Anyone can create a successful dental marketing plan no matter your budget, and we’ll show you how.

Identify your goals for marketing your dental office

First, get clear about the end goal(s) you want to meet with your marketing efforts. Perhaps you want to increase online appointment bookings by 20% within six months or improve your 12-month patient retention rate by 15%. Keeping this goal in mind will help you create an effective and, most importantly, measurable marketing plan.

When choosing the area of improvement you want to focus on, stay mindful of the six standard KPIs every dental practice should use: active patient numbers, case acceptance, production, revenue, profit, and overhead. You should be aware of your dental practice overhead percentages and consider a plan to decrease them.

Understand who you’re marketing to

To develop an effective marketing plan, you need to know who your target audience is and what dental patients care about most when they’re looking for a dentist. The Dandy Dental Survey: Patient Experience found that 76% of people looking at online reviews seek information on location and insurance, and 1-in-4 look for modern dental technology in the reviews. Plus, patients really care about on-time appointments and a dentist they feel explains procedures and costs transparently and thoroughly.

How to create a dental marketing strategy? 

Now that you know your target customer (and what they most want), what is within your skill set that you can offer them? For instance, since patients care about seeing a dentist who uses modern technology, you should highlight the state-of-the-art tech you have in your office. (And you may want to consider investing in the new dental technologies your office needs.) Keep your talents in mind and explore Dandy’s 30 dental marketing ideas that may help you decide on your next great idea. 

What dentists should consider when creating a dental marketing plan

Any marketing effort should first and foremost help build patient relationships. Dr. Adam Silvetch reminds that you can’t have a successful business without satisfying the patients you have attracted. And Dr. Len Tau promises, those patients will help you market through word-of-mouth and reviews. Because online reviews and available practice information have so much sway in why people choose a dentist, remember that your online reputation needs to be near-excellent. 

Ensure your site’s Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is excellent so your target demographic can easily find your practice. Consider using Google Analytics, a free analytics tool, to track visitors to your site and see the digital path they follow, how many of them book an appointment, how long they stay on the site, and much more. This can give you crucial information about the sites your visitors are coming from and if your “sitemap” is effectively helping patients find the information you want them to.

Think about alternative ways you can use your unique personality and talents to create buzz for your office. One option, Dr. Ashley Ciapciak tells us, is to become a content creator (or hire someone to do it for you) and create informative and entertaining videos for TikTok and Instagram. If that’s not in your wheelhouse, you could also get involved with local charitable events to create local relationships and visibility, or develop an email marketing plan both for new and existing patients.

Getting started with your dental marketing plan

There are many options to choose from to market your business, but we’ve done the hard part for you and gathered 30 marketing ideas for dentists. Here are several effective favorites:

Encourage patient reviews for your dental practice

Hand patients a card with step-by-step instructions on how to give a Google and/or Yelp review on their way out of the office and follow up by email a few days later. 

Offer special discounts to attract new patients

Consider running holiday specials that make sense for your business, or offering heavier discounts during business lulls. Keep in mind that the goal is to create long-term patients, not to treat them a single time.

Build strategic referral partnerships

Doctors depend on other doctors to send them a steady stream of referrals. An effective way to build professional relationships is to set up time to meet other doctors in person; visit their office, don’t take up too much of their time, and bring a gift for them and perhaps something for all of their staff to enjoy (who doesn’t love a box of donuts?). Then continue to follow up regularly with holiday cards from your office, personal letters with professional news, and face-to-face lunches and coffees. 

Enhance your dental practice website’s design

Your website is the main place people will seek out information about your practice, yourself, and your services, so make sure it shows off your brand in a strong, appealing way. Prospective patients want all the basics such as location, services offered, and FAQs readily available, and it’s a bonus if you can get new patients to commit to your practice then and there (consider making appointments bookable online).

If you are a digital practice, leverage the technology in your marketing

As we stated earlier, patients expect their clinicians to be fully modern, but only about 50% of dental practices are digital. Stay ahead of your local competition by placing ads that show you are on the cutting edge. (If you aren’t digital contact Dandy today).

Allocate hours to marketing

Most marketing options aren’t set-it-and-forget-it; they take time to build and need to be regularly revisited along with your evolving practice goals. Setting weekly, monthly, and quarterly time aside for marketing efforts should be built into how you run your dental practice, and you may want to incorporate these responsibilities into an employee’s role. Remember that content marketing efforts should be measurable, so don’t forget to make time for planning, initiating, and then reviewing the success of each marketing campaign you launch.

Budget for dental marketing

There are dental marketing ideas available to fit every budget. If you don’t have extra funds right now, you can take some time to improve the information and SEO of your website (there are plenty of simple guides out there for beginners) so patients can better find you and your dental services. If you have a moderate budget, you could try targeted online ads. And with a larger budget, direct mailers or ads on television or the radio could work for your business.

Track how well your marketing is performing

Whatever your marketing budget is, you want the best return on investment (ROI) as possible, so it’s important to track the success of your efforts so you know which method works best for your practice. 

Have a clear and measurable goal for what you want to achieve with a marketing campaign. Once your campaign begins, make sure a method is in place for you to track results so that at the end of your campaign you’ll be able to measure whether or not you hit your target. And always take time to review the outcome and learnings at the end of a campaign.

The dental marketing plan for your practice

There’s only one person who knows what’s best for your practice: you. You’re the expert on your practice’s strengths, qualifications, and unique placement in your community, so you’re best placed to figure out a marketing plan that will work for you. Trust your instincts, and don’t delay getting started on at least one campaign so you can gather data on what works (and doesn’t work) right away. 

You may need to try a few things to find out what’s most effective for your dental practice. The good news is that if a marketing campaign ends up being a miss, you can take what you learned, apply it to your next effort, and shift your strategy. The best marketing plan will evolve as you and your practice do.

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Dental marketing is any tool or strategy you use to promote your dental practice and services. There are plenty of ways to advertise your dental practice, including:

• Local advertising placement such as on billboards, local publications, and even restaurant placemats
• Sharing information about your practice on your social media account
• Sending marketing materials by traditional mail and email
• Paying for pay-per-click advertising through Google, Facebook/Meta, and other sites
• Sponsoring local sports teams or community volunteer/fundraising opportunities

Why is dental advertising important?

Every dentist knows how important word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied patients are to a thriving dental practice. But what about when your dental practice is brand new, or you move locations, or you’re experiencing a lull in business? Even when your practice is doing well, there’s always room for improvement when it comes to your patient base. 

Dental advertising helps you advertise your services so you can bring more patients into your office and emphasize your unique skillset. And, yes, it really does work.

Dr. Eric Block, who runs a dental practice in Massachusetts and is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, says that he gets 95% of new patients through digital marketing. These methods include paid ads through Google and social media as well as free methods like organic traffic earned through social media and using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) throughout his practice website and any online content he creates.  

The same marketing tools that work for small businesses also work for dental practice—you just have to try different methods to discover what works best for your practice. 

Whatever advertising method you decide to go with, our best advice is to keep it local. Your dental patients are almost always your community members, and the distance from their home or office to your dental practice matters a lot to them. The more convenient, the better.

Dental advertising guidelines

When trying out dental advertising methods, you need to be sure to always comply with the laws and regulations that apply to your business. 

The ADA has a helpful step-by-step guide to dental advertising laws and regulations, as set by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) but here’s a breakdown of some of the most important things to know when it comes to legal standards and ethics. Please be sure to refer to the full guidelines before launching an advertising campaign.

Federal guidelines for dental advertising

• Advertising must be truthful and non-deceptive
• Advertisers must have evidence to back up their claims
• Advertisements cannot be unfair

An ad is deceptive if it contains a statement or omits information that:

• Is likely to mislead consumers acting reasonably under the circumstances
• If information important to a consumer’s decision to buy or use the product (your treatments or practice) is obscured, withheld, or changed after the fact such as prices.

An ad or business practice is unfair if:

• It causes or is likely to cause substantial consumer injury which a consumer could not reasonably avoid
• It is not outweighed by the benefit to consumers, consider cosmetic dentistry for this one.

General state restrictions on dental advertising

According to the ADA, most states regulate advertising through unfair and deceptive acts and practices (UDAP) statutes. Unlawful advertising acts and practices under these statutes generally include the following:

• Causing confusion or misunderstanding as to the source, sponsorship, approval, or certification of goods or services
• Causing confusion or misunderstanding as to affiliation, connection, or association with, or certification by, another
• Representing that goods or services have sponsorship, approval, characteristics, ingredients, uses, benefits, or quantities which they do not have or that a person has a sponsorship, approval, status, affiliation, or connection which they do not
• Representing that goods are original or new if they are deteriorated, reconditioned, reclaimed, used, or secondhand
• Representing that goods or services are of a particular standard, quality, or grade, or that goods are of a particular style or model, if they are of another
• Advertising goods or services with intent not to sell them as advertised
• Advertising goods or services with intent not to supply a reasonable expectable public demand, unless the advertisements disclosed a limitation of quantity
• Making false or misleading statements of fact concerning the reasons for, the existence of, or amount of price reductions
• Knowingly making false or misleading statements of fact concerning the need for parts, replacement, or repair service²

How to advertise your dental practice

As the owner of your dental practice, you are best suited to know what your strengths are and what might most draw patients (and which kind of patients) to your office. Trust your instincts and see what you discover when trying out different advertising methods. But you should also always keep in mind what dental patients care about the most and try to cater to their wants and needs.

