It's no secret that some people dread the dentist. Even if your patients don't have an outright fear of the dentist, chances are they're not excited to get a root canal or extraction. A welcoming and comfortable office atmosphere is essential for keeping patients calm, but it's also important because it serves as a first impression for new customers. If patients have a less than stellar experience, they may look elsewhere. If you're worried long wait times in your office could be driving patients away, here are some ways you can make your dentist office more welcoming.
Cleanliness
Cleanliness is essential for any medical practice, but it can be difficult to keep a space clean with people coming in and out. This makes your after-hours task list even more important. If you don't have one already, you may want to consider a cleaning service, like commercial carpet cleaning. This way, you know you're coming into a clean office every morning. You may want to have someone wipe down surfaces throughout the day, and having fixtures such as hand sanitizer stations lets your patients know that you take cleanliness seriously.
Comfortable Seating
The comfort level of your waiting room chairs may not seem like a big deal at first glance, especially since your patients are only going to be sitting in them for a short while. Unfortunately, schedules often change, and suddenly people are sitting in cold, hard chairs a lot longer than anyone planned. Physical comfort aside, a cold and sterile environment may not feel like the most welcoming, and having to sit uncomfortably is not going to calm an anxious patient. You can buy better chairs as well as a couch or two. This makes the room feel less like a stuffy, scary medical office.
Convenient Amenities
Coffee and snacks may not feel like ideal dental office amenities, but this is a great opportunity to educate patients on teeth-friendly snack options. Plus, you never know when someone will come in with low blood sugar, and the added stress of a dental visit could cause someone to faint. If you don't want to offer food, a nice touch would be floss or even toothbrushes in the bathrooms. A dentist will tell if someone has not been flossing regularly, but it'll be nice for you when patients make an effort to clean up before you get close to their teeth.
Enticing Layout and Design
Lighting and the arrangement of furniture can completely change someone's perception of a room. Try experimenting with different layouts to see if the room looks bigger or more welcoming. If you have televisions, make sure people can actually see them from the seating areas. If you have a play area for children, you might not want to keep it in the middle of the waiting area. Make sure everyone has access to reading material. Consider a calming focal piece like a fish tank to help keep everyone relaxed.
Educational Information
You probably don't want to post pictures of rotting teeth or bleeding gums right out in the open, but giving your patients access to some information about basic dentistry procedures can help calm a nervous mind. You could offer a stand of pamphlets with illustrated graphics rather than real photos, in which various conditions are described in simple terms.
Retail
You do not need to open an entire store inside your office, but having a convenient range of products related to dental hygiene can make your office a one-stop shop. Plus, you'll know your patients are following your advice and using good quality products.
A dental office can be a stress-inducing place, but there are ways you can make the process go more smoothly. By adding a few personal touches and making your waiting area a welcoming environment, you'll be well on your way to retaining patients for years to come.