There’s good news about the dentistry profession! The number of U.S. adults visiting dentists in 2017 was 58% according to an ADA survey, outpacing the 20% who have an annual physical. The bad news? Dental visits declined from 2016 when 62% of Americans reported a yearly visit. These numbers point out two opportunities for growth:
- Increasing the number of semi-annual check-ups. The ADA survey says 85% of Americans acknowledge the importance of oral health for their overall well-being. Only 25% reported being ‘extremely satisfied’ with their dental health.
- New patients. About four in 10 Americans didn’t visit a dentist. Some potential patients avoid dentist offices because they’ve had painful experiences in the past. But a significant number don’t schedule regular dental check-ups because they lack dental insurance or can’t afford the cost of treatment.
Marketing your dental practice is essential to tapping into these growth opportunities. Marketing activities also help you stay connected with your current patients. With visits declining, continuing to deliver exceptional service is vital to maintaining your existing patient base.
“Marketing” is a broad term that some define as ‘the activities you use to promote and sell your dental practice’ to current and potential patients. At Patient Valve, our definition of marketing takes a different tack. To us, marketing includes all the activities you use to ‘create relationships with patients and satisfy their needs for superior dental care.’ There’s no template for dentist patient marketing, but there are steps you can follow to develop a dental marketing plan that works for you.