For the Dandy Dental Study: Patient Experience, we asked 600 patients what they’re looking for in a dentist. The top six factors that correlated with patient satisfaction included:

1. On-time appointments
2. Use of modern technology
   • 1-in-4 look for modern dental technology in online reviews.
3. Sending follow-up instructions after you are home from a procedure
4. Dental practice location
   • 76% of people look at online reviews seeking information on location and insurance.
5. Same or next-day appointments
6. Accepting your insurance plan

Through dental advertising, you can showcase what your dental practice has to offer in these areas. You could try methods like hyperlocal online advertising to people in a specific geographic range by creating ads that showcase:

• Your practice’s newest, most impressive technology and services 
• A wide range of insurance accepted
• Flexible appointment schedules
• A high percentage of on-time appointments
• Positive reviews from satisfied patients

Examples of effective dental advertisements 

You’ll find out what kind of dental advertisements work best for your practice through trial and error over time. (Be sure to set measurable goals so you learn as you go and make the best return on your investment possible!)

Some dental advertising ideas and areas include:

Local social media ads

Reach potential clients in your area on a social media platform they spend a lot of time on, such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook/Meta. Be mindful of the service you want to market to the audience of the social media platform. For instance, Facebook/Meta skews older than TikTok so ads for dentures will be more effective on Facebook/Meta and Clear Aligners should attract more new patients on TikTok.

Retargeting ads

Ads that resurface for people who previously visited your website but did not follow through with making an appointment. Ask your web developer for help here as the ROI (return on investment) will be high as these potential patients showed interest in your practice.

Click-to-call ads

Ads that put the customer directly through to your office with just one click. If you have a great front desk personality, this is an effective way to actively engage with a prospective patient as they can surface the information the patient is looking for (better than your website or social media).

Direct mail ads

Physical mail sent to potential clients in your area with key information about your practice, or a specific service you offer. Before and after pictures of real clients can be particularly useful with this type of ad.

Video ads

Show a full dental transformation from a real, satisfied patient in just a few seconds. Seeing is believing and you can use this proof of your treatment piece across all platforms—paid ads, social media, website, and depending on your locale, digital billboards.

Don’t be afraid to get creative. The ad space is crowded and anything that can make your ad stand out or be more memorable is a good thing. Take inspiration from these clever ads that prove impact and make smiles.

Dental Advertising Ideas

For even more dental advertising ideas and strategies, check out Dandy’s 30 dental marketing ideas.

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Following is everything dentists need to know about NTI appliances, why are prescribed to patients, and what questions you can ask patients to explore if an NTI device is right for them.

What is an NTI appliance? 

A Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibition Tension mouthguard, or an NTI, is a small, unobtrusive device on the anteriors that prevents occlusion of the posterior teeth to inhibit bruxism and relieve stress. NTIs are worn while sleeping to support patients’ TMJ in the position prescribed by the dentists. The appliances are removable by the patient.

NTIs mainly cover only teeth #6-9 on the maxillary arch. NTIs are used to prevent any form of bruxism and are used to treat TMD cases where the root cause is a muscle problem or to relieve the pain of temporal headache patients.

NTIs are mostly made with hard acrylic (Dandy uses Astron). Once they are placed over the maxillary social teeth (sometimes the mandible front teeth) the NTI inhibits the upper and lower teeth from touching. If a patient starts to grind their teeth, this activates the NTI reflex which forces the jaw to automatically relax. Unlike a standard night guard, an NTI night guard makes it impossible for the teeth to grind together and retrains the muscles to no longer brux.

What are the pros of the NTI device?

NTIs completely prevent occlusion and retrain patients’ muscles to treat bruxism. The device prevents teeth-clenching, which helps prevent migraines and tension headaches. The diminutive size of the appliance can be a pro for many patients or….

What are the cons of an NTI device?

Their small size means that some patients may struggle with device retention. Also, an NTI night guard can cause the surrounding teeth to move, changing the patient’s bite to what is known as an open bite. Because of this consequence, NTI splints are only given to patients with healthy teeth.

When should I prescribe an NTI to a patient?

When muscle spasms are the root cause of issues, dentists may want to address that directly and retrain the muscles with an NTI. For these cases, the NTI or the anterior deprogrammer would be a good option. These products prevent the jaw from engaging in excursive muscle movements in the first place.

Example exam questions for dentists to ask patients

• Do you have frequent or regular headaches? When?
• Are your jaw muscles ever sore or tender?
• When you eat or chew, are your joints sore or tender?
• Does your jaw make any noise such as snapping, clicking, or popping?
• Does your jaw lock when you are trying to open or close your mouth?
• Do you have any teeth that are sensitive, sore, aching, or uncomfortable?
• Have you worn a splint or nightguard previously? If yes, please describe.
• Are you taking or have you taken any medication for these symptoms? If yes, which ones?
• Have you ever had a jaw or face injury? If yes, please describe.
• Have you ever seen a dentist or a TMJ specialist for treatment of any of the above symptoms? If yes: How many and which ones?

What is the difference between an NTI device and a night guard? 

Conventional night guards provide a secure layer of protection when the patient grinds or bruxes. Meanwhile, NTI night guards are specialized appliances that include a discluding element that completely prevents the patient’s teeth from occluding. Over time, NTIs retrain patients’ muscles to no longer grind or brux.

TMJ relief with NTI appliances

When you’re looking to prescribe appliances for the best TMJ relief for your patients, the NTI device can be a great choice for the right kind of patients. If your practice doesn’t currently offer splints and guards to your patients, they could be a great way to grow your dental practice by increasing profits. Dandy is a 100% digital dental lab that offers our practices 3D-printed Night Guards, top-of-the-line crown and bridge materials, digital dentures, and more. Reach out to our team today to get started with us!

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Your dental office should be clean and functional, but that doesn’t mean it can’t also be stylish and make both patients and staff feel at home. If you’re wondering how to decorate your dental office, an easy and affordable way to brighten up any office style is with houseplants—the kind you don’t need a green thumb to keep alive. 

There are many houseplants that are easy to care for and will thrive in an office environment. The plants you choose should grow well in low-to-medium light and only need to be watered weekly or less; that way the plant can flourish in any room in your office and survive if you forget about watering it for a week (or, even, a month). 

Below, we’ll tell you where to buy houseplants (in person or online) as well as five stress-free houseplants to buy that are easy to find and easy to take care of. And if you want a more detailed guide to caring for specific houseplants, a great resource is the gorgeously illustrated website How Many Plants. 

Where to buy houseplants and pots:

• Your local nursery
• Home Depot / Lowe’s
• The Sill 
• Lively Root
• Horti
• Amazon (yep, for real)

Five easy houseplants for your dental office:

1. Golden Pothos, or Devil’s Ivy

This houseplant is one of the easiest to take care of, as well as one of the most beautiful in an office environment. There are several kinds of pothos plants, but the Golden Pothos has almost heart-shaped leaves in shades of dark to light green. It’s easy to find in your local plant shop and only needs low- to medium-light to grow quickly and steadily. The vines will flow to the floor or even climb the walls if you provide something for them to grasp onto. Water the Pothos once a week at most.

2. Snake plant

The Snake Plant has long fronds that point straight up into the air, kind of like a snake. It does best in indirect light and can thrive in any humidity level. Water once a week or less, and be sure to let the soil dry out between waterings.

3. ZZ plant

The leaves of the ZZ plant look waxy and luxurious, even next to office supplies. Depending on the pot you plant the ZZ in, it can stay small enough to sit on a desk or as big as a piano (if you’re looking for a true office centerpiece). You should place it in indirect low- to medium-light and water no more than once a week; when the top soil is dry you’re safe to water again.

4. Spider plants

Spider plants are easygoing companions that have lovely desk appeal. Their thin green tendrils sprawl out like a waterfall, then the plant sprouts mini spider babies that hang around and can be easily propagated to expand your office plant empire. They do well in medium, indirect light and can be watered once a week (or less—keep an eye out for dry soil).

5. Succulents

There are many kinds of beautiful succulents, and you can’t go wrong with most of them as an easy office plant. A few examples you should be able to easily find include the spindly Aloe Vera, the rose-shaped Echeveria, and the fuzzy Zebra Plant. Succulents don’t need much more than low, indirect light, and as desert plants they don’t need much water—in fact, be careful not to overwater them as that’s a common cause for them to yellow and shrivel. Just a bit of water every couple of weeks or so should be just fine.

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Going to the dentist can be an anxiety-inducing experience for many people. So when patients walk into your office, you want them to feel as relaxed as possible. Many studies show how interiors really do affect our mood, mental health, and even our healing process. As you maximize your space for modern times keep our simple dental office decor and style tips in mind. Read on to find out where to buy art, choose wall colors—and make it your own.

Tips for dental office decor:

• Add your own aesthetic, and don’t be afraid of color. This may be a clinical office, but that doesn’t mean it has to be overly sterile. White, spotless walls and sharp, firm furniture can heighten patients’ discomfort. Choose a color scheme or point of view that you love and incorporate it into the design of your office, from the carpet to the walls to the art you buy to decorate your space. Seats should be comfortable and accommodate a wide variety of body types. 
• Find calm in the color scheme. Blue-green spaces, or views of natural landscapes, have been proven to improve mental health. So keep in mind that patients will benefit from window views with plants and trees in sight. But if your office doesn’t have many windows, you can bring some nature inside by painting your walls in calming colors (light creams, blues, greens, and even grays—see above); framing stunning photographs of nature scapes; and filling your space with hardy (but beautiful) indoor plants.
• You don’t have to be too on the nose — or gnashers. While we all appreciate a great smile, teeth themselves aren’t chic or aesthetically pleasing, and they can even be a little scary. Teeth may be your thing, but they are universally jarring. Consider skipping the framed photos of cartoon canines or perfectly posed, close-up grins; we already know this is a dental office.

