Introduction to dental office text messaging
With the majority US population using text messaging for both personal and professional purposes, it is quite clear that this form of communication is effective, not just in terms of costs, but also time and effort.
Text messaging is now being used by businesses across multiple industries and has proven to be a great tool for patient engagement and interaction. Text messaging has also proven to be a great communication channel for dental practitioners.
Did you know? Three minutes is the average time within which 98 per cent of text messages are read.
Text messaging can perform an array of tasks for a dental office from reducing no-shows to generating more reviews this communication medium can enhance patient engagement while saving 3-4 hrs of staff time every day, let’s see how?
Why your dental practice should adopt text messaging?
Let’s take a look at the core benefits text messaging can drive for your dental office.
- Text messaging helps dentists save costs: You can cut up to 95 per cent of the support call costs that you incur by switching to texting.
- Text messaging is time-saving: While each phone call takes an average of 5 minutes; text messages take only a couple of seconds.
- Text messaging is less intrusive: As compared to emails and calls, text messages are less intrusive as recipients usually opt-in to receive text messages.
- Text messages offer quick query resolution: 78 per cent of customers prefer text messages to communicate with businesses as their queries get resolved quickly.
- Text messaging provides better patient engagement: As compared to emails, text messages have 6X more engagement.
Benefits of text messaging for dentists
1. Better patient engagement
Did you know that the open rate of text messaging is 98 per cent and the response rate is 40%, higher than any other communication channel? Text messaging for dentists can prove to be quite instrumental with respect to boosting patient engagement.
From scheduling appointments to taking follow-ups, from sending appointment reminders to asking for feedback or a review; there are a plethora of things that you, as a dental practitioner, can do with text messaging.
Group texting, Broadcast Texting and automating text messaging as a whole are a few options that can save a lot of time on your end. By automating your messages, you can engage efficiently with your patients, and save time otherwise spent on repetitive tasks.
2. Reduced no-shows and cancellations
When you book a slot for a patient, you wait for the patient to show up. What if the patient doesn’t arrive? You lose money for that appointment and also have an empty slot that now cannot be filled.
Considering that the no-show rate for dentistry is 15 per cent, you can lose a lot of revenue if patients don’t show up at your door after booking an appointment.
Did you know? — One of the most prominent reasons for no-shows is that the patient simply forgets!
Imagine if you had sent a text message reminding the patient of his/her appointment and given them the option to reschedule all through automation. You wouldn’t have to deal with the loss, wouldn’t have to follow up to reschedule, and can schedule another appointment on the open slot.
3. Efficient 2-way communication
Whether it is general queries, booking and rescheduling appointments, no patient wants to wait for too long. Hence, they prefer text messaging.
You can leverage this preference and use it to communicate with your patients. Not only does it generate more responses but is also easy on the pocket.
Having gone through the benefits, now we come to the fun part. Here’s how you can use dental office text messaging to your advantage.
10 guaranteed ways dental office text messaging can increase your Revenues by 3X
1. To Handle Missed Calls
Did you know – 15% of missed calls a practice receives are Booking related? These on average roughly translate into a minimum of $100K in lost revenue every year.
Missed calls can surely turn into lost business opportunities. You need proper means of dealing with missed calls and you need to make sure they are quick and engaging. Data suggests that text messaging is the best solution
It could be outside business hours, on a holiday or just because it’s a hectic day at your dental practice regardless of the reason missing a patient’s call usually means that they almost immediately turn to another practice. What if you could retain them? That’s where dental office text messaging can help.
A follow-up occurring immediately through text can engage the patient in conversation and help them with whatever they need. Two-way texting can ensure patient engagement and patient retention. Here’s an example:
2. To Handle Missed Texts
Again, missing texts is just as damaging as missing a call. With a dental office messaging service, you will get an idea of the unread conversations and can easily respond to those missed chats.
Whenever you miss a text, apologize immediately and earnestly. You cannot lose out on a prospective client just because you missed their text. Begin addressing their issues in your response and proactively ask how you can help them.
3. Converting webchat to text
Your practice surely has its website and you’ve put a lot of effort into making it look perfect, your social media pages on sites like Google and Facebook are starting to look great as well, Congratulations, it has done its job and, now patients are leaving queries on all these channels.
Responding to all these queries from various platforms can be a tedious task and If you take too long to respond to them, patients might forget that they even posted a query and dismiss your reply. But what if you could respond from a single interface using chat or converting these queries into text messages?
Fun fact: About 60% of customers want a quick reaction from support to their inquiry. These queries if converted to text can be answered quickly from anywhere.
Converting the web chat to text could be an optimal solution. Not having to wait on the web would help convert a simple query into a conversation. Once the customer is engaged in a conversation, it is easier to turn them into a patient.
4. Generate more reviews
You want to know how your patient’s experience was with your practice. What’s the best and quick way to achieve this?
Dental office text messaging service is a great way to get patient reviews.
Fun Fact – 200% more reviews can be generated through automated text message requests
After every appointment, you can instantly reach out to the patient for a review and this can be scheduled automatically with your dental office text messaging service.
