While the entire medical community was going berserk with an overwhelming number of patients during the pandemic, dentistry, like many other professions, suffered a great deal of loss in both, the number of visitors, i.e. ideally 8 to 12 each day, as well as the revenue.
One of the biggest reasons for the lack of visits, as claimed by one-half of all the patients, was the possibility of coming across Covid-19 patients in their dentists’ offices. Something that practitioners quickly noticed.
And therefore, came up with new strategies for connecting and communicating with their clients such as Telehealth or Teledentistry. Yet, while a majority of them were able to retain their patients using the technology, a significant lot of them, about 46% of practitioners still reported a marginal drop in their overall revenue.
Which begs the question as to what concrete steps you should take to run, start, or revamp your dental practice in the post-Covid-19 era of 2022.
Without further ado, let’s see what you can do:
1. Have a proper plan of practice
Without an ounce of doubt, the first thing you should do before setting up your dental clinic is to come up with a proper plan.
This is where you will jot down everything that defines your business, goals, target audience, office location, service area, as well as your insurance, and finances.
2. Check finances
While creating the strategy, you will also need to check your funds and create a proper financial plan by keeping all your expenses in mind.
This includes your office expenditure, employee wages, utility bills, equipment charges, and any other cost that might pop up at a later time during the operations.
3. Grow your presence (in both online and offline markets)
To be able to draw more patients your way, you will first need to let them know about your clinic and the services you offer.
Be it your local area, or the digital market, there are many ways to increase your visibility in the dental community.
For example, press releases, local events, referrals, paid ads, pen and paper marketing, online directories, online reviews, and partnerships with other health care providers. Or simply by word-of-mouth.
4. Build a network within and outside of the community
Another great way of increasing your presence and building authority at the same time is by networking with like-minded individuals from within and outside of the medical community.
So don’t be shy to join as many business groups, events, seminars, and conferences as you can. Because at the end of the day, it’s a win-win for all as far as the opportunities are concerned.
5. Market your specialty
While showcasing all your services is important, what’s more, important is to come out with one of your strengths as your key specialization.
So, instead of going all-in at the beginning, make sure to tread carefully with techniques that you have already mastered. Remember, one small mistake in this critical business can significantly compromise the entire quality of your dental care services.
6. Offer Dental membership plans
Another important aspect of running a successful healthcare or dental care clinic is to make your services available to those who are underprivileged or financially weak.
The easiest way to do that is by offering flexible or installment-based payment options to your clients.
There are tons of dental membership plans that you can choose from by using a trusted dentistry platform.Top dental practitioners these days use dental membership software that are equipped with smart features. Such software is a great aid for dental practitioners as these help increase productivity at the dental care centers.
7. Create a website/ mobile app
Having a website or mobile app of your own for your dental business is also crucial if you wish to get the desired volume of patients every day.
Take the assistance of a professional for the same if you aren’t tech-savvy. But make sure that it is furnished with all your business info, latest tools, and technologies such as automated chatbots, plus a virtual tour for the first-timers.
8. Implement Teledentistry and Virtual care
Speaking of tools, 27% of dental health care providers are already using advanced technology such as Telehealth, or better yet Teledentistry for the purpose of care, consultation, education, and awareness.
Being the most popular trend in the industry, it is all about providing care remotely and virtually to patients who are distant or physically unavailable by means of the internet and telecommunications.
9. Use Social Media and other communication tools
Although your website should certainly be a one-stop-shop for all your patients and clients, it’s not the only way to be active on the internet.
Social media, for instance, is perhaps the biggest marketing platform that you can use for a number of goals like most other businesses.
Be it about keeping an eye on your competition, or listening to what your patients are saying about you, social media, community forums, and the likes can give you meaningful insights about your practice as well as the market.
10. Write informative blogs
As important as it is to listen to your customers, talking to them through informative content and blogs is equally crucial if you want to build authority and become a thought leader in the long run.
So don’t forget to share your thoughts and knowledge with your audience.
And while the list may go on, completing these basics would be more than enough in starting your dental care practice the right way in the very span of 2022.