• Make it personal. Many people spend more time with their coworkers in the office than they do with their families at home, so do your best to make everyone feel more at home while they’re at work. Your office is made up of a team of people who all do their part to welcome and care for patients, and it’s a great idea to recognize them in the decor of your office. Make it a point to take a staff photo (make sure everyone knows when this photo will be taken so they can look and feel their best) and hang it on the wall where both patients and office staff can see it. It’s a small but meaningful token of appreciation. You could even hang up individual staff photos with names and titles so patients could get to know their smiling faces a bit more since they’re so often hidden behind masks during office visits.
• Have an area just for kids, even if you don’t have a pediatric office. Everybody knows that parents are juggling a lot, and it can be hard to get out of the house to take care of a biannual dental appointment. Make it just a bit easier on them: set up a play area just for kids filled with toys, coloring books and crayons, picture books, and maybe even a wall they can draw all over. Make sure the toys don’t have individual pieces (think less Legos and puzzles, more sensory toys that stay connected and in one place), and keep it easy to clean up at the end of a busy day.

Where to buy art for your dental office:

• Buy prints online. There are many online art sites to choose from that cater to every aesthetic, and some of them will frame the art so it’s ready to hang when it arrives.
  • Society6 has a wide range of art, photographs, collage, and other mediums both from artists you may know as well as indie artists from around the world. They also sell custom clothing, pillows, rugs, and other decor so you can really make your office your own.
  • Artfinder has art from more than 7,000 independent artists located in 108 countries around the world. You can shop by category (printmaking, sculptures, portraits, and more), look through popular artists’ work, or check out editors’ picks or featured artists.
  • Shop from varied, talented artists for one-of-a-kind pieces at Minted. Browse special decor and original art, from paintings to sculptures to wall hangings, and the artist will ship you the piece directly from their studio.
  • Shop handmade art and decor of all kinds from Etsy. Etsy is a great place to search for more specific items or styles that may be hard to find elsewhere and will make your dental office decor unique. Plus, you can search for local artists in your area by entering your zip code into the search bar, or by filtering your search by “shop location.”
  • Shop thousands of well-known pieces large and small from art.com. Take your pick from framed to canvas to wood-mounted; from famous names like van Gogh and Georgia O’Keefe; and from every price range, including large canvas pieces from $109 that could look great on that naked wall you want to fill.
• Print and frame your own photographs. Maybe you’re a photographer (or someone on your staff is) and you want to bring your vibrant images to life. You can get them custom printed, mounted, and framed through Artmill. Or, if you want to keep it simple and buy ready-to-hang office art from a library of half a million images suitable for any vibe, Artmill can handle that for you too. Gather inspiration from how they’re decorated other offices here.  
• Shop local, or hire a local muralist. One meaningful way to connect to your community is to buy art from local artists. You can ask your artsy friends for some recommendations, talk to the owner of a small gallery in town, or even stop into that coffee shop you love and ask who painted the colorful mural on the wall outside. If you love a specific artist on Instagram, you can always ask them if they’re open to commissions. We bet that being asked to contribute to dental office decor would unlock creative parts of their brain.
• Set up a rotating art gallery from local artists to decorate your office. This option may take a little extra work on your part, but if you’re an art lover, it’s a small price to pay to routinely refresh your space and support local artists. As you connect with local artists and gallerists in your area, work with artists to borrow their art to display in your office for a month, three months, or even a year. You can feature each piece’s title and price so your patients can take a piece of art home with them, if they’re so moved. It’s a great way to get hundreds of eyes on a local artist’s work and to make your space that much cooler. Plus there is the bonus of contributing to the community past dental care that will instill a sense of pride in your patients while uplifting your neighbors.

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Overall the speed of the scanners and intuitiveness are very good, the accuracy is average, and you can opt in for an all-in-one cart setup. The advanced features include smile simulators, time-lapse technology, and early caries detection. 

The (most common 3-year) warranty is solid with incredible customer service that has overnighted new scanners if one fails. The cost can be prohibitive to many practices with the newest scanners reaching ~$70,000, one-use tips/sleeves adding up, and recurring software fees. Speaking of software there are limits to the integration as well as the functionality post-scan. 

For those dental professionals interested in intricate specs and details on iTero’s suite of intraoral digital scanner Element models we have provided available information below including speed, accuracy, ease of use, software compatibility, and ballpark pricing.

Information in short: iTero scanners vs Dandy’s digital dental solution

Devices made by iTero are fantastic for ortho but are not as strong at edentulous scanning. We suggest the 3Shape TRIOS line for dentists whose bulk of cases are removables or who seek higher accuracy of scan precision for fixed restorative work. While the iTero scanners offer a seamless experience when ordering Invisalign, there are other clear aligner brands offering different price points that may appeal to a patient whose treatment acceptance is chiefly economically-driven. Aside from the upfront cost (Dandy provides scanners for free) with an iTero there are recurring software fees (Dandy’s platform is also free for users).

Model: iTero Element 5D Plus (cart and mobile configurations)

Overview of functionality 

The iTero Element 5D Plus has many features that aid in diagnostic/wellness scans
Invisalign Outcome Simulator Pro, only offered with the Plus series, shows patients realistic projections of their own future smiles after Invisalign. Simulations are automatically created in the background, so doctors can discuss other oral health topics with iTero visualizations while your patient is in the chair. Images automatically save to the cloud so you can access them from your scanner, PC, or tablet.

The iTero Element 5D plus also features iTero NIRI Technology (Near Infra-Red Imaging), which provides 3D models, intraoral images, and aids in caries detection, all in one scan

What’s inside: Medical grade, compact portable scanner, wand, and computing unit. The scanner’s full battery charge in 2.5 hours.

Overall iTero Element 5D Plus ease of use

iTero claims this model provides their smoothest scanning experience. This scanner is hefty compared to other leading devices but past the weight, the iTero Element 5D Plus is very easy to use.

Speed

Full arch scan in 30 seconds, very good

Accuracy

Average

Software compatibility

iTero software with some aligned labs or you can export STL files and send them to your digital lab if they receive files in that manner.

Price of iTero Element 5D Plus scanner

We’ve seen iTero Element 5D plus scanners go for $50,000-$70,000.
There is also a ~$360/month scanner software fee through iTero

iTero Element 5D Plus conclusion:

The iTero Element 5D Plus is a speedy option that’s best for offices producing a high output of Invisalign trays. It is one of the heaviest scanners in production. However, the scanner has single-use tips only, and the Lite version does not claim to aid in interproximal caries detection. 

Model: iTero Element 5D 

Overview of functionality 

The iTero Element 5D Includes many of the same functions as the Plus, other than in-photo Invisalign outcome imaging, the hybrid dental imaging system provides 3D digital impressions, intraoral color scans, and Near-Infrared Imaging (NIRI) images, and an Invisalign outcome simulator. The iTero Element 5D also includes time-lapse technology that helps patients better visualize diagnostic, restorative, and orthodontic treatment comparisons in real-time, with adaptive anti-fogging technology.

The scanner has a 45-degree scanner head, which is the ideal angle. Unlike the 5D Plus, this scanner does have caries detection.

The iTero Element 5D is designed for use with clear aligners, but isn’t ideal for restorative work because of the size of the scanner mouth and head.

Overall iTero Element 5D ease of use

Very good

Speed

Full arch scan in 45 seconds, good

Accuracy

Average

Software compatibility

iTero software with some aligned labs or you can export STL files and send to your digital lab if they receive files in that manner.

Price of iTero Element 5D scanner (ballpark)

We’ve seen iTero Element 5D plus scanners go for $40,000-$45,000.
There is also ~$360/month scanner software fee through iTero

iTero Element 5D conclusion:

The iTero Element 5D scanner is ideal for creating scans for Invisalign tray but unlike the Plus, does not have an HD intraoral camera.

Model: iTero Element 2

Overview of functionality 

The iTero Element 2 Comes with portable stand and 12.5-inch touchscreen with HD color imaging, autocalibration, a rechargeable battery, with 30 minutes of uninterrupted scanning while unplugged, full charge in two hours. With a fully-charged battery, you can scan for up to 30 minutes using the wheel-stand or cart-configuration scanner, or 10 minutes using the mobile-configuration scanner.

Overall iTero Element 2 ease of use

Bulky, 33% larger than the TRIOS 3, scanner head is 15% larger than the TRIOS 3

Speed

60-second full arch scan, average

Accuracy

Average 

Software compatibility

iTero software with some aligned labs or you can export STL files and send to your digital lab if they receive files in that manner.

Price of iTero Element 2 scanner (ballpark)

We have seen pricing from $20,000-$30,000
~$360/month scanner software fee through iTero

iTero Element 2 conclusion

The iTero Element 2 is one of the most common scanners in practices, though the industry has come a long way in the past five years since its introduction to the market.

Model: iTero Element Flex 

Overview of functionality 

The iTero Element Flex is a wand-only system for full portability, carrying case included. This scanner has laptop connectivity and aids in restorative and orthodontic treatments, plus has certified connectivity with Invisalign. The scanner has autocalibration and automatically saves scanning data every two seconds to the system’s hard disk.

Overall iTero Element Flex ease of use

A wand-only system means you can do full arch scans from anywhere. 

Speed

60-second full arch scan, average

Accuracy

N/A

Software compatibility

iTero software with some aligned labs or you can export STL files and send to your digital lab if they receive files in that manner.

