Dental review requests: a guide for patient feedback

The art of dental review requests is worth mastering. That’s because sending review requests is a great way to start collecting authentic patient feedback and getting discovered in search results. Birdeye research into the world of online reviews has found that healthcare businesses are among the most likely to have their reviews read by prospective patients. 

Dental practices in particular, can leverage real patient feedback above and beyond most businesses. Why? 

The surprising fact is that dentists are among the most likely service providers to be listed as irreplaceable by their loyal patients. 

According to recent research from Birdeye’s The One report, over one-quarter of all consumers have a Dentist that they consider to be “the one” provider that they would come back to time and again. That means you have a built-in audience of patients willing to provide rave reviews. 

In this guide, we’ll break down what dental offices need to know about how to send review requests. 

Why reviews matter

Reviews are important because they provide your practice with three things: visibility, credibility, and social proof. Let’s discuss each one.  

• Visibility 

Customer reviews are among the biggest factors in determining your search ranking. So it’s simple: the better your practice’s reviews, the more visibility you’ll have on Google. When requesting dental reviews, keep this in mind. 

Every additional review your patients leave for you will add to your overall visibility. 

• Credibility 

The more reviews your practice has, the more credibility you have. After all, every patient is looking for someone they can trust with a vital part of their health. If you don’t have any reviews, chances are that the patient will have a lot of trouble trusting you. Quality of review matters here as well, but it’s crucial to get reviews online fast so that your presence can be established.

• Social Proof 

Remember, potential patients are looking for social proof. In the context of dental practices, that means patients sharing their experiences online as advocates. Every practice can claim that it’s the best in the area. But if you have hundreds of patients telling the world that you are a great dentist, you don’t have to say a thing.

Why Google Reviews are crucial

Reviews from all over the Internet matter. Still, Google reviews are among the most important. Not only is Google still the world’s largest search engine, but the world’s best review software, like Birdeye, allows you to directly integrate Google reviews with your advertisement as well. So why do people care so much about Google reviews? It’s simple: Google reviews have more visibility than reviews posted on any other site. When a potential patient searches for your practice, Google reviews are one of the first things that they’ll see. 

Even if potential patients check other places for more detailed information, the first impression they glean from Google will initially shape their thoughts on your practice. That’s just one reason why claiming your Google My Business profile is important if you haven’t done so already. Once you claim your profile, it’ll be easier for patients to discover your practice on Google and leave a review.

How to get patients to leave reviews

Positive online reviews are gold for dental practices. Here are five quick ways to get more:

1. Delight your patients. Great service is the foundation. Make sure every visit is positive.
2. Ask for reviews. Train staff to politely request reviews after appointments.
3. Make it easy. Text a review link or provide a tablet in the waiting room.
4. Multiple channels. Use email, text, and social media to gently nudge patients.
5. Respond to all reviews. Thank happy patients and address concerns professionally.

By consistently providing excellent care and following these steps, you’ll build a strong online reputation that attracts new patients.

Now, let’s take a closer look at a few other things to keep in mind when thinking about patient reviews.

Don’t buy reviews for your dental practice

Before we talk about what you should do, here’s what you shouldn’t do under any circumstances: buy reviews. 

Remember, reviews are a great way to build credibility for your business. When you buy reviews, you lose patient credibility. After all, it isn’t hard to tell when your reviews are purchased. When patients suspect that you’ve purchased your reviews or resorted to some other backhanded tactic, they won’t trust you. 

Of course, patient opinion isn’t the only thing you’re risking. 

If Google finds out that you’ve been buying reviews, your business will take a big hit in search ranking. So, if you do get caught buying reviews, you’re risking both your credibility and visibility. 

Keep in mind that the best strategy for being the best practice in your area is collecting authentic patient reviews. Let’s talk about how you can do that.

How to send review requests to dental patients 

So, how can you start sending high-converting review requests to your patients? Here are a few tips to help you get started. 

1. Send review requests via text and email: The best way to send review requests is via text and email. It’s simple psychology: the easier the process is for your patient, the more likely it is that they’ll actually do it.
   
   When you send a direct link, they only have to click. There’s no need to search for your practice’s profile. The process is simple and easy. 
   
2. Claim your Google My Business shortlink again: Google is the biggest review site on the Internet, so you’re going to want to send your patients to your Google profile.
   
