what they can expect during surgery requires crisp and straightforward communication. When it comes to dental work, patients have a lot of financial and medical worries. Take the time to determine the patient’s competitive advantages or seek guidance from an expert solution provider.

7. Delegate Tasks

Delegating duties and responsibilities enhances productivity, efficiency, and time management while also allowing you to focus on higher-level tasks. For example, consider delegating administrative work to team members or hiring a scribe. A group of highly qualified employees who are good at getting the work done right also helps reduce turnover rates and supply practices.

You’ll find more freedom in your day-to-today work as you delegate. Always have backups and plan ahead of time to handle typical workplace workloads and anticipate unexpected events. Delegating duties and empowering employees are both crucial aspects of gaining employer trust. Simplify your team’s schedules, offer some buffer time in their shifts, and allow them to work in the most meaningful way possible.

8. Improve Patient Referrals

Building a successful dental office requires positive evaluations and recommendations. People are more likely to trust a personal recommendation or a review provided by a real consumer than an advertisement. In addition, patient referrals are a terrific strategy to acquire additional patients into your clinic, even if you’re starting.

You can try a variety of dental referral program concepts. For example, encourage patients to suggest friends by providing a referral bonus scheme, such as free teeth cleaning or a special discount. For the same, you have to hand out a simple referral card that describes the deal at the end of the appointment.

WIIFM. One system that has worked well to increase new patient appointments and keep patients returning is Lifetime Whitening.

When patients come to your office they enroll in this program for a small fee and receive free teeth whitening as long as they return for routine appointments without breaking appointments last minute.

9. Upgrade Your Scheduling System

An excellent dental scheduling system does more than make it possible to schedule appointments. It improves patient flow, increases productivity, reduces stress for both patients and employees, and, as a result, adds to the high-quality service that your patients expect. In addition, you can provide outstanding customer service even while your clinic is closed by allowing patients to arrange appointments at any time.

Almost every dental practice management software provides a patient’s booking feature that you can integrate into your business’s website. Patients can make an appointment with only a few clicks, which your staff can confirm as needed.

10. Make Team Management Your Top Priority

Streamlining as much as possible is the best strategy to increase efficiency. But unfortunately, many employers and managers are unaware of the numerous ways they waste time and money. It’s not because of a massive leak that may sink the Titanic, but rather because of a series of minor leaks that go unnoticed until it’s too late.

Always plan ahead of time and think about what your employees require. Allow them to prioritize various aspects of their lives. When dealing with new guidelines, assist them in their essential work. Finally, use technology to set automated reminders for your personnel and your patients.

Conclusion

We hope you have understood the essential tips to improve your dental practice. By applying these tips, you can stand out in front of your competitors and take your dental practice to the next level.

If you want to improve dental practice quickly, the most essential thing is to build a website. With the website, you can improve your internal operations and provide a better dental experience to the users.

To create a website, approach a company that offers dental website design services. They have experience building such kinds of websites. Hence, they can understand your requirements and provide you with a solution that takes your dental practice to new heights.

Thank you to our guest author WebyKing.

This One Thing For Dental Practice Growth

By: Debbie Seidel

March 9, 2022

Dental Practice Growth. This. one thing will help get more new patients. — Growth Strategies for Dental Offices

Dentistry and technology change quickly. Dental materials, computer software, dental scanners, lasers, and the way patients whiten their teeth has improved dramatically!

To be your most profitable this year, you have so many choices and how will you choose the best of the best to bring in more new patients and keep your current patients returning to your office?

Your patients don’t know how great your clinical skills are but they do know how you make them feel when they are in your office and even when they are not in your office.

Keep reading to learn the best strategy to gain more new patients calling to schedule their first appointment. This one strategy will keep new patients returning to your dental office. It will also reduce those last minute changes in your schedule.