System requirements 

Works with any laptop that meets these minimum requirements:

RAM: 8GB minimum, 16GB recommended

SSD 256GB

Resolution for Full HD: 1920×1080

Windows OS: 10 Pro or 11 Pro

Price of iTero Element Flex scanner (ballpark)

We’ve seen iTero Element 5D plus scanners go for $16,000.
Additional ~$360/month scanner software fee through iTero

iTero Element Flex conclusion

The iTero Element Flex is a fully portable, wand-only option that allows you to take between multiple offices or scan in a small room that doesn’t have room for a full cart setup.

View a comparison of all the top intraoral scanners in the market here!

Conclusion: Is an iTero scanner right for you? 

The scanners made by iTero are good devices for Invisalign and fixed restorative work. For practices considering both an Itero and a 3Shape TRIOS, you will find the 3Shape TRIOS line to be more versatile overall and more adept and capturing endentulous areas with accuracy.

Contact a Dandy rep today.

Photo credit iTero

The post Which iTero Element scanner is right for you? appeared first on Dandy.

In recent years, advancements in the world of tech have brought forth a revolution in imaging. Some dentists may remember a world before 3D imaging of any kind was made possible. Or when full arch scans were first introduced in 2006. We’ve come a long way.

Information in short: 3Shape TRIOS 3 scanner

Dandy recommends the 3Shape TRIOS 3 scanner for practices due to its speed, accuracy, and versatility. The scanner deftly handles both restorative and elective work making it the right scanner for general dental practices harnessing modern digital dentistry. Dandy backs the TRIOS scanners so much so that we provide one to all of our dental practice partners for free. We have put our money where your patient’s mouth is.

Intraoral digital scanners

Intraoral scanners are the future: bringing about streamlined processes with shorter wait times, fewer revisions, and better care, allowing dentists the opportunity to leverage the time they save to invigorate, expand, and optimize their practices. For those on the cutting-edge, the question is not if, but which one?

There are many intraoral scanners currently available on the market. At Dandy, we did the research looking into reliability, usability, accuracy, speed efficiency, and versatility. The iTero Element 5D boasts good software, but a bit of video lag and soft-tissue interference, making it less effective for crowns and bridges. The Medit is small, fast, and lightweight, but not the easiest to use, creating more quality inconsistency and requiring more training. The Primescan is clear and fast, but large and in need of an additional full unit of sizable and expensive equipment, making it far more cost-inefficient and complex to operate. The 3Shape TRIOS 3 scanner? Well, read on to learn why we love it.

About 3Shape TRIOS scanners

3Shape, founded in 2000, has been a major player in helping the dental industry go digital. They have managed to produce high-end scanners (with a line called TRIOS) and sell them for mid-to-low tier pricing. Overall, 3Shape TRIOS scanners are extremely powerful machines excelling at restorative scanning and image capture—especially when compared to other scanners in the soft tissue area, an issue dentists often don’t realize is affecting the quality of their scans. They have packed that into a lightweight, ergonomic wand with a small camera head which is easy to maneuver around patients, even those with small mouths or issues opening wide. In fact, the 3Shape TRIOS scanners are best-in-class at edentulous scanning. 

3Shape TRIOS scanners are truly versatile, aiding in both restorative and elective treatments. If there is a drawback to these scanners it’s that the newer models aren’t on the brand-name Invisalign system, but you can certainly scan for Clear Aligners with compatible partners like Dandy. 

On the whole, 3Shape TRIOS scanners rank “very good” in accuracy, speed, size, and ease of use. For those dental professionals interested in intricate specs and details on 3Shape’s TRIOS 3 we have provided available information below.

3Shape TRIOS 3 digital scanner

Overview of functionality

The most popular model of the TRIOS scanners, the TRIOS 3, remains an ideal option for most dental practices with its rightfully boastful tagline “Proven. Always a winner”
Quick, accurate scans in realistic colors and easily show patients what their smile will look like post-treatment with exemplary soft tissue scanning and clear imaging.

The 3Shape TRIOS 3 is one of the most common devices used in clinical research with impressive results that is able to capture 1875 images per second, has it’s own LED light source, AI scanning capabilities, and has autoclavable tips (up to 150 times).

Overall 3Shape TRIOS 3 ease of use

The size, shape, and intuitiveness are very good. The 3Shape TRIOS 3 offers consistent, high-quality scans with less training than other scanners, leaving less room for human error. This ease of use allows for smooth integration into any practice with very little onboarding required, and immediate improvements in efficiency.

Speed

45-second full arch scan, very good

Accuracy

Very good

Software compatibility

Dandy (free) and TRIOS’ Unite (subscription)

Price of 3Shape TRIOS 3 scanner

Dandy (free + free laptop) from TRIOS (starting at ~$19,000 + cost of high CPU laptop)

3Shape TRIOS 3 conclusion

The 3Shape TRIOS 3 is a standout. It is a wholly versatile, accurate, reliable scanner that works for almost all dental offices. We have tested over 50 scanners and believe 3Shape TRIOS scanners are the best all-around, which is why we provide them for free when you work with Dandy. Talk about putting our money where our mouths are, we believe in the power of the 3Shape TRIOS so much that we have set ourselves up to have our lab orders coming from its digital scans. 

View a comparison of all the top intraoral scanners in the market here!

Why does Dandy give away free scanners?

Intraoral scanners are a significant initial investment. In giving a 3Shape TRIOS to every team we serve, we hope to empower practices of all sizes with the opportunity to go digital. There should be no barrier to entry for game-changing innovation. We see this technology transforming dentistry and we want to be a partner in that evolution.

When the 3Shape TRIOS is paired with a digital lab like Dandy, the experience is effortless. Complete digital integration from scanner to lab means fewer revisions, fewer delays, and less time adjusting in the chair. The result? A more efficient practice with happier patients and room to grow.

Contact Dandy today to see how you can work with a top-of-the-line digital intraoral scanner for free.

The post Why we love the 3Shape TRIOS 3 intraoral digital scanner appeared first on Dandy.

Medit is lauded for their scanners’ open system capabilities, unlike other partnerships in the digital scanner space, and their Mac compatibility, which is also a rarity. The company boasts, “Magic made easy with a simple touch,” but while Medit intraoral scanners are easy to use, training and support aren’t free and reviews on the training indicate room for improvement. As per the magic, if the scan quality was on a scale of “sleight of hand to sawing a woman in half” it would be pulling a rabbit out of a hat so not David Blane but a crowd-pleaser nonetheless. 

Medit does do the trick, which is why it has the reputation of being the starter scanner company. Medit’s scanners from the i500 to the new wireless i700 are fine digital tools for simple restorations (though do check with your lab as depth of information can be lacking). On the whole, Medit scanners are very good when it comes to speed, ease of use, and handling/size. The price is relatively low, but accuracy is only average, and edentulous scanning is below average. Additionally, there is no cart option, you have to purchase your laptop separately, and scanners may only have a one-year warranty.

For those dental professionals interested in intricate specs and details on each Medit intraoral digital scanner model we have provided available information below including speed, accuracy, ease of use, software compatibility, and ballpark prices. 

Speaking of prices, one more thing to consider is scanner tips. With the top-of-the-line Medit scanner you are paying about $75 per tip that is autoclavable up to 150 times. 

Information in short: Medit scanners vs Dandy’s digital dental solution

Simply, the Medit scanners are overall less accurate than the 3Shape TRIOS scanners that dental partners receive for free when they work with Dandy. In addition to the price of buying a scanner Medit charges for training and support which are also free with Dandy. So many practices have purchased a scanner, only to let it collect dust on the shelf. You don’t want to be that practice. At Dandy, we don’t make a penny until you actually send us lab work, so what we’ve created is a shared incentive for you to get up to speed and start using it quickly. Ask any dentist, training is critically important.

Model: Medit i700 Wireless

The Medit i700 Wireless claims you can scan up to 30 cases on one battery life but also comes with a wire once the juice is zapped. The tip is reversible, so no need to twist your wrist for maxillary scans. The company flaunts “strengthened impact resistance minimizes damage from accidental drops.” Sold separately are small tips for posteriors and patients with a small oral cavity, as well as an auto-calibration tool.  

Overview of functionality

Wireless scanner wand with three included batteries
60 GHz wireless technology
Included remote control allows the user to conveniently check scan data from the scanner itself and prevent cross-contamination
UV-C LED disinfection
3D in-motion video technology
3D full-color streaming capture
15 x 13 mm scan area
LED light source
Adaptive anti-fogging technology
Connectivity: USB 3.1 Gen1 (wireless hub)

Overall Medit i1700 Wireless ease of use

Wireless, lightweight handle (328g, 313 x 44 x 47.4mm) with 180-degree tip makes for easy scanning. Battery life of one hour with continuous use, eight hours in standby mode. If the battery runs out, simply connect the power cable to keep using.

Speed

Up to 70 FPS (frames per second), very good

Accuracy

Full-arch: 10.9µm ± 0.98, average

Software compatibility

Access to Medit Apps and Medit Link for a fee

System requirements (Mac)

MacOS:

• M1 Pro (8-core CPU, 7-core GPU)
• M2: (8-core CPU, 8-core GPU)
• 16 GB RAM
• OS: Monterey 12, Ventura 13

Recommended system requirements:

MacOS:

• M1 Pro (10-core CPU, 16-core GPU)
• M2: (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU)
• M2 Pro: (10-core CPU, 16-core GPU)
• 24 or 32 GB RAM
• OS: Monterey 12, Ventura 13

Price of Medit i1700 Wireless scanner

We’ve seen a Medit i1700 wireless priced at $19,000.

Medit i1700 Wireless scanner conclusion: 

Medit’s top-of-the-line model includes a wireless option with a full hour of wireless scanning on a full charge and UV-C disinfection. The image capture is not very strong, however, leading to rescans, or worse, remakes.

