Creating a great first impression sets the scene for all future patient interactions. Thanks to cognitive bias, patients who are immediately impressed by your surgery are more likely to view the rest of their visit positively. Having a good experience will also make it more likely that they’ll return in the future and recommend you to their friends and family.
Taking the time to design a dental surgery that creates a brilliant first impression offers many benefits for your business and your patients. Here are our top tips on how you can achieve this…
Provide A Warm Welcome
Patients might arrive at your surgery feeling flustered, stressed, or anxious. It’s your job to immediately put them at ease and make them feel relaxed and comfortable. Not only does this create a great first impression, but it’ll also help them open up about any concerns they’re experiencing and be honest about their oral hygiene routine.
Your waiting area is the first place patients see, so you must design this in a way that’s sure to impress. Your check-in process should be smooth and efficient, and you could consider using tablets to avoid queues at reception.
Remember, people have taken time out of their day to attend your practice, and showing respect for this will go a long way. Consider providing an estimated waiting time during check-in or setting expectations if appointments are running significantly behind schedule. This will allow patients to let their employer know or use the time to get work done, so they don’t end up working late to catch up.
Every member of your team, including reception staff, dentists, and hygienists, should ensure they provide a warm and friendly greeting to all patients. This will create a genuine connection and make it more likely the patient will give a positive review and visit again in the future.
Keep It Clean
Arriving to find a spotless waiting area and a clean and uncluttered reception desk will show patients that your practice is clean and hygienic and demonstrate you have excellent attention to detail.
This will reassure them they’re in safe hands and help them to relax. You can utilise clever storage solutions in both the reception area and practice rooms to avoid the build-up of clutter and keep everything tidy.
It’s also important to ensure that your waiting area has plenty of seating so no one feels cramped or crowded. Invest in comfortable chairs and place them far enough away from each other so patients can enjoy space and privacy while waiting.
Pay Attention To Decor
Clever decor can make your waiting area look bigger and creates a fantastic first impression. Light-coloured walls and ceilings make rooms feel brighter and more inviting, especially when combined with plenty of natural light. Soft lighting provides a welcoming glow and a more pleasant alternative to harsh fluorescents if natural light isn’t an option.
Consider making a feature wall by installing a mural that represents your business. This can be used on your website or as a backdrop to social media posts and means you can create a great first impression before a patient has even booked their appointment.
Your practice must meet or exceeds the expectations that patients have developed through reading your marketing materials, so make sure you have consistent branding across your marketing and the surgery itself.
Upgrade Your Equipment
High-quality equipment shows that you care about providing patients with the best possible experience and minimising discomfort or distress.
Modern tools, a comfortable dental chair, and a top-of-the-range x-ray machine will make every visit as smooth and pain-free as possible and position you as the leading dental practice in your area.
Make sure everything is working as it will help create a great first impression and shows that you don’t try to cut corners to save time and money.
Don’t Forget The Details
Little luxuries show that you genuinely value your patients and want them to have a great experience from start to finish. A water dispenser, plants, and relaxing music played at a low volume will show your patients that you’re happy to go over and above to provide the best possible service.
Providing reading material, TVs with the sound turned off, and artwork will help distract your patients from the wait and help ease any nerves or anxiety.
Get The Right Support
At Turn Key Dental, we can provide all the guidance and support you need to build a surgery that creates a brilliant patient experience from start to finish. We can help with refits, redesigns and supply high-quality equipment that saves time and minimises discomfort.