Two Steps to Improving your Rapport with Dental Patients

Your dental patients are your practice’s most important asset.  A key to forming long term relationships with them is to develop a relationship. By connecting with your patients they will choose to keep coming back and be more likely to comply with their course of treatment.

Increase your Likeability

Is your staff likeable? When hiring front office staff it’s important to not only pay attention to their professional credentials but whether they communicate well  and are friendly. Encourage your dental staff to compliment your patients and make sure to enforce this by complimenting them on a job well done. A smile goes a long way so make sure that not only do you smile at patients,  but your staff does as well. Show interest in your patients’ lives, engage them in conversation before and after a procedure, and try to end each visit on a personal note.

Build Trust

Lack of trust is one of the biggest barriers for dental patients to accept treatment. Build your patients’ trust in your dental practice by under promising and over delivering. By exceeding your dental patient’s expectations you will gain their trust. It’s important to always tell your dental patients the truth and not to be too pushy. If they hesitate at accepting a treatment plan discuss their apprehensions rather than continuing to just push the treatment plan.

If you truly listen to your patients and discover things you have in common you will gain their trust and build your rapport.