Model: Medit i700 scanner

The wired version of the Medit i700 is more lightweight than the wireless and can be plugged directly into a computer without a power hub. Both models have a great speed of 70 frames per second.

Overview of functionality

The scanner comes with a detachable cable and remote control button for ease of scanning and mobility, allowing the user to conveniently check scan data from the scanner itself and prevent cross-contamination.
180-degree reversible tip (22.5 x 17.1mm)
Tips autoclavable up to 150 times
Automatic tool calibration.
UV-C LED disinfection.
3D in-motion video technology.
3D full-color streaming capture.
15 x 13 mm scan area.
LED light source.
Adaptive anti-fogging technology.
USB Type-C / USB Power Delivery 5V, 3A Power delivery support

Overall Medit i700 scanner ease of use

The lightweight handle (245g, 248 x 44 x 47.4mm) with 180-degree reversible tip makes for easy scanning and mobility. The mirror angle sits at 45 degrees which is good for posterior scanning. 

Speed

Up to 70 FPS, very good

Accuracy

Full-arch: 10.9µm ± 0.98, average

Software compatibility

Access to Medit Apps and Medit Link for a fee

System requirements (Mac)

Minimum system requirements: 

• M1 (8-core CPU, 7-core GPU)
• M2 (8-core CPU, 8-core GPU)
• 16 GB RAM
• OS: Monterey 12, Ventura 13

Recommended system requirements:

• M1 Pro (10-core CPU, 16-core GPU)
• M2 (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU)
• M2 Pro (10-core CPU, 16-core GPU)
• 24 or 32 GB RAM
• OS: Monterey 12, Ventura 13

Price of Medit i700 scanner

We’ve seen a Medit i1700 wireless priced at $16,000.

Medit i700 scanner conclusion:

The Medit i700 is cheaper and lighter than its wireless sister, with very good speed, average accuracy, but the angle makes it great for posterior scanning and mobility.

Model: Medit i600 scanner

The blue one, and the bridge between Medit’s first model and signature. The steps down from the i700 series include half the speed and no Remote Control Mode or UV-C Disinfection. However, the price point is also a step down with the Medit i600. 

Overview of functionality

The Medit i600 scanner includes detachable cable and start scan button for ease of scanning and mobility, which allows the user to conveniently check scan data from the scanner itself and prevent cross-contamination. You can also directly connect the scanner wand to your computer using the included power delivery cable

Cable connectivity USB 3.1 Gen1
Automatic tool calibration
3D in-motion video technology
3D full-color streaming capture
15 x 13 mm scan area
LED light source
Adaptive anti-fogging technology

Overall Medit i600 scanner ease of use

Lightweight handle (245g, 248 x 44 x 47.4mm) with 180-degree reversible tip (22.2 x 15.9mm) makes for easy scanning and mobility.  

Speed

Up to 35 FPS, fair

Accuracy

Full-arch: 10.9µm ± 0.98, average

Software compatibility

Access to Medit Apps and Medit Link for a fee

System requirements (Mac)

Minimum system requirements: 

• M1 (8-core CPU, 7-core GPU)
• M2 (8-core CPU, 8-core GPU)
• 16 GB RAM
• OS: Monterey 12, Ventura 13

Recommended system requirements:

• M1 Pro (10-core CPU, 16-core GPU)
• M2 (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU)
• M2 Pro (10-core CPU, 16-core GPU)
• 24 or 32 GB RAM
• OS: Monterey 12, Ventura 13

Price of Medit i600 scanner

We’ve seen a Medit i1700 wireless priced at $11,500.

Medit i600 scanner conclusion

It is a more affordable scanner option that is similar to the Medit i700, but has a lower speed and does not come with remote control mode, UV-C LED disinfection, or HD mode. It does feature a 180-degree reversible tip. 

Model: Medit i500 scanner

The Medit i500 was the scanner that started it all in this category for the company and won a Red Dot award for product design. Released in 2018, it was billed as the easy entry into digital dentistry. Since this model’s launch, Medit’s scanners have become 12% lighter, increased the scanning window by 7%, and tiled the mirror angle from 40 to 45 degrees for better capture of distal molars and interproximal areas.

Overview of functionality

Handle includes single button scanning control
UV-C LED disinfection
3D in-motion video technology
3D full-color streaming capture
14 x 13 mm scan area
LED light source
Adaptive anti-fogging technology
Connectivity: Wired USB 3.0

Overall Medit i500 scanner ease of use

Lightweight, wired handle (280g, 264 x 44 x 54.4mm) that includes HD mode 

Speed

Up to 30 FPS, fair

Accuracy

Full-arch: 21.0µm ± 1.48, below average

Software compatibility

Access to Medit Apps and Medit Link for a fee

System requirements

Windows minimum system requirements (no Mac compatibility): 

• Laptop:
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-12500H
• Desktop:
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-12400, AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
• 16 GB RAM
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (VRAM 6 GB or higher), NVIDIA RTX A3000 (VRAM 6 GB or higher)
• OS: Windows 10 64-bit, Windows 11 (recommended for 12th Gen or later Intel Core processors)

Windows recommended system requirements (no Mac compatibility): 

• Laptop:
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-12500H
• Desktop:
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-12400, AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
• 16 GB RAM
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (VRAM 6 GB or higher), NVIDIA RTX A3000 (VRAM 6 GB or higher)
• OS: Windows 10 64-bit, Windows 11 (recommended for 12th Gen or later Intel Core processors)

Price of Medit i500 scanner

We’ve seen a Medit i1700 wireless priced at $16,000.

Medit i500 scanner conclusion

Medit has improved upon their first scanner. If you are new to the market and have decided that you only want a Medit scanner, then pay the few thousand more for a more recent model. 

View a comparison of all the top intraoral scanners in the market here!

Conclusion: Is a Medit scanner right for you? 

The entry-level scanner has a barrier to entry in that training and support cost extra which is not ideal when adopting digital dentistry or a new workflow; at Dandy training and ongoing expert support are always free. 

While the scan quality of Medits are good, they are certainly not excellent. And speaking as a dental lab, we want you to send us the best possible scans, so that we can provide you the best possible restorations. Scan quality is just not something that makes sense to skimp on, we’d argue that above all else, it’s the biggest influencer of how well the crown fits. The Medit really struggles with stitching images and does not capture the same level of depth of information as a 3Shape TRIOS scanner (which you get free when you work with Dandy), so while it may meet your expectations for the simple restorations you do at first, as you go deeper into digital, you will start to notice more of its shortcomings.

Contact a Dandy rep today.

Photo credit Medit

The post Which Medit intraoral dental scanner is right for you? appeared first on Dandy.

Running an in-house lab comes with the costs of your and the staff’s time designing, milling, finishing, ordering materials, and maintenance—which often leads to inefficiencies and doctors’ valuable time being pulled away from their patients. Desktop mills are a lower quality than those in top labs. Also, by only ordering materials for your practice there is no economy of scale to be had in that ledger. Plus not every treatment—such as Clear Aligners, Night Guards, and mandibular advancement devices—can be handled in-house with a CEREC milling machine so you will still need to manage outside lab relationships or explore also purchasing a 3D printer. 

The Primescan scanner itself is a great tool with excellent speed and accuracy and average edentulous scanning and heft, though it has a below average ease of use due to its bulky, heavy wand and does not offer caries detection.

The tool comes at price: even without the CEREC system you could spend $40,000 on the CEREC Primescan alone. 

For those dental professionals interested in intricate specs and details on Dentsply Sirona’s Primescan’s intraoral digital scanner model we have provided available information below including speed, accuracy, ease of use, software compatibility, and ballpark pricing. 

Information in short: Dentsply Sirona CEREC Primescan scanner vs Dandy’s digital dental solution

The Primescan by Dentsply Sirona that works with CEREC is an expensive device while Dandy offers our dental partners 3Shape TRIOS scanners for free. The TRIOS scanners have a great ease of use whereas the Primescan is a bit on the bulky side. Along with adopting the CEREC system you have now set yourself up to run a mini-lab in addition to your other clinical and managerial duties, the smaller mills are not as good as the industrial mills at labs, you can’t buy materials at scale to earn margin savings, and if you want to service more of your patients you will also have to adopt an even more expensive 3D printer.

Model: Dentsply Sirona (CEREC) Primescan scanner

Overview of functionality 

Weight: 31kg  

TFT LED flat-screen display, HD resolution

Patented Smart Pixel Sensor captures sharp scans in up to 20mm depth and intelligent processing scans 1.5 million 3D data points per second

Option of disposable or stainless steel sleeves 

Seamless scans and transfer options mean labs receive high-resolution models instantly 

Scans work for implantology, orthodontic treatment, and sleep appliances 

Comes with a work station for mobility 

The Dentsply Sirona Primescan scanner an be used for patient monitoring or upgraded to a full chairside CEREC system 

CEREC Primescan ease of use

The scanner is below average compared to other scanners because of its larger size and weight. 

Speed

50,000 images per second, excellent

Accuracy

Full-arch scan in under 45 seconds; the most accurate device according to a 2022 study.

Software compatibility

Primescan AC with Connect Software
CEREC Primescan AC with CEREC Software
Connect Case Center works with many major labs’ software
DS Core cloud

System requirements 

Intel processor. 32 GB RAM. 

OS: Windows 10, 64 bit

Price of Dentsply Sirona (CEREC) Primescan scanner

Prices quotes differ based on the package that works best for your practice, here is what we have seen:

• $40,000 for the scanner
• $70,000 for scanner including in-house milling
• $100,000+ for Primescan model that includes CAD/CAM software, milling machine, and a furnace.

