Your success as a dentist depends on building trusting relationships with patients. People will only opt for your services, keep coming to your clinic, and recommend you to others if they see you as a capable, trustworthy dental care provider.

Building credibility for dental professionals takes time and effort, especially if your practice is new and faces stiff competition. The following tips will help you establish a solid reputation as a dentist.

1. Be Transparent

To gain credibility, you must be credible. Build your practice upon the flagship values of honesty, integrity, and open communication. Give patients a full, clear picture of their dental care options and avoid unsubstantiated statements. 

Your credentials, expertise, fee system, referral system, available services, expected outcomes, and any other relevant aspect of your work as a dentist should be open to patient inquiries. Always be ready to answer patients’ questions and help them establish realistic expectations about dental procedures. 

Also, ensure your practice complies with all regulatory guidelines, including HIPAA, patient safety, biohazard management, cybersecurity, and staff training. Few things can destroy a reputation quicker than a liability lawsuit. 

2. Invest in the Setting

When patients walk into your clinic for the first time, you only have a few seconds to make a positive first impression. Invest in making your waiting room pleasant and inviting with a flattering color scheme, good lighting, and comfortable furniture. You might choose to work with a professional interior decorator for a harmonious, flattering look. Of course, your reception area should always be clean and tidy.

Above all, ensure you have friendly staff members who welcome each patient with a smile and do all they can to create a relaxing atmosphere while the patient waits for their appointment. 

3. Educate, Don’t Sell

Building credibility comes naturally when the patient is your focal point. Instead of starting with offering the solution you believe to be the best, concentrate on the patient’s condition, goals, limitations, priorities, and budget. 

Communicate with your patients on an eye-to-eye level and empower them by giving them information and choices. “This is your condition, these are your treatment options, and these are the potential outcomes. This is what I would recommend, but you get to decide how we proceed.” Patients will trust you more when they see you as a consultant rather than a salesman. 

4. Create the Best Possible Patient Experience

Many people who come into your dental office will be apprehensive and possibly anxious, often because of past bad experiences. Empathy, sensitivity, and extra attention to patients’ well-being will help you build a positive reputation.

Creating the best possible experience for dental patients includes efficient scheduling, explaining all procedures to reduce anxiety, keeping the patient comfortable throughout the treatment, and, if necessary, touching base with them after the appointment. You want each patient to be able to say, “Wow, this dental team did everything to make my experience as pleasant and stress-free as possible.”

5. Let Some Patients Go

This advice may seem counterintuitive, especially when you’re working hard to establish a patient base. However, not every patient will be a good fit for your dental practice.

Some patients will be interested in procedures you don’t provide, in which case your best bet would be to recommend another dental practice you trust. Others will keep breaking appointments, make unreasonable demands, and drain your time and energy. It’s better to focus on patients who are committed and easygoing. 

6. Keep Track of Your Reviews

You need a solid body of authentic, positive reviews to establish credibility with local patients. Word-of-mouth referrals may account for a large share of your new patients, but people will also read the reviews on your website and Google My Business page, especially when they’re about to visit your clinic for the first time.

Gaining and keeping track of your online reviews is easier with Dental Intelligence. Moreover, our convenient review management system makes negative reviews less likely. If negative feedback does crop up, be sure to address any valid concerns quickly and openly. You may try contacting the reviewer in private to see whether you can do anything to rectify their impression and prompt them to adjust their rating of your clinic. 

Build Trust and Foster Your Reputation With Dental Intelligence

Efficient tools by Dental Intelligence can help you manage customer review responses, earn trust, and build credibility as a dentist. Join the 9000+ dental practices already using Dental Intelligence to create a better patient experience and foster a stellar local reputation. Request a free demo today.

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