Targeting Your Perfect Dental Patient
November 9, 2023
As the world of dentistry evolves everyday and adapts the latest innovations in dentistry and marketing; dental marketing has become an indispensable tool for practitioners looking to attract and retain patients. However, a one-size-fits-all approach to dental marketing seldom yields optimal results. To maximize the effectiveness of your marketing efforts, it’s crucial to understand the different types of dental patients and tailor strategies accordingly. With over 17 years in the dental marketing industry; Innovate Dental Marketing has learned over time that every type of dental patient requires different marketing efforts in order to grab their attention and their business.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the five major dental categories—General Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry, and Emergency Dentistry—and delve into each categories ideal patient and the best marketing services for each category.
General Dentistry: The Maintenance-Minded Patient
General dentistry is the most common and fundamental branch of dentistry, primarily focused on maintaining oral health and preventing dental problems. General dentists are often the first point of contact for patients of all ages. They provide routine services such as dental check-ups, cleanings, X-rays, and oral health education. They diagnose and treat common dental issues like cavities, gum disease, and tooth decay. This Maintenance-Minded Patient values preventive care and regular check-ups. They prioritize oral health as an integral part of their overall well-being. They are likely to be loyal, long-term patients seeking a trusted dental home.
In order to to target your Maintenance-Minded Patients and be able to market to them effectively, our Digital Marketing Team would suggest these three marketing services:
Website Management: Ensure your website showcases before-and-after photos, patient testimonials, and detailed information about your dental services.
Enhanced Local Optimization: Optimize your practice’s online presence to ensure you appear in local search results when people search for general dentists.
Google Ads/ Google Local Services Ads: Appear at the top of Google searches in your advertise to potential patients in your area.
Cosmetic Dentistry: The Aesthetic Enthusiast Patient
Cosmetic dentistry focuses on enhancing the aesthetics of a patient’s smile. Patients who seek cosmetic dentistry services may be dissatisfied with the appearance of their teeth or gums, even if they have no underlying dental health issues. Cosmetic dentists offer a range of procedures, including teeth whitening, veneers, dental bonding, orthodontics, and gum contouring. The ideal cosmetic patient is conscious of their appearance and seeks solutions to improve their smile. They may be preparing for a special event or simply want to boost their self-confidence through cosmetic treatments.
Marketing to the Aesthetic Enthusiast Patient means that they are visual consumers and want to see more imagery of the services you are offering. Here are three of Innovate’s marketing services our team would suggest to begin advertising your cosmetic dental services:
Social Media Ads: Utilize platforms like Instagram and Facebook to showcase your practice’s Cosmetic Dentistry success stories.
Dating App Ads: Everyone wants their smile to be ‘dazzling’ for a first date; dating apps can be an excellent place to advertise your Cosmetic Dentistry services.
Google Ads: Appear at the top of Google searches when local potential patients are searching for the best cosmetic dental services in their area.
Pediatric and Family Dentistry: The Caring Parent Patient
Pediatric dentistry specializes in the oral health of children, making it essential to target parents or guardians. Pediatric dentists are trained to address the unique needs of young patients and create a comfortable, child-friendly environment. They provide preventative care, dental check-ups, fluoride treatments, and education on proper oral hygiene.
This patient of the The Caring Parent is not very hard to identify as parents are committed to their child’s well-being and prioritizes early dental care. They actively search for pediatric dentists with a warm and child-friendly approach. While this patient may not be hard to identify, marketing to the parents of these patients and targeting these patients can be a different task. Listed below are our team’s suggestions of the best services to market the The Caring Parent patient:
Website Management: Maintain your website and enhance your practice’s brand in innovative ways to show parents why they should choose your dental practice.
Social Media Ads: Target an audience of mothers, families, and followers on your social media platforms.
Enhanced Local Optimization: Showcase your brand of pediatric dentistry across all platforms with your branded content to gain the attention of parents actively searching for a pediatric dentist in their area.
Restorative Dentistry: The Problem Solver Patient
Restorative dentistry is dedicated to repairing and restoring the function and appearance of damaged or missing teeth. Patients who need restorative dentistry often have issues such as cavities, broken or chipped teeth, or missing teeth. Restorative dentists perform procedures like dental fillings, root canals, dental crowns, bridges, and dental implants to address these problems. The goal is to return the patient’s oral health to its optimal state and improve their ability to chew and speak effectively.
The Problem Solver Patient is experiencing dental issues, such as cavities or missing teeth, that require immediate attention. They seek skilled professionals to restore their oral health and function, and below are the digital marketing services that our experts recommend:
Search Engine Optimization: Optimize your website for keywords related to restorative dentistry to ensure it ranks well in organic search results.
Google Ads: Detailed targeting of age groups and patients searching for Restorative dental services.
Facebook Ads: Customize your Facebook ads to meet your goal of targeting Restorative dental patients.
Emergency Dentistry: The Urgency Seeker Patient
Emergency dentistry is a specialized field that provides urgent dental care for patients experiencing severe dental pain, trauma, or sudden oral health issues. Patients in need of emergency dental services may have conditions like a severe toothache, knocked-out teeth, fractured teeth, or injuries to the mouth.
This patient is in distress and needs immediate attention, and as an Urgency Seeker, they are seeking out the most immediate and convenient dental location. And in an emergency, this patient will likely turn into an immediate appointment, and hopefully; a permanent patient with your dental practice. Here are the services our team at Innovate would recommend:
Google Ads: Utilizing Google Ads to make sure you are the first search that comes up for Emergency Dentistry.
Enhanced Local Optimization: Local keywords that apply to you area will optimize your SEO and will help you rank higher in Emergency Dental search results.
Website Management: Make sure your website has accurate information of the various Emergency dental services you provide.
Your Perfect Patients: They're Out There!
Understanding the different types of patients in various dental categories is paramount to crafting successful dental marketing strategies. By tailoring your approach to meet the needs and expectations of each patient type, you can attract, retain, and build lasting relationships with a diverse range of patients.
Whether you’re in General Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry, or Emergency Dentistry; a personalized marketing approach will help your practice thrive in today’s competitive dental landscape. Remember that ongoing evaluation and adaptation of your marketing strategies are essential for long-term success in the dental industry. And with a Digital Marketing Team like ours at Innovate Dental Marketing; we can continue to help your practice grow and turn your perfect patients into permanent patients.
Are You Ready to Find Your Perfect Patients?
Schedule an appointment with Innovate’s Digital Marketing Team and find out which dental marketing services can best serve your dental practice!
Or click the button below to take our Perfect Patient Quiz and tell us which patients you’re missing and what appointments you want on your books!