Dentsply Sirona (CEREC) Primescan conclusion: 

Dentsply Sirona’s Primescan intraoral scanner is a highly accurate, high-speed scanner that comes at a high price tag. The major consideration for doctors deciding to make the lofty financial and practice-consuming commitment is: To CEREC or not to CEREC?

View a comparison of all the top intraoral scanners in the market here!

Conclusion: Is the Dentsply Sirona CEREC Primescan scanner right for you? 

Compared to Dandy’s digital solution the Dentsply Sirona CEREC Primescan is worse for your ledger, staff (bulky), and time. The Primescan device and equipment are very pricey, while Dandy offers 3Shape TRIOS scanners for free. Running a dental laboratory is not for everybody and the mini-in-house version doesn’t come close to the quality and ease of partnering with a major lab like Dandy.

Contact a Dandy rep today.

Photo credit: Dentsply Sirona

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But for some patients, overuse, trauma, or even genetic factors can beget Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMDs), which cause facial pain, inflammation, dysfunction, and a host of other unpleasant symptoms. An estimated 5-12% of the population has a temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder. TMDs can cause pain in the jaw and the surrounding muscles as well as stress and trauma. 

TMDs and TMJ are usually treated by dentists and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctors. You can help patients suffering from TMJ by learning more about helpful TMJ treatment devices from Dandy dental lab and some at-home best practices for noticeable TMJ relief. 

What causes TMJ pain?

Today, approximately 10 million Americans are affected by a TMD. For the vast majority of these people, the problem is relatively minor, with discomfort typically being fleeting and cyclical. 

More painful TMJ disorders tend to occur if there is damage to or around the site of the temporomandibular joint. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common causes of TMDs include: 

• The disk eroding 
• The disk moving out of its proper alignment
• Arthritis damaging the joint’s cartilage 
• A blow or impact damaging the joint 

Additionally, various risk factors can cause a patient to develop TMJ problems, including a traumatic injury, chronic teeth grinding or clenching, connective tissue diseases, or certain types of arthritis. 

Sleep apnea with Dandy

Dentists can offer both the Herbst and the Dorsal intraoral device for sleep apnea with Dandy. Both products are 3D printed to ensure a high level of accuracy and comfort. This ensures a high degree of efficacy when treating sleep apnea.

Explore mandibular advancement devices

Identifying TMJ pain in you dental patients

To diagnose TMJ or a TMD, you can begin with an informal test:

• Have the patient open and close their mouth, then listen to and feel the jaw. Notice any cracking or popping sounds, as well as any physical irregularities or imbalances.
• Observe the range of motion in the jaw.
• Press on areas around the jaw to identify sites of pain or discomfort.

Next, ask patients about their pain and symptoms

TMJ/TMD symptoms can include:

• Jaw pain
• Ear pain
• Difficulty chewing
• Facial pain
• Locking of the joint
• Migraines

Ask the patient a series of questions for TMJ or TMD

• Do you have frequent or regular headaches upon awakening, or in the late afternoon?
• Are your jaw muscles sore or tender?
• Are your joints sore or tender when you eat or chew?
• Have you ever received an injury to your jaw or face?
  • If yes, please describe the injury.

• Do your joints make any noise such as snapping, clicking, or popping?
• Do your joints lock when you are trying to open or close?
• Do you have any teeth that are sensitive, sore, aching, or uncomfortable?
• Have you ever worn a splint or nightguard?
• If yes: How many?

• Are you taking or have you taken any medication for these symptoms?
  • If yes, describe the medication.
• Have you ever seen a dentist or a TMJ specialist for treatment of any of the above symptoms?
  • If yes, please share more details about these visits.

Finally, order tests and imaging to confirm the issue:

• Dental X-rays to examine the teeth and jaw
• CT scan to provide detailed images of the bones involved with the joint
• MRI to reveal problems with the joint’s disk or surrounding soft tissue
• In select cases, an arthroscopy to insert a small camera into the joint space

Dental applications for TMJ relief

TMJ symptoms may go away without treatment in mild cases. At times, medications, including anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen, low doses of antidepressants, or muscle relaxers, can be the first low-effort course of action to try to assist with pain relief, bruxism control, and sleeplessness.

If symptoms persist, the next course of action may be the use of oral appliances. Oral appliances are one of the most common and effective treatment options for TMJ and TMDs.

An occlusal appliance, splint, or orthotic device is a specially designed mouth guard for people who grind their teeth, have a history of pain and dysfunction associated with their bite or TMJ, or have completed oral reconstruction. These devices not only protect the teeth from harmful habits but also support the TMJ and the muscles that are used in chewing. They are designed to guide the jaw as it moves side-to-side and front-to-back and prevent it from moving into painful and/or harmful positions.

Occlusal appliances are often customized to suit the specific needs of a patient. Patients will need support in different areas, depending if the root cause of the TMJ/TMD is due to the muscles or the joint itself.

There are many TMJ products in the market, but there are three primary buckets of oral appliances:

1. Deprogrammers: Traditional TMJ appliances with a build-up on the anterior to separate the arch.
2. Gelbs: Lower arch appliance, traditionally with a cutaway anterior and wire instead for reinforcement.
3. Unique Mechanism: Other options to treat TMJ with a unique mechanism (i.e. NTI with minimal coverage and Dawson with both arches)

Given the many variations of oral appliances available and the variety of products offered by each dental lab, the process of narrowing down your choice of oral appliance can be incredibly difficult for doctors.

Dandy simplifies this process by offering four appliances that cover the entire market:

NTI (Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibition)

This small, unobtrusive device rests on the anteriors to avoid occlusion of the posterior teeth to inhibit bruxism and relieve stress. It covers only teeth #6-9 on the upper arch.

Ideal use cases of NTI

Works well for cases where the goal is to prevent any form of bruxism, rather than mitigate the impact or pain

Very helpful for temporal headache patients

Good for treating TMD cases where the root cause is a muscle problem

Anterior Deprogrammer

This device covers the entire arch and discludes the posteriors via an anterior ramp to retrain jaw muscles and prevent bruxing. It is primarily used on the upper arch. 

Ideal use cases of Anterior Deprogrammer

Works well for cases where you want full arch coverage and protection, but also want to prevent occlusion

Good for treating TMD cases where the root cause is a muscle problem

Gelb

This device sits on the posteriors and repositions to mandible to control the positioning of the jaw, avoid excess force, and maintain the mandible arch shape. It also brings the condyle into a more anterior position, resulting in an inferior position in the fossa and an increase in the vertical opening, which can relieve pain. 

Ideal use cases of Gelb

Good fit for cases where it is important to provide support and relieve pain in the TMJ

Works well for patients who struggle with airway obstruction given the anterior design

Dawson B-splint

This device covers both arches and avoids occlusion of the posteriors to inhibit bruxism and relieve stress while allowing horizontal movement.

Ideal use cases of Dawson B-splint

Good fit for cases where it is important to provide full arch coverage and support excursive movements, rather than prevent them

Good for long-term use and protection for those with significant parafunction

Eliminates the possibility of posterior super eruption

In more severe TMJ disorders, surgery may be necessary to fix the underlying problems.

Leveraging digital dentistry for patients with TMJ pain

Regardless of what type of stabilization splint the dentist recommends, it’s paramount that the dental appliance is precisely molded to perfectly fit the patient’s mouth. Whether the wrong device is recommended or the right device is improperly sized, either result could exacerbate the existing condition. 

This is why dentists are increasingly moving toward digital dental technologies and workflows, such as: 

• Intraoral scanners – These dental devices enable dentists to instantly capture dental impressions to automatically register the size and shape of each tooth. 

• CAD/CAM technology – CAD/CAM technology enables dentists to send digital scans instantly. Once the digital laboratory receives the scans, the team can instantly review them to confirm that they’re accurate or request a retake. If the scan is usable, the design team can make slight adjustments to ensure proper spacing and alignment. 

• 3D Milling – After the 3D image is ready, a milling machine shapes the dental appliance from a single ceramic block. Once it’s created, it will be washed, dried, cured, and prepared for shipment.  

Digital technologies enhance the entire dental appliance manufacturing process, making it faster, less expensive, and more accurate. Aided by Dandy digital workflows, a dentist can ensure that the stabilization splint is a perfect fit the first time around. 

At-home relief for TMJ pain 

In addition to seeing a dentist and receiving a dental appliance, there are several at-home supplemental measures a patient can implement into their daily routine for TMJ relief, such as:

TMJ pain relief exercises

For patients struggling with a minor TMJ disorder, jaw strengthening, stretching, and relaxing exercises can increase mobility, reduce pain, and help guide the jaw back into its proper position.

Common exercises are:

• Goldfish (partial and full opening) 
• Chin tucks
• Resisted opening and closing of the mouth
• Tongue-ups
• Side-to-side jaw movements
• Forward jaw movements

Stress and TMJ pain

A natural response to stress and anger is to clench the jaw. Therefore, patients are encouraged to practice stress-relieving activities that can help prevent the behaviors that contribute to jaw tension. Stress-relieving practices may include:

• Meditation
• Prayer
• Yoga
• Getting more sleep
• Exercising 
• Focused breathing 
• Spending time outside
  
  
  
  
  
  Sleep position and TMJ relief
  
  Stress and TMJ pain
• 
  
  A change in sleeping positions – If your patient’s problem involves nighttime grinding, advise them not to sleep on their stomach or side with a hand under the jaw. Instead, TMJ patients should sleep on their backs with a pillow that provides adequate neck support. 

