Let’s face it, patients don’t look forward in anticipation to visiting a
dentist. It is usually a very uncomfortable moment for them and that makes
anxious when they step into your office.
Apart from the price,
many other factors
such as the smell of surgery, fear of needles and sound of the drill also
make them apprehensive when it comes to getting proper care for their
teeth.
However, as a dentist, it is your duty to make the most of your time with
them to leave a lasting impression that makes them happy to revisit and
even recommend your services to their friends.
The success a dental practice, like every other form of business, is built
on growth and expansion. And customers – your patients – will play an
integral part in growing your business.
“Customer satisfaction is one of the pillars that hold a successfully run
business. When your customers derive maximum utility from your dental
services, it helps them trust you more with their health and rely on you to
meet their health care needs.” -
Advanced Dental Concept- Dental Care in Hammond, LA
The major obstacle in the way of growing your dental practice is that many
dentists don’t have the requisite
knowledge for running a business
. Unlike other businessmen and entrepreneurs, you could get so stuck into
your dental practice that you may forget to pay attention to the business
part of your job.
In order to make your dental practice stick to the memories of your
patients, here are some simple tips to get you going.
Display a calm and cheerful demeanour
Dentists should be happy people. As a trained practitioner, your patients
expect a professional attitude from you, so be the pro they want.
When patients set up an appointment with a dentist, their heart rates go up
and anxiety starts to build. The fact is that many people don’t enjoy their
trips to a dentist’s office, they just manage to get through it.
But you can diffuse the tension with a cheerful approach. The needs of
dental patients are mainly emotional – they feel fear. And the best way to
quell fear is to be calm and cheerful. If you don’t know how to smile, then
you need to start learning it now – it has a
powerful calming effect
.
Your upbeat countenance will help your patient become more relaxed and
mentally ready for the session. This approach is very useful when you are
dealing with children. Try to smile and become their pals to give them an
awesome dental experience.
Let your communication be clear and concise
Communication between doctor and patient has to be as clear as possible.
Effective communication will go a long way in fostering a friendly
relationship with your patients.
You need to make sure that you get the important information out to your
patients in a manner they can relate with. You may need to step down a
notch to connect with them and make them understand what you are saying.
Effective communication is not all about talking. You don’t have to do all
the talking and take charge of the room. In fact, consider giving your
patient as much time and space to
express themselves
as you can.
When people visit your office, it’s because they have a pressing need that
they want you to meet. They look up to you for lasting solution to their
problems, whether it be a missing tooth requiring dental implants, or they
want to get their teeth braces done.
Try to listen attentively and show empathy with them in order to gain their
trust. Patients sometimes view doctors through a bossy lens, so you need to
be as humane as possible – get personal with them.
Explain in clear terms and let them know their options while you suggest
the most preferred one. For example, not all teeth alignment problems
require braces and some people become dolorous when they need to use teeth
braces. These
alternative options
get the job done with minimal discomfort.
Get a business card, and use it liberally
If you don’t have personal business cards, what are you waiting for?
Your business card doesn’t have to be the perfect artwork but should be
attractive and simple enough not to cause any distraction from the purpose
you are trying to achieve.
After every session with a patient, give out your business cards. You can
even go as far as
personalizing
it by writing the name of the patient and a small ‘thank you’ note at the
back. Also, encourage them to share their experience with their friends.
Dental business – like every other form of business – is all about building
meaningful relationships and the first way to do so is by growing your
number of loyal dental patients who can get you referrals any day.