You may have had a dozen reasons for opening a dental practice — putting your dental skills to work, making an excellent salary, or filling a need in your community. But whatever your reasoning, prioritizing patients each day is crucial to the long-term success of your practice. 

In the day-to-day monotony of running a dental office, you may lose sight of the ultimate purpose of dentistry: improving the oral health of your patients. Follow these five tips to prioritize patient-centric care and deliver the top-quality experience your patients deserve. 

1. Create a Practice-Wide Mission Statement

A patient's experience at your dental practice begins from the moment they first talk to your office staff on the phone and doesn't end until their last communications with you. As a result, you must ensure that you and every member of your team are on the same page about your practice's values, goals, and missions. 

Take time to create a practice-wide mission statement that addresses your objectives for patient care. Maybe it includes sentiments like:

• Empowering patients to take control of their oral health
• Educating patients about the importance of oral hygiene 
• Providing a safe, comfortable dental experience for every patient

Your mission statement will give your staff something tangible to focus on each time a patient walks through your doors

2. Truly Listen to Each Patient's Concerns and Goals

During clinical care, each day can begin to blend into the next. You may begin to see patients as numbers on your list instead of humans with real concerns and goals for their oral health. 

Try to remember that while a patient may just be another slot in the schedule, to them, their appointment is something they've been anticipating for a while. They'll remember their experience with you, but you may forget their appointment by the end of the day. 

To prioritize patient-centric care, take time to truly listen to each individual patient's goals and offer guidance about how you can help them meet those goals. Evaluate their concerns and create a game plan that addresses them. 

3. Reward Patients For Dental-Related Activities

It's no secret that most people aren't exactly excited to go to the dentist. But as a dental professional, you know the importance of dental care for your patients' overall health. Creating a rewards program that motivates patients to complete dental-related activities can help them get excited about their appointments and showcase how strongly you value their oral health. 

You can create a points-based program that rewards patients each time they:

• Brush their teeth twice in one day
• Floss for three days in a row
• Complete a dental cleaning
• Receive dental x-rays

You can also support patients when they interact with your practice directly. With Dental Intelligence Patient Loyalty Program, patients and their families will receive loyalty points for filling out their medical forms, showing up on time, referring family members and friends, and any other tasks you choose.

Your patients will know that you appreciate them and have extrinsic motivation to take care of their oral health.

4. Take Measures to Improve Patient Comfort

Dental anxiety is a real concern for many patients. Patients with extreme anxiety may delay appointments for years or have trouble even walking through your doors. But it doesn't take much effort on your part to improve their comfort and peace in your office. 

Consider implementing these solutions to help reduce dental anxiety and provide patient-centric care:

• Give patients an opportunity to list their worries or concerns on their intake forms.
• Offer blankets, sunglasses, and headphones to patients who want them during their exams.
• Adjust patients' care based on their concerns.
• Play calming music and use dim lighting in the waiting rooms.

These measures may even lead anxious patients to choose your practice over others. 

5. Avoid Rushing Appointments

Modern health systems have a reputation for speeding through appointments due to overscheduling or unforeseen delays. But as a patient, there's nothing worse than arriving at an appointment with a list of concerns and watching the dentist walk out the door without taking the time to listen. 

If you find yourself rushing through appointments to stick to the schedule, consider how you can restructure it so that delays and overbookings are less common.

Digital Tools to Enhance Patient Care

Building trust and sincerity in your patient base involves being highly attuned to their needs and goals. Are you ready to better prioritize patient-centric care in your practice? Request your Dental Intelligence demo today to learn how our patient loyalty program can instill trust and excitement in your patient base.