HOTTEST TRENDS WORLDWIDE

During the pandemic in 2020, teeth whitening and self-care become a hot topic. Zoom meetings have created a fast-growing trend for aesthetics and that includes high-end treatment such as veneers, crowns and implants and teeth whitening.
The teeth whitening market is a 6.4 billion-dollar business worldwide and it’s expected to grow to 6 percent annually by 2024.¹

Now is your time to tap into teeth whitening and upgrade the way you deliver services to your current patients. Teeth whitening combined with a “Lifetime Whitening” program has also been a popular way for dentists to grow their new patient numbers.

For the past ten years, Dental Practice Solutions has supported dental offices around the world with a Lifetime Whitening program. Dentists announce their Lifetime Whitening program on their website.

To get patients motivated to want whiter teeth we provide you with marketing materials and images to use throughout your office. We have a training, la earning center, you can log into and get access to the marketing materials as well as communication, scripts (to customize) when patients call to change their dental appointment last minute. You have Lifetime Whitening enrollment forms and a lot more at your fingertips when you partner with Dental Practice Solutions to provide teeth whitening to your patients.

To enroll patients into your Lifetime Whitening program many offices charge a small fee, some use this as one level of their in-office dental patient “smile saver program” (Similar to an in-office dental plan) and some offices include the free whitening in their new patient fee.

Once patients are enrolled in the program, when they see their hygienist every six-months, or as scheduled (No last-minute changes), they receive a whitening wand (3.0 mL pen) at no additional cost.

Dentists can feel confident this one strategy will grow their dental practice. Teeth whitening products are purchased wholesale (deep discount) from Dental Practice Solutions and you have the tools to enroll patients into not only teeth whitening but the training area (Our online web portal of information)will help you serve your patients at the highest level possible.

Asking what patients what for their smile will help you enroll patients into higher-end, aesthetic services and keep them returning to your dental office.

NEW PATIENTS IN YOUR DENTAL PRACTICE

Lifetime Teeth Whitening using the Celebrity Smiles teeth whitening technology and the marketing program not only attracts new patients to schedule their 1^st appointment in your office but they will return for scheduled appointments. Patients enrolled in Lifetime Whitening understand they can’t decide last minute that something better came up and call to “cancel” their dental appointment.

When patients keep their dental appointments they receive a free-whitening wand as a “thank you for keeping your dental appointments,” at their next hygiene appointment.

One important point about enrolling patients into the Lifetime Whitening Program is motivation to keep their dental appointments. It’s that WIIFM theory.

Whitening (pens) wands cost upwards of $25 on AMAZON and as a dental office enrolled in the Celebrity Smiles Wholesale (Reseller) Program you can purchase all the best dental-grade and sensitivity-free whitening products at wholesale prices.

Nowhere else can you go to purchase teeth whitening products for less. Our products are made with fresh ingredients and you can pick what ingredients you want inside your whitening wands.

Schedule a time to chat and we can suggest the best ingredients for your dental practice. We currently find the 35% Carbamide Peroxide with 6% Potassium Nitrate works great with the DUAL LED Light Technology but we do provide options for you.

LATEST TRENDS IN DENTAL OFFICE TEETH WHITENING PRODUCTS

The latest whitening trends include an LED Dual (Blue + Red LED) Light Wireless Mouthpiece.

This eliminates impressions, pouring models and making a whitening tray. The time for your employee to take impressions, prepare whitening trays, and then have patients return to pick up their trays, costs your more money than providing a patient with the Celebrity Smiles teeth whitening kit when they are enrolled in your Lifetime Whitening Program.

Dental Practice Solutions has a line of teeth whitening products that include (your choice) Carbamide Peroxide and 6% Potassium Nitrate. Dentists have the choice to customize their whitening serum to include Hydrogen Peroxide, Carbamide Peroxide, No Potassium Nitrate Fluoride or Potassium Nitrate Fluoride or BioMin Fluoride.

The patient kit includes 3 whitening wands, COOL Light Technology wireless mouthpiece, USB charger, How to Use Guide and Shade guide, all inside a beautiful box.

