13 Ways to Use Text Messaging for Your Dental Office

In a dental office, inefficient patient communication can be a huge barrier to running your front office smoothly. When things are hectic with appts and checkups, your front office communication becomes the key to providing a smooth patient experience.

Using dental office texting, you can easily respond to patient text messages and queries from your mobile phone. This will help you to treat patients’ requests instantly and give them an amazing experience.

Dental office texting is a great way to engage, retain, and convert patients. By providing timely communication, you can keep your patients happy and coming back for years!

Also, business text messaging solutions can help ensure your texts are HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant.

13 Ways to Use Dental Office Texting To Convert More Patients

Here are 13 effective ways dental offices can use text messaging to grow their practice:

1. Appointment reminders

Dental office texting lets you quickly and easily remind patients of their upcoming appointments. These dental text reminders will help to reduce the number of no-shows and keep your appointment schedule full.

2. Recall reminders

Dental office texting can also remind patients of their recall appointments. Recall appointments are important for maintaining dental health, so it’s important to ensure patients don’t forget about them. For example, you can send a reminder to book an appointment for a routine oral health test, such as a periapical radiograph.

3. Payment reminders

If a patient has a payment plan for their dental work, dental office texting can help to remind them of their upcoming payments. This will help patients manage their dental finances and ensure you get paid on time.

4. Welcome new patients

When a new patient comes to your dental office, you can use dental office texting to welcome them. This is a great way to start the patient-dentist relationship on the right foot!

5. Dental Emergencies Response

In the case of a dental emergency, dental office texting can help you quickly and easily get in touch with patients. This way, you can provide them with the dental care they need when they need it most.

6. Promotions and discounts

Dental office texting can also be used to promote special offers and discounts. This strategy will help attract new patients and keep existing patients coming back for more.

7. Education and awareness

Using text marketing for dental practice, you can educate patients on dental health. For example, you can send out tips on how to brush and floss properly or reminders about the importance of regular dental checkups.

8. Marketing campaigns and referrals

You can also use dental texting to run targeted marketing campaigns. For example, you can send special offers or discounts to your existing patients who refer their friends and family to your dental office.

9. Patient satisfaction surveys

After a dental appointment, you can use dental texting to send out a patient satisfaction survey. It is a great way to get feedback from patients and ensure they had a positive experience at your dental office.

10. Post-operative instructions and Follow-up

After a dental procedure, you can send post-operative instructions to your patients. This way, you can ensure that your patients know how to take care of their teeth after their procedure and ask any questions they may have.

11. Online reviews

A great feat of dental office texting is the ability to request online reviews. Online reviews are important for attracting new patients and boosting your dental practice’s overall reputation and visibility.

12. Upcoming dental events

With dental office texting, you can promote upcoming dental events, such as mentoring programs or free oral checkups. By texting your patient about these events, you can create a buzz and get them excited about coming in. This is also a great way to generate quality leads for your dental practice.

13. Re-engagement campaigns

Dental office texting can also be used for re-engagement campaigns. You can reach out to patients who haven’t been to your dental office in a while and encourage them to return. Doing so allows you to fill up your appointment schedule and keep your existing patients returning for more.

These are just a few ways dental offices can use text messaging for their practice. Text messaging is a quick, easy and convenient way to engage patients. If you’re still unsure about using dental office texting, here are some benefits that may convince you.

Benefits of Dental Office Texting

75% of all American Gen Zs and millennials prefer texting over phone calls, according to a new study. Additionally, almost 89% of consumers prefer to text their healthcare providers over calls or emails.

Patients only open 20% of emails and answer 52% of phone calls - whereas texts have a mind-blowing open rate of 98%.

Your dental office must adapt to patients’ needs in real-time to create better and stronger patient relationships. With that said, here are some benefits of dental office texting:

Cost-effective

Text messaging for dental offices is not only preferred by your patients but also more efficient and cost-effective for your practice. A Forrester research report states that a phone conversation costs about $15.50 per interaction, whereas two-way text messaging costs between $1-5. So, if you’re looking for a more cost-effective way to communicate with your patients, dental texting is the way to go.

