5 Tips To Make Your Dental Appointment a Pleasant Experience Again: A blog around what the dentist office could do better to improve patient experiences.
Introduction
In the past, dentistry was seen as a necessary evil. People dreaded going to their dentist appointments, and many considered them to be just another part of life that had to be endured. Today, however, things have changed dramatically and patients have more options available when it comes to care for their teeth. In fact, some dentists are now using technology in ways that make procedures easier on both parties involved in treatment – but only if you know how to ask! Here are 5 tips I’ve learned over my 15 years in managing healthcare practices as a way of improving your patient’s experience at your dental practice
Keep Your Patients Informed
Keeping your patients informed of their treatment plan is a key part of keeping them happy. Your patients want to know why you’re doing what you’re doing, and when it’s going to be done. If you tell them up front exactly what they can expect before anything happens, then they will not feel blindsided by changes in the course of treatment or delays in appointments.
For example: “I am going to take an impression today of your teeth so that we can send it away and have a custom-fitted mouth guard made for your teeth. If all goes well, we should be able to have the mouth guard finished within two business days and then our lab technician will call you when it is ready for pickup at our office! You are free to reschedule your follow-up appointment if needed due to any conflicts with picking up the mouth guard.”
Respect Your Patients’ Time
- Respect Your Patients’ Time
When you’re busy, it’s easy to lose track of time and accidentally keep patients waiting. Don’t do this! It’s not just rude (and unprofessional), it also makes the patient feel like they aren’t valued. And if you’re running late, don’t rush through the appointment once you do arrive—you should always give your full attention to the patient in front of you even if they are used to being rushed out quickly so that next person can come in.
Make Your Waiting Room Comfortable
You don’t want your patients to be uncomfortable while they wait. That’s why you should make your waiting room a place where they can relax, catch up on their reading, and listen to music.
If you have a TV in the waiting room (and it isn’t too loud), that also helps patients pass the time by keeping them entertained. Plus, having a little extra entertainment for children can help keep them busy and distracted from what is about to happen at their dental appointment.
Since most people who go to the dentist are nervous about it anyway—a lot of times because they aren’t sure what will happen during the appointment—you want to do everything possible to make their experience as pleasant as possible so they leave feeling good rather than stressed or anxious!
Be Transparent With Your Prices
- Be transparent. The best way to do this is by providing a range of prices, as well as an idea of how much the treatment will cost. Many people are surprised when they get their bill and find out that it’s more than they expected because they didn’t know what it would be in advance.
- Offer payment plans if you don’t accept insurance or if there’s some other reason your patient can’t pay up front. This will help make your office more accessible to those who need dentistry but may struggle financially.
Upgrade Your Technology
As the field of dentistry is changing rapidly, it’s important that your office is always up to date with the latest technology. Technology can help you deliver better care, provide more efficient care and even provide more personalized care. Below are just a few examples of how technology can improve patient experiences:
- Dental radiography: With digital dental radiography (DDR), you can see what is happening inside your mouth without exposing your patient to harmful radiation or film exposure. Digital imaging also allows for faster processing times which means less time in the chair!
- Dentures: A new generation of dentures uses 3D printing to create custom-fitting prosthetics that fit perfectly into the mouth without any discomfort or pain due to pressure points created by ill-fitting dentures. This amazing new technology makes it possible for patients who previously thought they would never be able to wear their own natural teeth again!
You can provide better patient care with minor changes to your practice.
Practicing good patient care involves understanding the patient’s perspective and anticipating their needs. When you are able to provide a pleasant experience for your patients, they are more likely to return and refer others in the future.
With this in mind, we’ve outlined five ways that dental practices can improve their patient experience by making minor changes:
- Send out an email before your appointment reminding them of what time they need to be there and what will happen during their appointment (this should include information on parking). This will help clear any questions that may arise later on without having them disrupt your schedule by calling or coming into the office.
- Allow your patients to choose their own music during the appointment. This will help them relax and be less anxious about the procedure. -Make sure that all of your equipment is working properly. If you have a portable x-ray machine, make sure it has fresh batteries and is fully charged before using it on patients.
- If you have a patient who is nervous or anxious, try to keep them calm. If they are feeling stressed out, they will not be able to relax enough to receive the treatment that they need.
- If you have an assistant or receptionist who is not involved with patient care, make sure that they are dressed appropriately. They should not be wearing clothing that is too revealing or tight, as this can be distracting for patients and medical staff alike.
- You should also make sure that your dental staff is wearing professional attire. This will help them look their best while they are working and will also create a more professional atmosphere in the office.
Conclusion
We hope these tips will help you improve your patient experience at your dental practice, and that they’ll lead to more patients returning for their routine checkups. If you have any other ideas for how we can make our practice more patient-friendly, let us know!