Dental Office with new patients. — Dental Office

BENEFITS OF TEETH WHITENING IN THE DENTAL OFFICE

Your patients are currently on AMAZON shopping daily. Why not have them purchase their whitening from you; their dentist?

The prices on AMAZON for whitening kits are a lot more money than buying at your office. You buy wholesale and offer your patients (one whitening wand for no-cost at their hygiene appointment) whitening products for less money.

The Lifetime Whitening program motivates New Patients to schedule at your office and current patients are less likely to call and “cancel” their dental appointment last mninute.

Patients respect their dentist for the opportunity to discuss enamel-safe and sensitivity-free teeth whitening options.

We believe a smile evaluation compliments your new patient and dental hygiene appointments. It takes less than 60 seconds to find out how patients want their smile to look. You must be the advocate who asks your patients the motivational and open-ended questions.

If you ask your patients how they want their teeth to look, now your patients will tell you what they want.

We show you how to more easily ask these questions so patients end up feeling more confident about their smile.

The problem is that most clinicians think they are too busy during patient appointments to ask one simple, open-ended question that will open the door to not only tooth whitening but veneers, implants, Invisalign, etc.

Innovative aesthetic services create an environment where you will do more high-end dentistry and create numerous raving fans who refer all their friends and family.

Add the latest technology in teeth whitening and you create an atmosphere where people want to be.

Dental Practice Solutions allows you to easily transform your operatory into a Celebrity Smile Space where patients look forward to visiting.

Dental Practice Solutions offers Celebrity Smiles Teeth Whitening products to dental offices which provides fast results without more time in the dental chair for patients or employee time preparing whitening trays. It is 10-minutes to a whiter, brighter smile and without causing tooth sensitivity.

When your dental office offers Lifetime Whitening you encourage patients to schedule a new patient exam and then continually, these patients want to return for preventive care (and adjunctive services) at your dental office.

By choosing the best products for whiter teeth, you will make professional teeth whitening an enjoyable experience and your patients will want to return to your dental practice.

The COOL LIGHT Technology Dual (blue & red)LED Light mouthpiece allows patients to quickly whiten 2-6 shades in as little as ten minutes. After patients initially whiten their teeth, they can do a touch-up weekly or as needed. 10- minutes later they have white teeth again! Wha-La, A whiter, brighter smile!

The Celebrity Smiles Whitening Technology Differentiates You from other dental offices in your community. Promoting Celebrity Smiles Teeth Whitening in your dental practice gives patients confidence in their dentist who creates beautiful smiles.

When your patients feel you are the best of the best, they will refer their friends and family to your office. You will be a destination hot spot in your community for the hottest trend today; teeth whitening.

Dental Practice Solutions is dedicated to creating a healthy mouth and body which gives people something big to smile about. What the world needs now are more smiles.

We believe that sharing a confident smile can change our world.

Will you join us and create more beautiful, confident smiles?!

To learn more about how you can implement the Lifetime Smiles using Celebrity Smiles Teeth Whitening Products email us at: debbie@dentalpracticesolutions.com or complete the wholesale application and we can help you get started.

Feel free to call our office with questions or to get started: 888-816-1511

Reference.

https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/teeth-whitening-market

https://www.celebritysmilesclub.com/

How a Dental Patient Will Choose Your Dental Office Over Another?

By: Debbie Seidel

February 22, 2022

Is your dental office a place your patients feel excited about?

It’s most difficult for people to love going to a dental appointment.

If we look at the most successful dental offices in the United States, we will discover they are a cross between a spa and beauty salon.

Let’s also look at one specific way that patients feel loyalty to a dental office.

Gaining patient loyalty is a sure-fire way to improve patient retention and increase patient retention in your dental office.