• Cut out bad habits – Certain poor habits can contribute to TMJ pain, including:
  • Chewing on cheeks
  • Biting nails
  • Grinding teeth
  • Clenching teeth
  • Leaning on your hand with your jaw 

Sleep positions and TMJ relief

If your patient’s problem involves nighttime grinding, advise them not to sleep on their stomach or side with a hand under the jaw. Instead, TMJ patients should sleep on their backs with a pillow that provides adequate neck support. 

Sleep apnea can also be connected to TMJ. Bruxism, muscle tension, and attrition are common signs of patients suffering from undiagnosed sleep apnea. The body is not getting enough air during apneic or hypopnea events, and we unconsciously try to open our airways by grinding our teeth forward to push the jaw and tongue forward. This can result in attritional pits on molars or incisor wear, or the loss of vertical dimension. 

Depending on your patient with a sleep apnea diagnosis, sleep apnea devices can be an effective way to treat both sleep apnea and TMJ issues, though in some patients the device may lead to increased TMJ discomfort.

Poor habits that contribute to TMJ pain

Certain poor habits can contribute to TMJ pain, including:

• Chewing on cheeks
• Biting nails
• Grinding teeth
• Clenching teeth
• Leaning on your hand with your jaw

Foods to avoid for TMJ relief

Some foods can be difficult for the jaw to handle, including:

• Gum
• Chewy candies
• Baguettes 
• Nuts
• Chewy or tough meat
• Ice
• Hard fruits and veggies 

Elevating TMJ pain support with Dandy

TMJ disorders cause dysfunction of the jaw bone, which typically manifests in jaw pain, difficulty chewing, clicking, locking, and a host of other symptoms. Fortunately, the vast majority of cases are not severe and can be treated with a stabilization splint and supplemented with at-home habits and exercises. But there are ways you can ensure your patient’s TMD care is top-notch and up to today’s standards.

At Dandy, our digital dental workflows empower dentists to fabricate high-quality dental appliances that fit perfectly and cost less. The average Dandy partners experience $30,000 in upfront savings, 76% faster delivery of prosthodontics, and an 89% reduction in remakes. 

If you want to provide TMJ pain relief for your patients, try our demo today to see the difference Dandy can make. 

Sources: 

 1. Mayo Clinic. TMJ Disorders. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tmj/symptoms-causes/syc-20350941

2. NIH. TMJ Disorders. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2017-12/tmj-disorders.pdf

3. Mayo Clinic. TMJ Disorders. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tmj/symptoms-causes/syc-20350941

 4-6. NIH. TMJ Disorders. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2017-12/tmj-disorders.pdf

7. Penn Medicine. TMJ Pain Relief: 8 Best Practices to Help Manage Temporomandibular Joint Disorders. www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2020/september/tmj-pain-relief-8-best-practices-to-help-manage-tmd 

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In 2024, it’s more important than ever to invest in effective dental marketing strategies and capture the available market share. We’ve done the hard part for you and gathered dozens of ways to attract new patients to your dental practice. You just have to choose one and set it in motion. 

Whether you want to grow your patient pool, meet your 2024 KPIs, or strengthen your brand, we’ve got the right idea for you. Here are 30 dental marketing ideas for dentists and dental offices from Dandy’s digital dentistry.

Understanding dental marketing

Dental marketing is any tool or strategy you use to promote your dental practice and services. Some examples include paying for local advertisements to attract new patients; retaining patients by sending effective email reminders to book their next appointment; or offering a referral program for current patients to refer new patients to your office. 

You might decide to try a dental marketing strategy such as:

• Sharing information about your practice on social media
• Following up with current patients by email
• Sending marketing materials by mail
• Sharing deals or incentives for new patients
• Paying for pay-per-click advertising through Google, Facebook, and other sites
• Blogging to educate your patients about your services and oral health
• Making connections in your network to gain patient referrals

Ultimately, you want to employ dental marketing methods that give you the highest possible return on your investment (ROI). This might take some trial and error, and success will depend on the unique nature of your practice, your goals, and the community you are trying to reach.

Effective dental marketing ideas and strategies

Enhance your dental practice website’s design

If your dental practice website looks like it’s 15 years old, you’re not doing your practice any favors. Your website is the main place people will seek out information about your practice, yourself, and your services, so make sure it shows off your brand in a strong, appealing way. Prospective patients want all the basics such as location, services offered, and FAQs readily available, and it’s a bonus if you can get new patients to commit to your practice then and there (consider making appointments bookable online). Make sure your site is well-designed with intuitive links and plenty of search engine optimization (SEO) so people can find you online. 

You can try to design your website yourself using templates from sites such as Squarespace or Wix, but hiring a website designer is likely a worthwhile investment for your business.

Develop engaging and informative dental content

You can draw a larger audience to your website (and ultimately book more patients) by drawing them in with quality and relevant content. There are many different content options you could offer depending on your own expertise and interests. For a topic patients might be interested in, like easy ways to have better breath, you could write a blog post on your website and share it on social media (bring traffic back to your site), or you could make a TikTok video (the funnier, the better) promoting your brand and offering relevant information.

To keep patients coming back for more, your blog should be updated frequently and cover a variety of subjects. Potential topics include: 

• Dental tips and advice
• Information about common dental issues and treatments 
• News about new dental products and technologies
• Patient testimonials with before and after results 
• Behind-the-scenes blogs 
• Interviews with experts

Incorporate digital technologies and highlight them

Modern clinics are embracing digital technologies that can streamline and simplify traditional workflows, reduce patient chair time and overcome costs, and improve patient experience and outcomes. These technologies include: 

• Intraoral scanner – These devices are transforming the way dentists take impressions, replacing the outmoded analog method. Equipped with these tools, dentists can rapidly scan the patient’s intraoral cavity, register the size and shape of each tooth, and then use the data to create a perfect 3D image—all without incurring taxing supply costs. 
• CAD/CAM dentistry – Equipped with computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology, a dental lab can take that 3D scan and then make micro-adjustments to ensure proper spacing and alignment for the final restoration. 
• 3D Milling – Once the scan is prepared for restoration, a milling machine can shape the piece out of a ceramic block and then perform color-matching, thus ensuring the optimal fit and aesthetic of a dental prosthetic.  

If you utilize such advancements in dentistry, you should highlight them so that patients are aware that you run a state-of-the-art practice. When it comes to how to attract new patients to your dental practice, these advancements represent a unique selling proposition that you can highlight in your social media and content marketing efforts to set your clinic apart from the competition

Create a dental membership program

An effective way to increase your patient pool is to offer a membership program designed for patients without dental insurance. Dentists can choose to offer an affordable, baseline plan for care that includes basic, preventive dental care such as X-rays, teeth cleaning, and an oral examination by the dentist. If patients need other services, they can elect into and pay for those services as needed. You can charge for the program annually or monthly and keep costs transparent, bringing in uninsured patients who might otherwise avoid the dentist completely.

Encourage patient reviews for your dental practice

Whether we’re looking for a place to eat, work out, or get our teeth cleaned, many of us go straight to the online reviews. We trust what real people have to say over an advertisement any day, which is why it’s so important to solicit positive reviews from your patients. You can hand them a card with step-by-step instructions on how to give a Google and/or Yelp review on their way out of the office and follow up by email a few days later. 

Don’t forget that the number one way to get a good review is by providing a great experience for your patient. 

Launch an engaging dental contest

We all love free stuff. Hosting a giveaway with a valuable prize (it can even be related to your business, such as a free whitening session) can be an effective way to attract social media followers and gain email subscribers.

Embark on a dental podcast journey

You’ve got something important to say, so say it! There’s a low bar for entry to the podcast world—you really just need a computer and an opinion. Is there a subject area related to your field that you’re passionate about? You could start a weekly podcast and become an authority in that area as well as attract a new audience (and new patients).

Support local charitable causes

Growing your practice can be as simple as making genuine connections within your community. Make a commitment to volunteer for, sponsor, and donate to the local causes you care about. You’ll meet plenty of people who will remember you and your practice for a good reason.

Special discounts to attract new dental patients

A meaningful discount can always help get new patients in the door. Consider running holiday specials that make sense for your business, or offering heavier discounts during business lulls. Keep in mind that the goal is to create long-term patients, not to treat them a single time.

Leverage SEO for long-term results

In the discovery stage, most prospective patients will begin their search for a dentist on Google. They may research topics related to their dental condition, such as dentures or implants, and then discover potential dental candidates by reading about these issues on their website’s blog. Or, they may look directly for a dental clinic in their area. 

In either instance, your goal should be for your website to rank at or near the top of all the relevant queries. Accomplishing this isn’t easy, but it is possible with a well-planned SEO strategy that includes: 

• Keyword research – Identifying and targeting the right keywords, particularly those that are relevant to your audience with a high search volume.
• Content marketing – Crafting high-quality content, especially on your blog pages to answer relevant queries, attract links, and foster social shares. 
• On-page optimization – Optimizing the website’s content and structure for the search engines. This includes adding:
  • Headers
  • HTML tags
  • Images
  • Image alt text 
  • External and internal linking

Local search potential for your dental practice

When it comes to dental brand awareness, proximity matters. A dental clinic in San Diego will experience little benefit if its website is discovered by a prospective patient in Westchester (this also applies to any local business). 

As a general rule of thumb, potential clients will live within a 10-mile radius of their dental practice, though distances could be longer between rural and urban dental practices. Therefore, you need to be focusing your digital marketing efforts on targeting people within this proximal region. 

For businesses that depend on community support, such as brick-and-mortar locations, including location-specific SEO on your website and Google location listing is an essential way to ensure that customers in your area can find your business.

