In some ways, this is the best possible time to be a dentist. Dental tools, materials, imaging and diagnostic options, dental sedation, and even dental chairs are more sophisticated and effective than ever.
In other ways, this is one of the worst times to be a dentist. Insurance companies are increasingly limiting reimbursement and in some cases practically dictating treatment
Corporate dentistry is making major inroads into many markets and in some cases have established themselves as major players. Dental service organizations are growing like proverbial weeds, offering their members economies of scale that non-affiliated dentists are hard-put to match.
But probably the worst aspect of dentistry today is how the public regards dentists – as competent, but pretty much interchangeable, “tooth technicians.”
Dentists don’t get no respect, to paraphrase Rodney Dangerfield.
That perceived lack of difference between dentists leads to a price-based selection process for dental prospects. If one dentist is as good as another, why not choose the cheapest one? In turn, that has led to price wars replete with discounts, special offers, and low price marketing.
Shaving To The Bone Really Hurts
It’s fair to say that dentists’ margins these days are painfully thin. There’s no mystery as to why that’s happening. Increased competition, and particularly downward price pressure from corporate practices, depress what dentists feel they can charge for their services.
A glut of insurance-driven patients also contributes to the price spiral. Far too many determine what care they will or won’t receive based on what their insurance will cover and what the patients’ financial obligation will be.
As they say, this is no way to run a railroad. SmartBox is doing something about it.
Enter Patient Attraction
The problem with dentistry today can be attributed to this: Dentists are chasing prospects instead of providing reasons – other than price – why patients should choose them.
As Dr. James Kiehl of New Hampshire put it, “Some of the advertising I’ve done in the past was more offer-driven, free exam, X-ray kinds of things. When you bring patients in that way, you’re chasing them with the next offer or they’re chasing you for the next offer, all the way down the line.”
Dr. Kiehl decided to stop chasing, and he contacted SmartBox. Here’s what he found.
“With the Patient Attraction System, a lot of the new patients already are very knowledgeable about what they’re looking for. Just the other day, I had a patient come in specifically wanting to talk about implants and he had heard us talk about implants and was ready to move forward. That’s been nice to have them come in already pre-educated as to what we do here.
“Since we’ve implemented our SmartBox Patient Attraction System, we’re definitely getting the quality patients that I want to see come into my practice.”
Will You Have What He’s Having?
Dr. Kiehl’s experience is anything but unique. SmartBox works to position our doctors as the only logical choice for patients. It’s common to have new patients arrive at the practice predisposed to accept the doctors’ case solutions.
So, if you’ll have what SmartBox dentists are having, schedule a Roadmap call. It’ll “cost” you about as much time as you need to place a single crown or a dental implant.
Following that deep dive into your practice goals and the competitive forces in your market, you’ll receive your completely customized Patient Attraction Roadmap to your successful future.
You can embrace the best of dentistry, and forget the worst of dentistry, when you partner with SmartBox.