Dentistry is about the patient, right? You’re there to make sure your patients get the best possible care, and you try to run your business with them in mind. If this is true, you should also have their schedules in mind.
Most people work during the hours dental practices are open, not to mention that it’s common for dentists to work 4 days a week. It’s a hassle to schedule a dental appointment because not only do I have to get on your calendar, I have to tell my boss I have an appointment, get time off, etc. And if I’m getting anything more than a cleaning, I’ll probably need to take the whole day off. If my dentist is open on weekends, it would make this a whole lot easier for me as the patient.
Being open on weekends communicates to your patients that you are convenient to them, and that very well might be your most effective marketing strategy. Patients schedule times that are convenient for them; if you are the most convenient dentist in town, they’ll come to you.
As for you, the dentist, you may not actually need to increase your hours, just rearrange them. Work Tuesday to Friday, and work a half day on Saturday, or be open full-time Wednesday to Saturday. Whatever gets your practice open on weekends will go a long way to help your practice grow. If this is a change you’re willing to implement, take some time to figure out how to be open on weekends and still be available for your kids’ activities, have relaxation time, etc. It can be done, you’ll just have to change your idea of what a “weekend” is for you, so you can serve on everyone else’s weekend.