Quick and Convenient

Texting is quick and convenient for both you and your patients. Patients can easily text you with any questions or concerns, and you can quickly respond with a solution. This is a great way to reduce the number of phone calls you receive and make it easier for patients to get in touch with you.

Personalization

Dental texting allows you to personalize your messages to each patient. You can send targeted messages relevant to each patient’s unique situation. Patients appreciate the personal touch and are more likely to respond positively to your messages.

Increased Patient Engagement & Retention

Dental practices using dental office texting to communicate with patients have seen increased patient engagement and retention rates. Texting is a quick and easy way to remind patients of appointments, send post-operative instructions, or answer any questions they may have. Dental SMS has also been shown to be an effective marketing tool, helping to increase conversion rates and bring in new patients. By sending special offers and discounts via text, dental practices can stay top-of-mind with their patients and encourage them to book appointments.

Reduce No-Shows

Let’s be real! When a patient fails to show up for their appointment, it’s not only frustrating but costly for the clinic. Not only does the clinic miss out on revenue from that patient, but another patient in need is deprived of an appointment.

According to a 2019 study published by the Kansas Journal of Medicine, one of the primary reasons for patients’ no-shows is forgetfulness. Patients are busy. They often forget they have an appointment scheduled amid the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Although patient no-shows are an unfortunate reality, patient text messaging can help minimize the number of lost opportunities your practice experiences.

76% of people worldwide want text reminders of upcoming medical appointments. Clinics have seen a 50% decrease in no-shows when text message reminders are scheduled and sent out to patients.

Get New Patients In Your Waiting Rooms

Setting up new appointments is no small task for your staff. It can be time-consuming and frustrating. Whether your clinic is a fee-for-service or you’re reimbursed for your services, you need to have patients coming through your front doors. Text marketing can automate your dental office’s outreach, and it has proven to convert potential patients better than a phone call. According to the Marketing Charts study, the average conversion rate of SMS marketing is 29%. It means you have a good chance of filling your waiting room by texting potential patients.

Improved Patient-Provider Relationships

When you enable dental texting, it allows patients to have a direct line of communication with you. This two-way communication helps build a stronger relationship between patient and practitioner and provides an opportunity for patients to have detailed conversations about their health. With texting, your patients can get answers to their questions quickly that may not require an appointment. This also helps to improve the patient experience and make them feel more valued.

Improved Patient Communication

Clear and effective communication is essential for any healthcare provider, but it can be especially challenging in a fast-paced dental office. Dental office texting lets you quickly and easily send important updates and reminders to your patients without interrupting their day.

Faster Appointment Booking

Busy patients often find it difficult to book appointments during traditional office hours. Text messaging allows them to easily schedule an appointment at a time that works for them – without ever having to pick up the phone.

With that being said, let’s answer a burning question you might have:

Is it illegal for healthcare organizations to text their patients?

The simple answer is no; it isn’t illegal. Dental offices can use text messaging to send reminders, surveys, and answer inquiries as long as your clinic follows text marketing best practices.

If you want to personalize patient care further, using mobile numbers is a great idea. However, there are a few rules in the healthcare industry that you must follow.

It’s always best to confer with your legal team, though you can use software programs such as DemandHub that are HIPAA compliant and designed specifically for healthcare systems. It allows you to reach patients easily through dental texting without legal trouble.

General Guidelines to Follow for Dental Office Texting

Although patient text messaging can help your dental practice, there are some guidelines your practice needs to make.

The privacy of your patients should always be at the forefront of your mind when sending them messages. Use secure text messaging platforms to keep doctor-patient-staff communication confidential.

Not everyone loves texting, especially older patients. So be sure to give your patients a choice to indicate their preferred communication method (text, email, phone calls, etc.). Providing options to your patients can help guarantee a positive and seamless patient experience.

Always get consent from your patients before sending them text messages. Failing to receive consent can violate the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and carry serious fines.

Primary care physicians must receive written consent before dental texting begins; verbal consent is not enough.

Ready to Grow Your Dental Practice 10X?

