This question is on the minds of every dental professional and patient alike. Dentists across the country are preparing to reopen their practice doors. It is natural to want to hit the ground running in an attempt to restore normalcy. But, remember to keep the health of you, your team members, and your patients in mind. Dental practices should make modifications to practice operations post-pandemic. Bryant Consultants wants to share some tips on this topic: what your patients want to know, and how to communicate your message.
What Patients Want To Know
Patients are wondering how life is going to look moving forward, especially as it relates to their dental care. Bryant Consultants recommends highlighting the following topics on social media, either through a quick video presented by the dentist or through an informative and engaging post.
- When will canceled appointments be scheduled?
- What treatments are considered a priority?
- How long will it take to be contacted by the practice?
- What will coming to your practice look like after COVID-19? (Are there temperature checks, will they wait in their car until called, will they have to sanitize their hands or use a mouth rinse? Address the new steps in your message).
How To Create Urgency
It is natural for some patients to be too afraid to venture out, even as shelter-in-place orders are lifted. Even those in dire need of dental care may refuse to step foot outside of their home. Create a sense of urgency and remind patients why dental care is important and an essential part of their health.
- Remind your patients of the importance of scheduling appointments for dental care because the schedule will fill up fast!
- Let patients know how important it is to have a damaged tooth fixed instead of ignoring it.
- Remind patients how important oral hygiene is and how it affects their overall health.
Keep Patients In The Know
The first thing you need to do is communicate your plan to reopen with your patients. You could send a letter or email to patients of record, or share the information on social media. Our dental consultants recommend sticking with a digital communication platform – either email or social media.
Contact Cancelled Patients
Many patients that were scheduled for elective procedures, such as dental cleanings, had to be canceled when COVID-19 hit. Don’t just leave these patients hanging, wondering what comes next. Contact them individually to reschedule as you begin to open your practice again. Maintaining this contact instills confidence and trust with your patients.
These are definitely strange times that we are living in, and life will likely not be the same as it was before COVID-19. But, that doesn’t mean that your dental practice cannot thrive past this pandemic. Please remember that dental practices are subject to their county, city, and state guidelines in terms of reopening. Bryant Consultants continues to provide valuable resources for dental practitioners and small businesses alike. If you would like to learn more, call (877) 768-4799 for a complimentary one-hour consultation. Are you on social media? We are too! Please connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.
