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Dental Patients for Life!Lorie Streeter – StreeterBuilt Strategic MarketingHave you ever wondered why the new patient you just met 6 months ago cancelled their recall appointment and didn’t come back? There are countless reasons for this ongoing revolving door, some within a dental office's control and some that are not. What this article is going to focus on are the strategies a dental office can perform to insure they have completed what I like to call "the New Patient Check List"! First, the front office staff should always mentally wear a badge that says “keeper of first impressions”. They truly hold the key to a person’s initial reaction to your practice setting the tone for the rest of the dental experience. Assuming the dental patient has a really great first impression, does the assistant/hygienist follow though with the patient experience as well? Each role and experience is connected to the next, improving the dental relationship or straining it. Then the closer comes in. Although dentists often reject the salesperson description, because they have the final say in the "business" transaction, this job description is almost impossible to avoid. This means the dentist has a high level of influence in various ways, making every interaction with the dentist a crucial focal point. This includes the dentist's bedside manor and style of Dentistry, which are vital to create a strong “patient for life” platform. Developing a robust "patients for life" approach can produce an endless revenue stream, countless referrals of friends/family, and a dental patient experience you can be proud of. This full circle approach should be identified in your dental office and followed like a strategic game plan patient after patient. These steps work with every patient but are especially critical when a new dental patient is sitting on the fence. It should be your office's mission to convince each patient that you are making a lifetime offer to him/her to join your dental practice. New Patient Check ListBy following the diagram below and creating a flow in your office that fits your dental practice personality, you will keep a “lights on” attitude toward retaining these vital New Patients. 
Dental Commentary By Lorie Streeter Lorie Streeter has 19 years background in Dental Sales/Marketing and Communications. Lorie is the Midwest Regional Representative for AADOM (American Association of Dental Office Managers) and is featured regularly in the Patterson eXperience magazine. Lorie's strategic approach helps Dental Practices grown organically from the inside out. |