Local search/SEO strategies include: 

• Creating and optimizing a Google My Business listing
• Using schema markup for local results
• Optimizing content to include local keywords
• Building up local citations such as online directories and review sites 
• Ensuring that name, address, and content information are consistent online
• Creating local content 
• Using social media to promote local services
• Posting positive online reviews

Guest posting for increased dental practice reach

As you create content through blogs, social media, and podcasts, consider reaching out to others creating good content in your subject area and asking if you can write a guest post for them. Search engine robots use inbound links (links on other sites that link back to yours) to give your site credibility and move it higher in search rankings. If you offer up a link exchange (I’ll post on yours if you post on mine) it’s a win-win for everyone.

Advertise your dental practice online

Online advertisements can target the specific demographic you’re hoping to market to, which means they can be a cost-effective way to reach a new potential patient base. Look into running ads on Google, Yelp, Facebook, and other sites that make sense for your practice and choose the ad campaign that works best for your practice.

Leverage email marketing for dental outreach

Make sure you have a system in place for collecting your patients’ (and potential patients’) email addresses so you can keep in touch, share content, remind them to make appointments, and let them know about any new services or deals you may offer. Reminder emails for upcoming scheduled appointments can also reduce no-shows and cancellations, bolstering your bottom line. Just make sure not to overdo it.

Distribute press releases to local media

Are you a good source for journalists to interview about a new law that changed concerning the dental industry? Or maybe you just got certified to give a highly in-demand treatment? Consider writing up a press release and sending it to local media with an interesting story angle, all the basic information to know about you and your connection to the story, and your contact information. 

Engage with informative dental video content

YouTube and TikTok are still the reigning kings of content for a reason. You can use your professional expertise to create educational yet interesting videos about subjects from gingivitis to implants to teeth whitening. Follow your own interests, let your personality shine, and see what you come up with.

Direct mail strategies for dental practices

Direct mail is still an important way to reach potential patients—you just have to make sure your messaging stands out in a pile of junk mail. Set up a target mailing list, design a mailer that attracts the eye, and, if you can, follow up with those same potential patients by email. Keep the name of your practice at the top of their minds for the best chance of patient conversion.

Enhance dental marketing ideas with QR codes

Whether you’re reaching potential patients by mail, email, or social media, you want it to be as easy as possible for them to find you—as easy as one click. That’s where QR codes come in handy. Anyone with a smartphone can easily scan them and get a direct link to your website, your appointment booking portal, your social media page, etc.

Networking: Host or attend meetup events

Planning a fun or informative event in your neighborhood or online is a great way to capture the attention of potential customers and make them aware of your practice and brand. You could host a webinar about a topic people care about, like how to avoid discoloration of your teeth or an informational session about an expensive procedure that people want to know more about before committing to. In person, maybe you could host a kids’ hour where children can learn about healthy brushing habits and go home with a toy and a toothbrush. Create a space that makes sense for you and your practice, and the right connections will follow. 

Zocdoc verification for dental practitioners

Referrals and ratings are so important. That’s why Zocdoc, a website people commonly use to find doctors near them or within their insurance coverage, is a great marketplace for your practice to be a part of so people can easily discover you. Join and get Zocdoc verified and you may tap into an automated flow of new patients.

Dominating social media channels

Social media is often the most underutilized digital dental marketing tool. Social Media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok can help you reach a large audience of potential patients with each outlet serving as a unique tool in your marketing toolkit. 

Leveraged properly, your social media marketing channels can improve your visibility and brand reach, drive awareness, and stoke engagement among potential clients. To that end, some best dental SEO practices include: 

• Post consistently to build a following and drive engagement 
• Use a content calendar to stay organized and efficient 
• Discover and incorporate your brand voice
• Focus on your unique selling propositions, such as digital dental technologies
• Include your CTA information in your profile bios 
• Analyze and optimize your social campaigns
• Respond to your community 
• Link to and engage with relevant pages

Start a dental patient referral program

The one thing we trust even more than online reviews is a review from someone we personally know. People talk, and you want them to talk about the excellent experience they had as your patient. Create a patient referral program that rewards your current patients (with discounts, free products, or free services) for every referral patient they bring in, and give them concrete goals to work toward.

Sponsor community events for visibility

Adjacent to volunteering, if you sponsor community events your brand, logo, and practice will become more visible. Research opportunities to sponsor local sports teams or big annual events or local schools and organizations you have a connection to.

Promote your dental practice with business cards

This tip is an oldie but a goodie. Not everyone operates online, and you want to be able to market your practice when you meet people out and about in the real world. A business card (with a QR code!) is a simple way to reach new patients or have current patients pass off your information to others.

Collaborative dental marketing with non-competitors

Do a mind-meld with other local businesses to reap the benefits of your collective audiences. It wouldn’t make sense for you to team up with another dentist (aka your competitor), but what about specialists in your field or other health professionals? Pool your resources, market to customers, and offer deals as a team so you can allow potential patients to knock out two health tasks at once.

Before-and-after dental marketing strategies

Seeing is believing, so give people the tools they need to actually see the results your practice can provide. Show before and after pictures in your marketing to show patients not only what their dream smile could look like, but also how they could attain it (by making an appointment at your practice!).

Maximizing returns: Retargeting previous dental office visitors

When you use returageting marketing methods, you deliver ads to an online audience that has already interacted with your practice in some way. They could be someone who opened an email from you, someone who clicked on one of your ads, or someone who searched for your practice. These are people who are already interested in your practice in some way; now it’s time to close the deal.

Decide on your target audience based on the purpose of your message (is it to convert ads to booked appointments, to get people to follow your social media accounts, or something else?) and employ paid ads from there.

Internal dental marketing initiatives

Your most important marketing tactic will always be making the best impression possible on your patients. As previously noted, reviews and word of mouth are some of the most powerful marketing tools available to you—plus, they’re free. 

Some simple things to keep in mind to improve your connection with your patients include:

• Maintain a clean, neat, and modern working environment.
• Give patients the attention and respect they deserve.
• Everyone in the office should exemplify a positive and patient attitude.
• Make sure the reception area is comfortable, welcoming, and provides patients with something to read or do while they wait.
• Dedicate a space for kids with toys and activities.
• See patients promptly for their appointment times, and let them know ahead of time if you are running behind schedule.
• Provide excellent service.

Utilizing dental marketing collateral

Your reception area is the perfect place to market your services to a captive, friendly audience. Keep business cards at the front desk and brochures offering your services and more information about yourself around the area. You can let patients know about wellness services and any new technology you’re implementing, plus offer them a chance to write in their email address for more information. This is an easy way to build your mailing list.  

Building strategic referral partnerships

Doctors depend on other doctors to send them a steady stream of referrals, and building your connection with other health professsionals in your area can be crucial to the success of your practice. An effective way to build professional relationships is to set up time to meet other doctors in person. Make it easy on them: visit their office, don’t take up too much of their time, and bring a gift for them and perhaps something for all of their staff to enjoy (who doesn’t love a box of donuts?). Then continue to follow up regularly with holiday cards from your office, personal letters with professional news, and face-to-face lunches and coffees. 

Remember that networking is about a mutual give and take, so take notes about each meeting so you remember important details, celebrate their successes, and offer to help them in any way you are able to. 

Measuring dental marketing success

Dental marketing can be pricey, so you want to be able to track the success of your efforts so you know which method works best for your practice. 

First, have a clear and measurable goal for what you want to achieve with a marketing campaign. For instance, perhaps you’d like to increase online appointment bookings by 20% within six months. Once your campaign begins, make sure a method is in place for you to track results so at the end of your campaign you’ll be able to measure whether or not you hit your target. 

Tracking ROI in your dental marketing plan

Whatever marketing method you decide to use, you want the best ROI possible. Tracking ROIs can help you see what works for your practice as well as what needs improvement. For instance, if an ad has a particularly low conversaion rate for website visitors, you should consider redesigning it. 

You should also track ROIs within your office operations, which is why it’s important to set up a digital dental workflow. Perhaps you have a system in place for front desk employees to call patients when it’s time to make a cleaning appointment, but you notice booking rates are lower than previous months. This information can help you investigate whether there is a staffing issue or something else going on.

You should also consider using Google’s analytics, a free analytics tool, to track visitors to your site and see the digital path they follow, how many of them book an appointment, how long they stay on the site, and much more. This can give you crucial information about the sites your visitors are coming from, including your ad campaigns, and the effectiveness of your website.

Expand your practice using these dental marketing ideas

Knowledge is power, and now you have all the tools you need to create a strong and effective dental marketing campaign for your practice. Whatever method(s) you decide to use, remember to have a clear goal in mind and a method in place to track results.

When marketing your dental practice, always keep in mind:

• Your in-person connection with your patients and providing a high level of customer service are the strongest ways to market your practice.
• Word-of-mouth referrals and online reviews are powerful marketing tools, so be sure to capitalize on them.
• Making professional connections and gaining steady patient referrals are crucial to the success of your practice.
• Building an email list is a powerful tool to stay connected with your patient base and maintain long-term patients.
• There are many ways to market your dental practice in person, online, by mail, and through paid ads. Choose one (or several) and don’t be afraid to experiment!

Leveraging Dandy’s digital dental workflows for marketing success

With prices rising and competition heating up in the market, dental practices must go above and beyond to distinguish their services and then market them to current and prospective patients. By embracing these marketing ideas for dental offices, you can take the necessary steps to improve your visibility and brand reach, especially in the digital space. 

Are you looking to incorporate new dental technology into your dental clinic and marketing practices? If so, the team at Dandy can help you transition to a digital dental workflow, providing an intraoral scanner, powerful software, and the full support of a digital dental lab. Once implemented, you can focus your marketing materials on the benefits of digital dentistry. 

If you’re ready to unleash your clinic’s full potential, contact us today.

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