Dentists are under a lot of pressure to succeed. They must stay current with technology and ensure their patients are happy. And one way to ensure patient satisfaction is by responding to online reviews.
Online reviews play a significant role in the dental industry. They give potential patients a good indication of what to expect from your dental practice. They also provide dentists with valuable feedback that can help them improve and become the best practice.
Why Do Dentists Need Online Reviews?
Dentists need online reviews to help them promote their services. They help build trust and credibility among potential patients and manage online reputation.
Reviews are an important part of a successful online presence for any professional in the healthcare industry. They help attract new patients.
In today’s digital age, more and more people turn to the internet to search and find the right dentist for their needs. Studies have shown that 90% of patients use the internet to evaluate a new dentist, with 71% of patients using online reviews as the very 1st step to finding a new doctor.
So, your online reputation is your first impression! Even if potential patients like your dental practice website, they would still go elsewhere for reviews. So, you will lose a lot of patients if you neglect what patients say about your practice.
Also, online reviews provide dentists with valuable insights to help them improve their practice. With this information, dentists can make changes to ensure they provide the best care possible for their patients.
Getting reviews is one thing, and responding to them is another. Responding to medical reviews shows patients that you care about their opinion and are willing to address any issues they may have had.
Therefore, you must respond to dental reviews to build a great practice. But how do you go about it? Here’s what you need to know about responding to dental reviews.
But first, let’s discuss why you should respond to dental reviews.
Why Should You Respond to Dental Reviews?
Responding to patient reviews can be useful for your practice in many ways:
Build Trust and Rapport
Reviews can help build trust and credibility with potential patients. So responding to them promptly and professionally is important. By replying to reviews, you show that you value your patients’ feedback and are willing to listen. This makes potential patients feel more confident in choosing your practice.
Prove your commitment and build loyalty
Review responses show that you take customer service seriously. Replying on time demonstrates your commitment to providing excellent patient care and helps build loyalty.
Help ensure the accuracy of reviews
If you monitor your reviews regularly, you can ensure accuracy in the reviews. If you come across a review with false information, you can clear things up by responding with actual facts and data.
Increase your online visibility
Responding to reviews can also increase your online visibility. You are more likely to attract new patients when you are visible and active online. A dental practice with many reviews is more likely to appear on top in organic search results! You will also become more visible on review sites such as Yelp and HealthGrades.
Gain more reviews
By replying to reviews, you can create a domino effect. When you respond to reviews, your patients will likely leave more reviews as they think their reviews matter.
Best Practices for Responding to Patient Reviews
Responding to patient reviews is important to maintaining a successful dental practice. However, it’s important to remember that it requires tact and finesse.
Following are some best practices you can use when responding to dental reviews:
Acknowledge the Reviewer
Always acknowledge the reviewer! Thank them for their feedback and provide your contact information should they have further questions or concerns. This shows that you take feedback seriously, which will help build trust with potential patients.
Be Professional and Courteous
Make sure your responses are professional and considerate. Avoid getting into a back-and-forth with the reviewer, no matter how negative their review may be. Instead, focus on addressing their concerns and politely providing helpful information.
Take Ownership if Necessary
If the reviewer had a valid complaint, take ownership of it and explain what steps you’ve taken to address the issue. This will help show potential patients that you are committed to providing quality care and improving your practice.
Add a Personal Touch
Personalize each response to make it more sincere and meaningful. Add a personal touch to your response by starting with the reviewer’s name and saying anything specific the reviewer mentioned. Avoid giving away private information in your public responses. A personal review response must not include personal data, healthcare, or appointment details. Remember to sign off with your name!
Respond Quickly
It’s important to respond promptly to reviews. Potential patients will see that you’re actively engaging with reviews, which will help establish trust and credibility for your practice.
By following the above best practices, you can ensure that your responses to dental reviews are effective and successful. By responding promptly and professionally, you’ll be able to build trust with current and new patients, demonstrate your commitment to providing excellent patient care, and increase your online visibility.
How To Respond to Positive Online Dental Reviews?
When you receive a positive review, it’s important to respond in a way that shows appreciation for the reviewer’s kind words. Here are some tips for responding to positive reviews:
Thank Them!
The most important step is to thank the reviewers for their kind words. This will demonstrate that you appreciate their feedback and are grateful for their support.
Mention Specific Details
When responding to positive reviews, mention specific details from the review. This will show potential patients that you actually read and value the reviewer’s feedback.
Offer an Incentive
If appropriate, offer incentives or discounts in response to positive reviews. This will show potential patients that you are willing to reward customers for their loyalty and support.
But what about negative reviews? How should dentists respond to them?
How to Respond to Negative Dental Reviews?
