Why Patient Reviews Matter in Dental Practices

Patient reviews have become a decisive factor in dental practice selection: 72% of patients consult online reviews before choosing a healthcare provider.

If your practice receives a string of bad reviews, it can deter new patients and prompt existing ones to consider switching dentists.

But what if you don't have the time or resources to manage your patient reviews?

Unfortunately, the choice isn't up to you. 88% of dentists say they receive online reviews from their patients, so review management is something most offices have to invest in.

The easiest way to start managing patient reviews is to set up profiles on several review platforms.

Top Review Platforms for Dental Practices

To manage your dental practice's online reputation, you need an active presence across multiple review platforms—let's break them down:

Leveraging Google Reviews

Considering Google's popularity as a search engine, it's not surprising that 81% of consumers use it to read online reviews.

To collect Google reviews, you need a Google Business Profile account to generate a listing for your practice.

These listings appear prominently in local searches, displaying your average rating, review count, and recent reviews directly in search results.

Key benefits:

• Highest visibility in search results

• Integration with Google Maps

• Direct impact on local SEO rankings

• Easy for patients to leave reviews

• Free business profile with robust features

Maximizing Visibility on Healthgrades

As a healthcare-specific platform, Healthgrades offers specialized features for dental practices. It provides detailed information about dental practices, including:

• Educational background

• Professional credentials

• Practice specialties

• Insurance acceptance

• Patient satisfaction metrics

Optimizing Your Presence on Yelp

With 44% of consumers checking Yelp reviews before making decisions, it's worth setting up a profile to expand your online presence. Yelp's strict review policies ensure the reviews are authentic, though they also prohibit directly asking for reviews. The platform offers:

• Detailed business profiles

• Photo-sharing capabilities

• Response management tools

• Appointment booking integration

• Enhanced visibility in local searches

Harnessing Facebook Recommendations

Facebook's social nature makes it powerful for word-of-mouth marketing. The platform's recommendation system allows patients to share their experiences with their social networks, potentially reaching hundreds or thousands of local connections. Benefits include:

• Social proof through mutual connections

• Easy sharing capabilities

• Integration with your practice's Facebook page

• Direct messaging capabilities

• Event promotion opportunities

Regardless of which platform you choose, remember to be HIPAA-compliant in your responses and interactions.

Focus on the platforms your target patients use most, but maintain at least basic profiles on all major review sites to maximize your online visibility.

What Do the Best-Rated Dentists Have in Their Reviews?

Top dental practices receive reviews that share common characteristics and highlight what patients value most.

Highlighting Quality of Care and Expertise

These practices receive reviews that emphasize:

• Thorough explanations of procedures and treatment options

• Precision and attention to detail during treatments

• Use of modern equipment and technology

• Professional expertise and continuing education

• Successful outcomes and lasting results

Enhancing the Patient Experience

High-rated practices often receive praise for providing a great patient experience, including:

• Staff friendliness and professionalism

• Office cleanliness and modern facilities

• Efficient scheduling and minimal wait times

• Clear communication about procedures and costs

• Comfortable atmosphere and amenities

Building Personal Relationships

High-performing practices receive reviews that emphasize:

• Individual attention from the dentist and staff

• Recognition of patient concerns and anxieties

• Follow-up care and genuine interest in outcomes

• Staff members mentioned by name

• Long-term relationship building

Including Specific Details and Scenarios

The most impactful reviews are detailed and include:

• Specific descriptions of procedures

• Real scenarios of how the practice handled challenges

• Examples of going above and beyond

• Timeline of treatment and results

• Concrete details about the patient experience

How to Get High-Quality Patient Reviews

Gathering meaningful patient reviews depends on your approach and timing. Request a review while patients are still in your office, when their experience is fresh and they're most likely to follow through.

Perfect Your Timing and Approach

Make review requests part of your checkout process. After completing treatment and while patients are still feeling positive about their experience, personally ask them to share their thoughts. You can say something like: "We're always looking to improve our care—would you mind taking a moment to share your experience with others?"

Make It Convenient for Patients

Remove barriers by offering multiple ways to leave reviews:

• Provide office WiFi access for immediate mobile reviews

• Set up a dedicated tablet station

• Send direct links to your preferred review platforms via text or email

• Create simple instruction cards with QR codes linking to review sites

Select Reviewers Strategically

Don't ask every patient for a review. Instead, target specific patients who can help build a well-rounded online presence:

• Patients who've experienced different types of procedures

• Those who've interacted with various staff members, including temporary team members

• Patients from different demographics to ensure representative feedback

Focus on Quality Through Specific Requests

Guide patients toward detailed, helpful reviews by asking targeted questions:

• "What made you feel especially comfortable during your visit?"

• "How did our team help address your concerns?"

• "What stood out about your experience with [specific procedure]?"

When working with temporary staff through platforms like Teero, maintain consistency by:

• Briefing temporary staff on your review collection process

• Including them in patient feedback requests

• Highlighting positive experiences with both permanent and temporary team members

Consider using review management platforms to automate and streamline the process. These tools can help track reviews across multiple sites, send automated requests, and maintain a consistent approach regardless of staffing changes.

By engaging with your patients and encouraging feedback, you can improve your reputation and grow your dental practice.