5. To Schedule Appointments, Reminders or Confirmations.
Studies show that about 30% of patients prefer reminders over text for their upcoming appointments.
For appointments, having a say is important for the patient as this makes it easier for your patients to schedule or reschedule appointments. Thus, using two-way texting can be a great way to reduce no-shows and constantly keep your schedule full.
Fun Fact – text message appointment reminders have been proven to reduce no-show rates by almost 90%.
You can set up automated reminders and also customize the frequency with which you wish to send them to your patients. In the case of unconfirmed appointments, you can schedule a campaign and send personalized texts.
6. To Help Increase Recall
Regular communication over text helps engage patients, they are then more likely to pay attention to messages containing useful information. Messages such as those indicating time for check-ups are more likely to be viewed and lead to bookings if it is easy for them to do so.
Patient loyalty is difficult to gain, but with regular follow-ups and constant useful communication, you can get a step closer.
Research shows that acquiring new patients on average is 4 times more expensive than retaining existing patients
To increase patient recall, you can send care-related reminders.
7. To enhance outreach campaigns
As a dental practitioner, you must be quite proactive in updating your services and sharing special offers from time to time. Whenever you make such updates or run holiday discounts, it is important that you communicate the same to your patients effectively.
70% of practice owners who have used text messaging for running campaigns believe that it helps improve patient engagement, response rates and patient experience.
Make a list of your patients who have signed up for updates and then send those outreach messages to all your patients.
8. For Instant and General Communication
Reaching out to your patients for last-minute changes or any miscellaneous reasons can be achieved through your dental office text messaging service.
Your practice may have to close early or take a day off due to unforeseen events. These situations are inescapable but being ready for them is your responsibility. Let’s take a look at an example:
Dental office text messaging services can help you with it. With Emitrr’s backup receptionist, you can personalize your message for each patient and have it delivered instantly.
9. For payment reminders
Dental office text messaging services can also be used for payment purposes. You can send messages with links for payment as and when required.
Did you know that 80% of patients are likely to pay within 3 mins of receiving a text payment request?
With two-way text messaging services you can also remind patients of upcoming and overdue payments.
You can also inform them according to their healthcare plans and if there would be any out-of-pocket expenses along with their payment schedules.
10. For Handling FAQs
If your dental office text messaging service is equipped with the knowledge of dental jargon, it makes it easier to answer FAQs related to them.
Did you know – According to Accenture’s Covid-19 Consumer Health Experience Survey 2020, data “indicates that those health systems that evolve to meet new consumer experience needs can expedite financial recovery and capture patients from competitors, potentially increasing their revenues by 5% to 10% every month.
Anything ranging from questions about insurance to general FAQs can be dealt with properly with the help of two-way text messaging.
One of the many advantages of two-way text messaging is its instant nature and the ability to give accurate responses.
Bonus : Dental office text messaging templates
1. Appointment Reminder
“ Hello {{firstName}}, this is a gentle reminder for your upcoming appointment with {practice name}} on {date} at {time}. Reply with C to confirm. Thank you.”
2. Review
“ Hello {{firstname}}, thank you for choosing us. Would you like to leave us a review? {{review_link}}”
3. Recall
“ Hello {{firstname}}, it’s been 6 months since your last dental appointment. Regular checkups will help you achieve optimal oral health. Reply with B to book an appointment this week.”
4. Quote Estimate
“Hi {{firstName}}. Your estimate from {practice name} is awaiting approval. Let us know if you have further questions or concerns. Once decided, please select either “Approve” or “Decline” on the estimate in your email.
How Emitrr’s texting capabilities can help spur your dental practice’s growth
If you want to engage more customers, get faster responses, retain your patients, and reduce no-shows and cancellations; then you need smart software that can help you manage daily operations with ease.
Emitrr’s text messaging capability can help you drive conversions and rise above the competition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Text messaging is used in plenty of ways in dental healthcare including sending dental appointment reminders, dental recalls, sharing pre or post procedure instructions, informational updates, and more!
You can use dental SMS software like Emitrr to implement dental office text messaging.Using Emitrr, you can send out dental appointment reminders, follow-up reminders, dental care instructions, and more!
Texting is a convenient and quick way to communicate with dental patients. It reduces no-show rates, improves patient experience and improves the overall dental office efficiency.
Conclusion
Text messaging by nature is a highly engaging mode of communication. Using this powerful tool of communication can do wonders for your dental practice. Anything ranging from sending appointment reminders to payment reminders can be easily set up using text messaging.
With an open rate of 98%, you can expect good engagement and interaction with your patients through text messaging.
As a dental practitioner, you can use text messaging for scheduling appointments, reducing no-shows, engaging with existing and past patients, generating reviews, resolving queries, addressing emergencies, and sending appointment reminders.
Text messaging software can help you engage and interact with your patients in an efficient manner. If you want to streamline operations at your dental practice, then investing in a dental office text messaging service is the best way forward.
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