Chronic Lateness in Dental Clinics

Categories: Public Health;
Chronic Lateness in Dental Clinics

Patient no-shows, staff delays, and real-world solutions


Thread summary: This Dentaltown discussion revolves around the frustration and operational challenges caused by chronic lateness among both staff and patients, especially in public health clinics where appointment timing is more flexible and patient volume drives funding.

The original poster explains how a 15-minute grace period leads to systemic delays, compounded by a lack of consequences for staff or patients who are late. Others share how late arrivals, particularly new patients filling out paperwork, can derail schedules, and how inefficient or inexperienced front desk and assistant staff further aggravate the issue.

Veteran public health clinicians shared strategies using “worked in” appointment columns (like standby flights) to manage patient flow and create flexibility without punishing lateness outright. Some recommend bluffing late patients with warnings about shortened treatment as a deterrent. A few posters vent about being required to see patients hours late, while others push back against “one restoration per visit” policies, calling them unethical.

On the staff side, the conversation shifts to the impact of team members showing up late and moving slowly, causing backlogs that affect the whole clinic. One contributor shares a leadership script outlining how to address lateness through a respectful but firm conversation that highlights the team impact, patient perception, and need for accountability.

Private practice perspectives show more autonomy: some use strict no-show policies, e.g., 3 strikes and you’re out, while others apply flexible judgment based on the patient, procedure, or mood. A few noted that firmer late or cancellation policies help weed out problem patients.

The thread ends with humorous surveys on employee lateness excuses, underscoring how widespread the issue is but also how cultural norms, clinic settings, and leadership style shape how it’s handled.


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