   Here’s a guide to claiming your Google My Business short link.  
   
3. Send review requests to all your patients: Make sure you ask all your patients for reviews – every one of them. More reviews are always better. If you’re sending out review requests selectively, chances are that you’re missing some of your satisfied patients.
   

Some dentists are afraid of getting bad reviews. While it does feel disappointing, don’t stress out if this happens. While it can feel painful to get a bad review when you work to provide the best services, they can actually help you with credibility. A few bad reviews show your patients that all of your reviews are authentic.

Review request templates for dental practices

Remember, the secret to sending a strong review request is keeping the message short and simple. Your patients don’t like reading long texts and emails any more than you do. Here are ten dental review request templates you can use: 

1. Hi [Patient Name], thanks for your smile! Would you mind leaving a review about your visit to [Practice Name]? [Link to review]
2. We hope your teeth are sparkling! ✨ Share your experience at [Practice Name] with a quick review: [Link to review]
3. Did [Dentist Name] make your dental visit a breeze? Let others know with a review! [Link to review] Thanks!
4. Feeling confident with your smile? Help others discover [Practice Name] by leaving a review: [Link to review]
5. Your feedback helps us shine! Leave a review about your recent visit to [Practice Name]: [Link to review]
6. Did we brighten your day? Leave a review and let others know about [Practice Name]! [Link to review]
7. We value your opinion! Share your thoughts on [Practice Name] with a quick review: [Link to review] Thank you!
8. We’re all smiles at [Practice Name]! Would you consider leaving a review about your experience? [Link to review]
9. Happy teeth, happy you! Leave a review to help others discover [Practice Name]: [Link to review]
10. Quick question: How was your visit to [Practice Name]? Leave a review to let us know! [Link to review] 

While these shouldn’t be considered the end-all of dental review templates, they should offer a great starting point.

What is the right time to get patient feedback? At the point of care

It’s critical to get feedback at the appropriate time. Patients with clean mouths and happy smiles may be more inclined to leave positive reviews. That’s why capturing feedback right after a dental appointment is often a prime time. Here’s why:

• Fresh memories: Patients recall their experiences well, leading to more detailed and accurate reviews.
• Positive momentum: Leaving a positive review while happy reinforces their satisfaction.
• Convenience is key: Asking in-moment makes it easier for patients to complete the request.
• Addressing concerns quickly: Catching negative feedback early allows you to address issues promptly.

Get better results with review software 

If you want to collect more authentic patient reviews, consider a online review management software.anually sending review requests at the end of each working day is time-consuming. With an all-in-one platform like Birdeye, you can get new reviews without lifting a finger. 

With Birdeye, you can send reviews to your patients automatically. Birdeye offers seamless integrations with practice management systems like Eaglesoft, Dentrix, Open Dental, NextGen, and Nextech so you can manage your review management in one place. These integrations have many benefits. Here are just a few.

• Send out customer survey requests to get in-depth patient feedback via email and SMS automatically
• Acquire fresh reviews on dentist review sites such as Healthgrades, Facebook, and Google
• Get alerted about each incoming review via email and SMS
• Respond to reviews using auto-response templates and rules and manage patient loyalty
• Leverage AI technology to get the most out of every patient review

Don’t spend time typing your review requests to all of your patients. Use Birdeye to get more authentic reviews and collect visibility, credibility, and social proof.

Try Birdeye, the #1 online reputation management software for dentists 

Birdeye can be a game-changer for dentists looking to build a strong online reputation and attract new patients. Here’s why:

• Automated review generation: Birdeye automates the process of requesting reviews and sending texts or emails to patients after appointments. This gets you more reviews faster across over 200 platforms like Google and Facebook, boosting your online visibility.
• Local listings management: It is crucial to keep your practice information consistent across all online directories. Birdeye identifies inconsistencies and updates them in one place, saving you time and ensuring patients find accurate details.
• Reputation management: Birdeye helps you monitor all your online reviews in a single dashboard. You can easily respond to happy patients and professionally address negative feedback, fostering trust and improving your online image.
• Integration with dental software: Birdeye integrates with many dental practice management systems, allowing seamless review request workflows within your existing software. This eliminates extra steps and keeps things efficient.

In short, Birdeye streamlines the process of getting more reviews, managing your online presence, and showcasing the positive experiences you provide to patients. This translates to a stronger online reputation and more patients choosing your dental practice.