Dental office texting will make your practice more efficient and keep patients happy. Texting also helps your office run more smoothly by automating some of the tedious tasks that come with managing a dental practice.

You can quickly respond to patient requests, transfer the request to the appropriate person, schedule appointments, and send dental SMS reminders for upcoming appointments.

DemandHub is the leading customer experience and reputation management platform for healthcare providers with a mission to help local businesses and clinics grow by making it easier to communicate with patients.

With modern messaging technology, you can keep your dental practice organized and in touch by using messaging, web chat, and team chat — all on one platform. We want to help you build relationships, take control of your online reputation, and grow your practice today.

With DemandHub, you can quickly and easily send appointment reminders, confirmations, or even marketing messages to your patients — all while staying HIPAA compliant. Book a free demo today to see how we can help grow your dental practice 10X!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Dental Office Texting

What is dental office texting?

Dental office texting is SMS-based communication between a dental office and its patients. You can use dental texting to send appointment reminders, follow-ups, promotional messages, and responses to patient inquiries.

Why should dental offices use texting?

Texting is a convenient and immediate way for dental offices to communicate with patients. It enhances patient satisfaction, reduces no-shows, and improves dental office efficiency.

How does a dental office get started with texting?

To start with texting, a dental office needs a text messaging platform that complies with all relevant healthcare communication regulations, like HIPAA. The office must inform patients about this communication option and obtain their consent to receive text messages.

Can dental offices send promotional messages through texting?

Yes, dental offices can send promotional messages via text, such as special offers, discounts, or new services. But they must comply with regulations and have obtained the necessary consent from patients.

How do I text a dentist for an appointment?

Suppose a dental office offers texting as a communication option. In that case, patients can text the provided number stating their preferred appointment times and the purpose of the visit. The office will then respond to confirm the appointment or suggest alternative times.

How do you communicate with a patient in a dental office?

Communication in a dental office should be clear, respectful, and patient-focused. It can occur via various channels, such as in-person conversations, webchat, live chat, phone calls, emails, text messages, and social media. You can book appointments, provide health-related educational content, and discuss new treatment plans through your communication platform.

How do I advertise my dental services?

You can advertise your dental services through various channels. These channels can be your practice’s website, social media, SMS, email newsletters, direct mail, and online or print ads. SEO and content marketing can also help increase your online visibility. Local community events or partnerships can also be an effective way to reach potential patients. When advertising, clearly communicate what sets your practice apart, such as specialized services, advanced technology, or exceptional patient care.

Key Takeaways

Efficient Communication is Crucial: In a dental office, efficient patient communication, especially during busy periods, is essential for smooth operation and enhancing patient experience.

Dental Office Texting Enhances Engagement: Utilizing texting for various purposes such as appointment reminders, payment notices, and educational content can significantly improve patient engagement, retention, and conversion.

HIPAA Compliance is Paramount: When using text messaging solutions, ensuring HIPAA compliance is crucial for protecting patient privacy and adhering to legal standards.

Multiple Uses for Texting in Dental Practices: Texting can be effectively used for appointment reminders, welcoming new patients, handling dental emergencies, promoting discounts, conducting patient satisfaction surveys, and more.

Benefits of Dental Office Texting: Texting is preferred by a significant portion of the population, particularly younger generations, and offers numerous benefits including cost-effectiveness, convenience, personalization, increased patient engagement and retention, reduction of no-shows, and efficient appointment booking.

Legal and Best Practice Considerations: It’s important for dental practices to follow guidelines for patient privacy, consent, and communication preferences to avoid legal issues and ensure a positive patient experience.

Dental Office Texting as a Marketing Tool: Texting not only serves operational and communication needs but also acts as a powerful marketing tool to attract new patients, promote services, and improve patient-provider relationships.

Getting Started with Dental Office Texting: To implement dental office texting, practices should choose HIPAA-compliant platforms, inform patients about this communication method, and obtain their consent.

DemandHub’s Role: DemandHub offers a platform for dental practices to manage patient communication efficiently, including appointment reminders and marketing messages, while staying HIPAA compliant.