Here a list of the top ideas to make your practice a destination spot in your community:

Your Marketing Strategy- What is your USP? Why do people want to come to your office and why do the patients of record continue returning to your office?
Teeth Whitening System and Service

One of the ways we have helped dental offices grow their New Patient numbers is through free teeth whitening. Free teeth whitening included with the New Patient exam, full-mouth x-rays, and hygiene cleaning (Gum treatment is does not fall into this category).

All your patients of record should be enrolled in Lifetime Whitening which means they get a free whitening wand every 3 or 6 months (you can decide on the interval) when they do return for their routine preventive care appointment with the dental hygienist.

Free teeth whitening must be on your website and in various places throughout your office. Celebrity Smiles offers wholesale whitening kits and whitening wands with prices that make sense to give to patients who are loyal to your office.

When you use our LED Dual Light Mouthpiece and whitening wands for your Lifetime Whitening system, we provide you with marketing templates you can customize and use in your office and on your website. We have all the tools to support those last-minute calls to change dental appointments, scripts, and more templates to customize for your office.

You get a web portal of information that supports patients returning to your office and scripts to customize that help overcome the last minute calls to change dental appointments.

Professional teeth whitening services are a great place to start advertising. But if you’re not

You know that saying, “It’s not how great people think you are that counts but it’s how you make them feel.”
So how do you make your patients feel?
How do people feel when they call your office?
How do patients feel when they walk in the door of your office and
Even more importantly, is your website. How does your website invite people to make a 1^st appointment and what is on your website to motivate and inspire your current patients to visit your website?

Dental Hygienist takes intral oral pictures

Unless clinicians ask their patients what they want, the answer to more cosmetic services is a definite “No.”

How do you get this conversation started? It happens at every hygiene appointment and definitely at every New Patient exam.

As hygienists are reviewing health history and asking about chief complaints, they now ask the above question. Think of other ways to rephrase this open-ended question.

What are other ways you can ask the same question but in a different way?

Personally speaking, I may also ask, “If I could wave a magic wand and create the most beautiful smile imaginable, what would that look like?”

Try this for yourself and keep track of the answers you get.

Seldom does a patient tell you, “Nothing, I’m happy with my teeth!” Most will say, “I want whiter teeth.” Others will. Say, “I want straight teeth.”

Asking this open-ended question opens the door to not only more whitening services but it may lead to replacing old composites, placing veneers, crowns and possibly more Invisalign cases.

CONCLUSION

Always be sure to showcase oral hygiene products your offer, your best services, and the leading-edge technology you offer. Request more information and get started with the Celebrity Smiles whitening system and marketing available to grow your dental practice.

The best, most successful dental offices offer their patients more than bread and butter dentistry but they are the offices that deliver positive feelings stimulating positive emotions and senses of their patients. These are feelings of comfort, pleasure and even something different than most professional places they visit on a routine basis. Senses refers to the smell and the sounds in your office.

Celebrity Smiles is proud to deliver quality products and systems that help your dental practice grow.

Dental Teeth Whitening: DYI Kits Add Dental Profit Center

By: Debbie Seidel

February 9, 2022

It can feel like a daunting task to introduce a patient whitening system but it’s all worth it.

Teeth whitening is a billion dollar business and growing at a rapid rate so why not tap into this for your dental practice?!

Celebrity Smiles has been offering teeth whitening products to dental offices for the past 10 yrs. During the pandemic and the dental office shut-down in March 2020, we have upgraded the technology and moved away from whitening syringes to whitening pens (AKA: whitening wands).

No longer do you need to take messy impressions, pour models or make whitening trays. Patients do not need to sit in a dental chair with that “Laser” light for an hour. We’ve got you covered on this and our system will save you time as it brings in more production.

This Lifetime teeth whitening system offers dental offices marketing materials to grow their New Patient Numbers and also reduce those last minute (no good excuse to come to a dental appt) type of calls you get most days. Patients will value their dental appointments more because you offer them a no-cost whitening wand at their hygiene appointment.

It’s that WIIFM Syndrome that works to keep your patients returning for their appointments.

