Let’s be real—getting new dental patients can feel like trying to win a pie-eating contest with your hands tied behind your back. Let’t get into the details of How to Get More Dental Patients. You’re busy juggling marketing, patient care, and keeping the lights on, so chasing down new patients might not even make it onto your to-do list. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.
This isn’t your typical, boring “post on Facebook and hope for the best” advice. Nope. These 12 ideas are creative, edgy, and designed to actually work. Let’s dive in and discover how you can fill those chairs, keep patients coming back, and grow your practice like a rockstar.
1. Start a Patient Membership Plan: Your Netflix for Teeth
Say goodbye to insurance companies dictating your revenue and hello to consistent cash flow. A patient membership plan is like Netflix—but for dental care. Patients pay a monthly or annual fee, and in return, they get preventive care and discounts on services.
Why it works:
- Patients love the simplicity and affordability.
- You get predictable, recurring revenue.
- BoomCloud™ (yep, the gold standard) makes it super easy to manage.
Pro Tip: Target patients without insurance, small business employees, and Baby Boomers—they’ll love the hassle-free care.
2. Build a Killer Referral Plan
Let’s channel John Jantsch’s The Referral Engine. The secret to a great referral plan is making it ridiculously easy and fun for patients to refer their friends and family.
Here’s how:
- Offer incentives like gift cards, free cleanings, or swag for every referral.
- Reward both the referrer and the newbie patient—it’s a win-win!
- Use a referral platform like Smile.io or automate it with BoomCloud™.
Bonus Idea: Create a “Referral Leaderboard” for your top referrers. Turn it into a friendly competition with prizes.
3. Partner Up with Local Businesses
Think outside the dental box. Partnering with local businesses is one of the smartest ways to get more dental patients. Hit up:
- Gyms and fitness centers (hello, health-conscious folks!)
- Local coffee shops (put your brochures where caffeine addicts will see them).
- Daycares and schools (target those family plans).
Offer discounted memberships or services for their employees. They’ll love you for it, and you’ll see a steady stream of new patients.
4. Team Up with Other Health Pros
You’re not the only one in the business of keeping people healthy. Build partnerships with chiropractors, primary care doctors, dermatologists, and even optometrists.
Here’s how to make it happen:
- Host cross-promotions: “See Dr. Smith for a checkup and get 10% off your dental cleaning with us!”
- Offer bundled discounts.
- Provide their employees with your membership plan—hello, new patient base!
5. Small Business Outreach: The Untapped Goldmine
Did you know most small businesses don’t offer dental benefits to their employees? That’s your chance to swoop in like a tooth-saving superhero.
Create tailored membership plans for local businesses and pitch them directly to the owners. Here’s what to highlight:
- Cost-effectiveness compared to traditional insurance.
- How it benefits their team’s health and loyalty.
- Discounts for group sign-ups.
Pro Tip: Use BoomCloud™ to manage these plans effortlessly.
6. Go Viral with Video Content
Video content is king, and your dental practice can totally slay on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. The trick? Be entertaining.
Ideas to try:
- Create funny “day in the life” videos of your team.
- Post quick dental tips with a side of humor.
- Showcase incredible patient transformations (with their permission, of course).
7. Host Events Patients Actually Want to Attend
Hosting events is a brilliant way to connect with potential patients and show off your personality. Think outside the traditional open house.
Event ideas:
- “Kids’ Day at the Dentist” with balloons, face painting, and prizes.
- “Teeth Whitening Party” for busy moms and professionals.
- Free oral health screenings at local fairs or community events.
8. Leverage Your Reviews Like a Boss
People trust online reviews as much as they trust their friends (sometimes more). So, make sure your reviews shine.
Steps to dominate reviews:
- Ask happy patients to leave reviews on Google, Yelp, and Facebook.
- Respond to every review—good or bad. Show you care.
- Highlight glowing reviews on your website and social media.
9. Get Social… and Stay Social
Your practice needs to be where your patients are—on social media. But don’t just post once a month and call it good. Be engaging!
What to post:
- Before-and-after transformations.
- Staff spotlights to show off your team’s personality.
- Promotions for your membership or referral programs.
- Funny memes or dental trivia (people love to share them).
10. Offer In-House Financing
Sometimes patients hesitate to book that root canal because they’re worried about the cost. Solve that problem by offering flexible in-house financing plans.
Why it works:
- Patients feel empowered to get the care they need without financial stress.
- You get paid faster.
- It’s a great way to attract uninsured patients.
11. Use Remarketing Ads to Stay Top-of-Mind
You know those ads that follow you around online after you browse a website? Use that same strategy to nudge potential patients back to your practice.
Steps:
- Set up Google Ads or Facebook remarketing campaigns.
- Target website visitors or people who’ve engaged with your social media.
- Show them irresistible offers like discounts on cleanings or free consultations.
12. Create a Dental Blog That Doesn’t Suck
Blogging isn’t dead—it’s just done wrong most of the time. A blog can drive traffic to your site, build trust, and educate your patients.
Topics to write about:
- “Why You Should Ditch Dental Insurance for a Membership Plan”
- “10 Foods That Are Great for Your Teeth”
- “How to Conquer Dental Anxiety”
Pro Tip: Sprinkle your SEO keyword (how to get more dental patients) into your posts to rank higher on Google.
Conclusion
There you have it—12 epic ways to attract more patients and grow your dental practice like a pro. From patient membership plans to referral programs, video content, and small business outreach, these strategies are guaranteed to make your practice the talk of the town (in a good way).
Stop relying on outdated tactics and start implementing these creative, proven ideas. Ready to level up? Let’s do this!
- Link to BoomCloud™ (https://www.boomcloud.com)
- Link to The Referral Engine book (https://referralenginebook.com)
- Dental Blog
