It feels good to write a new patient’s name in the schedule. It’s validation that the practice’s marketing strategies are working, and it means the practice is growing. Dental practices target new patients to increase revenue, and I support this wholeheartedly. However, if after the first appointment a patient leaves for a competing practice, doesn’t use your practice for all their needs, or simply never returns, growth will be limited or may stagnate. I have a surefire way to prevent that from happening, and it involves marketing, of course.

Any Patient You Keep Is One Less Patient You Need to Find

Connecting with patients is always important, and while we often think about that in terms of personal relationships, it’s just as crucial in patient care. When someone reaches out to schedule an appointment or inquire about services, they’re looking for reassurance, guidance, and a reason to choose your practice. A delayed or impersonal response can leave them feeling overlooked—and more likely to book elsewhere.

Stop ‘Ghosting’ Potential Patients: How to Convert More Inquiries into Appointments

Think about your last big purchase—maybe a car, a new phone, or even a vacation. Chances are, you didn’t make your decision after seeing just one ad or reading a single review. Instead, you researched, compared, and interacted with the brand in several ways before you felt confident enough to commit. Now, consider this: your prospective patients are doing the exact same thing when choosing a dental practice.

Why Comprehensive Marketing Matters More Than Ever