The Celebrity Smiles whitening products are 100% enamel-safe, have numerous patents, certifications and meet the FDA approval. We offer various percentages of Carbamide Peroxide with or without Potassium Nitrate, BioMin and Hydroxyapatite with or with out fluoride.

A question many dentists face is how to “sell” elective procedures to patients. We help you change this four-letter word into a more meaningful opportunity to “SERVE” your patients. And I tell you that “Whiter Teeth” is what over 70% of your patients want!

5 Ways to iIncrease Same-Day Services in Your Dental Practice Starting Today:

ASK. You know that saying, “Out of sight, out of mind”? It’s the same thing with aesthetic procedures. The dental hygienist and all the auxiliaries must be asking open-ended questions at each patient appointment so everyone understands what the patient wants. Ex: “What is one thing you would like to change about your smile?” Most patients respond they want whiter teeth. Easy solution to this but is your dental practice ready to respond with an easy, simple yet, cost-effective answer?
EDUCATION AND INFORMATION. Have you noticed that the more educated your patients are the easier it is to serve their dental needs? Discover what your patient values and then speak “with” them about benefits and take the conversation back to what they value.
MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA. We provide our dental practices who use the Celebrity Smiles Whitening Program with marketing materials you can display around your office and on your website. With billions of people on social media all day it’s important you showcase your work and cosmetic dentistry on Facebook, Instagram and even Pinterest.
YOUR TEAM PLAYERS. So many dental office websites lack information about their key players……..the team! Your employees are your biggest asset. Help them to look their best. Make sure they have beautiful teeth and understand what a great clinician your are; doctor. They are the messengers that tell everyone about you and the great office they work in!

Every dental appointment is an opportunity for them to promote your elective services and some of these are super simple and highly profitable such as teeth whitening!.

5. Invest in Quality. Always make sure you work with quality dental companies that provide the most innovative, safe, and effective products available. We have so much information at our finger tips and it’s too easy to fall prey to bad products. Hint. Many teeth whitening products do not work and taut great results!

DYI teeth whitening products are available everywhere your patients go and yet, you are the expert on everything preventive care and dental. Make 100% certain that you are an industry leader offering exactly what your patients want.

Celebrity Smiles teeth whitening products have been the best, highest quality, with no-sensitivity, dental-grade teeth whitening available for the past ten years.

Dental offices have access to our wholesale prices (think deepest discount for highest quality ingredients) with a turn-key system that keeps your current patients returning for their scheduled appointments and helps you grow your New Patient numbers.

Get the best products and support now to make your dental practice the best place to be for both you and your patients.

What the world needs more of today are SMILES and you have a great reason to smile more knowing you have the best.

Check out how you can become a reseller of Celebrity Smiles.

8 Tips To Get More Patients with Email Marketing For Dentists

By: Debbie Seidel

February 8, 2022

Image Source: Pexels.com

A dental practice doesn’t simply wait until it gets patients through the door. Every successful dental clinic will do everything to reach new prospects, from digital business cards for dentists to email marketing. Email marketing is a powerful way to connect with patients and have more visits through your door.

Are you looking to build on your roster of patients? There are many ways to use email marketing to create your mailing list and get more conversions. Here are x tips to get more patients with email marketing for dentists.

Start With A Welcome Email

Some people only buy when they feel positive about a brand. This is why dentists often have a mailing list, where they connect with potential patients then welcome them warmly.

Every email you send should have a “welcome” email, preferably within 24 hours after someone signs up for your list. This email is meant for people to know you, so include your personal story, why your dental care is essential, and what you’re offering.

A welcome email can be a short and sweet email, personalized for the person. After joining the mailing list, they will receive an email with the welcome message, thanking them for their email subscription.

Include images, videos, and testimonials from patients you’ve helped. This will build trust and show that you’ve been in practice long enough to make a difference. You can also include your contact information and a “how can I help you” section to strengthen your connection further.

