Most dental practices believe they’ve created an environment where patients naturally want to return. After all, exceptional service and quality care should be enough, right? But as Karinna, a dental assistant and member of My Dental Agency’s Clinical Advisory Board (CAB), recently shared, it takes more than just good care to turn one-time patients into lifelong ones. With MDA’s guidance, her team has developed strategies that make patients feel truly connected and valued, encouraging them to stay loyal and refer their friends and family members. Here, we’ll explore her team’s retention strategies and share insights that your practice can use to strengthen patient relationships and loyalty.
- Humanizing the Dental Experience with Personalized Social Media
A big part of building patient loyalty comes down to creating connections beyond the exam room. Karinna’s team has taken a proactive approach by partnering with MDA to create a personalized social media presence on platforms like Facebook. Here, they share glimpses into life outside of work—like family photos, weekend hobbies, and fun facts about each team member. Why? Because when patients see the people behind the scrubs, it builds trust and comfort.This approach gives patients a reason to connect and engage with the team on a personal level. These small efforts make a big difference; they turn appointments into a familiar, positive experience and keep patients engaged long-term.
- Creating a Customized Patient Experience
Patient comfort is everything. For some, that means being able to request the same assistant or hygienist for each visit. Karinna’s team works hard to give patients a customized experience by allowing them to request specific staff members, which is especially helpful for those who experience dental phobia or anxiety. This extra step helps patients feel at ease, knowing they’ll see a familiar face.
- Leveraging Reviews and Personal Recommendations
With MDA’s guidance, Karinna’s team has also refined its online review system, encouraging patients to share their experiences on platforms like Google and Facebook. Reviews play a dual role: they not only help the practice grow but they also allow patients to share their thoughts and feel heard.Online reviews are powerful, but personal recommendations carry even more weight. When patients tell friends or family members about your practice, it’s often the deciding factor for someone new to choose you. Karinna highlighted that her team emphasizes positive patient experiences by encouraging satisfied patients to leave honest reviews and share their experiences with others.
- Boosting Team Morale and Engagement
While patient retention strategies clearly benefit patients, they also have a powerful impact on the team. Karinna shared how every positive review not only reinforces patient trust but also lifts her team’s spirits. In fact, she makes it a personal habit to print out positive feedback and post it on the team bulletin board. This small yet meaningful gesture gives the team a visible reminder of their impact and fosters a positive environment.Patient retention is a team effort, and sharing feedback helps everyone stay connected to their purpose. When team members see the appreciation from patients firsthand, it keeps morale high and reminds them why their role matters—not just to the practice, but to each individual patient they care for.
Bringing It All Together
Building strong patient relationships and fostering loyalty is about more than excellent dental care—it’s about the full experience. Karinna’s team, with MDA’s expertise, has refined its retention strategy into a powerful tool for building connections, improving patient satisfaction, and boosting team morale.
If you want your practice to foster patient loyalty, think about the experiences you create at every touchpoint, from the front desk to the dental chair. By personalizing interactions, encouraging feedback, and showing that you’re listening, you’ll show patients that they’re more than a number to you—they’re a valued part of your practice’s community. And that’s what keeps them coming back, year after year.
