Real Growth Happens Over Time, Not Overnight
When it comes to marketing, most dentists we encounter are simply frustrated. I can’t tell you how many times a dentist has told my partner or me, “I’ve tried marketing before, and it didn’t work.” Sadly, it’s a common experience — and we’re changing it one practice at a time.
What’s Really Happening
We understand why dentists lose faith in marketing. Often, the problem isn’t a lack of effort but a short-term mindset. In marketing, there is no such thing as a quick fix. The kind of growth it takes to be successful won’t come with a campaign or new-patient promotion, no matter how “successful” it is. Reliable growth only happens with a clear, consistent message and momentum that’s allowed to build over time. Dr. Chris Stryker’s journey at Lincoln Crossings Dental Care in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania is a great example of what can happen when you put this concept into practice.
The Challenge: Moving at a Snail’s Pace
Lincoln Crossings Dental Care was already a well-established practice with a great reputation when Dr. Stryker took over. However, the marketing was disjointed and inconsistent: a promotion here, a coupon there, but nothing cohesive. Overall, the message the marketing was sending didn’t reflect the elevated standard of care he and his team provided. Additionally, new patient numbers and revenue remained relatively stagnant. And while the patients Dr. Stryker saw were satisfied, the kinds of new patients he hoped to attract weren’t always finding him online.
The Solution: Strategy Over Tactics
When Dr. Stryker partnered with My Dental Agency in late 2022, he knew we weren’t about running splashy ads or chasing down leads. We explained from the start that our goal was to clarify the practice’s marketing, which meant moving away from deal-driven messaging and, instead, building a brand that reflects the practice’s principles.
Our first task was to create consistency across the website, digital marketing, and patient experience. We started with a customized strategy — testing, refining, and adjusting it until we crafted a message that resonates with the patients Dr. Stryker wants to reach. As he explains in a recent interview, he had to be patient during the initial stages, but, as the saying goes, his patience paid off.
The Results: Exponential Growth
With time, Lincoln Crossings Dental Care began consistently attracting new patients who recognize the value of comprehensive dental care. Conversations about treatment became less challenging, with more of them ending in acceptance. Dr. Stryker started seeing larger cases consistently, and by 2024, the practice had experienced a surge in new patients — not because of a marketing campaign, but because we had built a strong foundation. Now, in 2026, patients consistently come to the practice knowing what to expect and fired up about treatment! This attitude shift alone has changed everything for Dr. Stryker.
The Takeaway: You Can’t Hurry Love (or Growth)
If you want meaningful results from your marketing, like Dr. Stryker, you have to commit. As with any worthwhile pursuit, you’ll only get out of it what you’re willing to put into it. At first, it will be about gathering data, refining the message, and laying a foundation rather than seeing immediate results. With time and consistent attention, the rewards will come.
Marketing for long-term success requires aligning with potential patients as much as with the practice’s personality, values, and goals. Dental practices that experience sustainable growth do these four things:
- Forget about quick wins
- Focus on the types of patients they want to attract
- Commit to consistency
- Allow enough time for their marketing strategy to work
When a practice does marketing the right way, patients fall in love even before the first phone call or email!
Stop Spinning Your Wheels
If your marketing feels random, inconsistent, or promotion-heavy, it’s time to break the cycle. Call us, and we can help you understand what your practice really needs to succeed. With the right strategy and a marketing partner that’s in it for the long haul, you can finally see deliberate, measurable, and sustainable growth.