Brand Your Emails

A critical element for every email marketing is the branding of the email. Most people receive a few emails a day, mostly from businesses they care about or spam marketing. Uninterested people simply delete their emails or leave them unopen. However, branding your emails can make all the difference.

For starters, make a compelling subject line that makes the email fun. You want it cute, smart, or funny, encouraging customers to open the message and read its contents. Prepare a nicely designed email design with highly-valuable content.

Don’t forget about your email signature. Always include your name and contact information, together with a clear call to action on how to connect with you. A strongly branded email can make it stand out from the rest of the crowd and help add to your roster.

Share Do It Yourself (DIY) Oral Hygiene Tips and Tricks

The number one tip for getting more patients with email marketing for dentists includes DIY oral care tips and tricks. While most people appreciate professional dental care, they also understand tips to use independently.

You can share simple dental tips and can be quickly done at home. For example, you can include recommendations on brushing and flossing at home or using mouthwash. You can also share tips on teeth whitening and how to get rid of bad breath.

Dentists can also share tips and tricks on good nutrition, such as foods that are good for oral health. These can include fresh vegetables and fruits, which are great for your teeth and breath. Even if a patient does not intend to return immediately, this creates a stronger connection with your patients, turning losses into profits.

Send Email Reminders

Perhaps the most common form of email marketing is email reminders. Dental practices send reminders to patients about their appointments, billing, and other reminders. This lets patients know you’re on top of things and care about their care.

Include reminders for clients to return for follow-up appointments or reminders about billing. You can also send reminders about your bill due dates and payment schedules.

If there is an appointment, trickle the reminders to a month before, two weeks before, a week before, three days before, and the day before.

You could also include reminders about hygiene, such as regular professional dental visits and dental cleanings. Regular dental visits are important in maintaining oral health and avoiding dental emergencies.

Get People to Share Your Email with Their Friends

A great way to get more patients is to get them to share your emails with their friends. This increases your reach and expands your reach among your patients.

Include a “share” button in your email, along with text that encourages patients to share your emails with their friends. You can also include a “share” button on your website, so patients can easily share your content on social media.

Another way to get more patients with email marketing for dentists is to include referrals. Your mailing list is an ideal tool to let your patients know that you are recommending businesses or products that they have used and loved. You can include links to your recommended products or tell them more about the brands.

Send Emails About New Products and Services

Another way to get more patients with email marketing for dentists is to send information about new products and services. For instance, you can announce regular dental cleanings, teeth whitening treatments, or new products.

You can also announce new branches or locations. This lets patients know that your practice is growing and makes it easier to visit you. You can also send information about new services and treatments, such as cosmetic bonding, veneers, or braces. You can also announce new treatments and procedures.

Use Surveys and Polls

One great way to connect with your patients is by conducting surveys and polls. These effectively get feedback from your patients, which can improve your services and cater to your customers’ needs.

You can conduct surveys about dental care, and you can also ask your patients about their opinions. For instance, you can ask them if they’d like tips or advice on brushing and flossing or if they want suggestions for teeth whitening.

You can also conduct polls about your dental clinic. For instance, you can ask patients if they think dental care is essential, if they trust you, or recommend your dental clinic to a friend.

Help Your Patients Understand Their Dental Costs

Dentists can get more patients with email marketing by helping people understand dental care costs. Most patients want to receive price estimates but don’t want to haggle over costs.

You can send out price estimates, or you might want to develop online pricing calculators. These are effective tools that let patients easily understand your price estimates.

You can also use email marketing to explain dental costs. For instance, you can explain how your insurance works and what your out-of-pocket expenses may be. You can also include your prices and explain how your insurance covers specific treatments.

The Bottom Line

Getting more patients with email marketing for dentists takes time. However, most email marketing practices result in a higher ROI, so it’s worth the time and effort.

Every dental practice should have a strong email marketing practice to connect with more patients. Email marketing is an effective tool to expand your reach, grow your mailing list, and attract new patients.

Thank you to our guest blogger: Kat Sarmiento for her contribution.