Negative reviews can be difficult to respond to. But you should address them to show potential patients that you take patient care and satisfaction seriously. Also, there are two main benefits to responding to negative patient reviews:
- It helps you maintain your online reputation.
- It provides an opportunity to apologize and make things right.
- It can turn a negative review into a 5-star review.
If you ignore negative reviews, they can do a lot of damage to your reputation. But if you respond to them – even if you don’t have a perfect solution – you show that you care about your patients and their experience. They also allow you to fix the situation and improve your practice.
Here are some tips for responding to negative reviews:
Respond quickly!
Don’t wait too long to respond to negative reviews. Post your response, ideally, within 48 hours. Otherwise, the situation can worsen, as potential patients will see that you’re not seriously addressing the patient’s feedback.
Be polite and professional
No matter how negative the review may be, it’s important to remain polite and professional. Remember that you’re representing your practice online, and negative comments can reflect poorly on you and your team.
Address the Concern Head-on
Don’t try to bury the bad review or make excuses. Deal with the issue openly and honestly. Let them know that you understand their frustration and apologize if necessary.
Provide an Explanation
If appropriate, provide a brief explanation of what happened and why. This will allow potential patients to understand the situation better and show them that you are making efforts to improve your practice.
Offer a Solution
Let the reviewer know that you are taking steps to address their concerns. Provide them with your contact information so they can reach out if they have further questions or issues. If you can’t fix the problem, at least try to apologize and offer compensation if appropriate. 
Follow Up
After you’ve responded to the review, follow up with the reviewer and see if they are satisfied with your response. This will show that you are committed to resolving the issue and providing excellent patient care.
By following these tips, you can ensure that you’re effectively responding to dental reviews. Your efforts may even help turn a negative review into a positive one!
Dental Review Response Templates
Remember that you cannot change your reply after you hit send, so choose your words carefully. If you’re not prudent, what you say can be used against you.
See the examples of review response templates below:
Negative Dental Review Response Example 1
Hi [Reviewer’s Name], I apologize for your experience at our practice and understand why you were dissatisfied. We always ensure that our patients have a positive experience. Sometimes other unavoidable issues, such as patient emergencies, affect our day. Please get in touch with us if there’s anything we can do to make things right. We are sorry we missed the mark and hope we can make it up to you in the future. Thank you for your feedback, and we look forward to speaking with you soon. [Your Name]
Negative Dental Review Response Example 2
Hey [Reviewer’s Name], Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Please get in touch with us immediately so we can learn more about your experience and do our best to turn this into a 5-star review. Our goal is to provide service that wows our clients. We’re sorry we didn’t deliver on our promise to you, and we want to know why so that we can get better. Your feedback is valuable to us as it helps us strive for excellence. We hope to hear from you soon. [Your Name]
Negative Dental Review Response Example 3
Hi [Reviewer’s Name], Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We’re truly sorry that [the negative aspect] didn’t meet your expectations and caused you to develop a sour opinion of us. This usually never happens, but we’ll do whatever it takes to improve the situation so that it doesn’t happen again. Please reach out to us soon at [contact email]. The last thing we want is for any of our patients - including you -to feel like they aren’t being taken care of or heard. [Your Name]
Positive Dental Review Response Example 1
Hi [Reviewer’s Name], Thank you for the glowing review! It warms our hearts to see that people appreciate how hard we work here at {Name of practice} to ensure every patient has a five-star experience. Our goal is always to provide both excellent health care and customer service. We’ll keep up the great work! Thank you again for letting us know that we’re doing a good job. [Your Name]
Positive Dental Review Response Example 2
Hi [Reviewer’s Name], Thank you for taking the time out to write a 5-star review! We are dedicated to providing patients with the best possible care and service. Your feedback is invaluable and very much appreciated by our whole team. We would be honored if you chose to see us again or recommend us to your friends and family should they ever need medical assistance. Thank you once again! [Your Name]
Positive Dental Review Response Example 3
Hi [Reviewer’s Name], Thank you for your detailed and positive review of our dental practice! It always warms my heart to hear that the kids are excited to come back. It’s always a pleasure seeing you and your family. Thank you for sharing your experience with me. [Your Name]
Get More Positive Reviews Automatically
We hope this article has given you a clear understanding of how to respond to dental reviews.
Remember that the key is to be polite, understanding, and professional when reaching out to unhappy patients - no matter what response template you choose.
Your goal should always be to make things right and turn a negative review into a positive one.
If you want to get more positive reviews automatically, DemandHub can help. Our automated review request system will help you increase your online presence and build a strong reputation in the dental industry.
Get a demo today to learn more about DemandHub’s services!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Responding to Dental Reviews
Why is it important to respond to dental reviews?
Responding to dental reviews is a crucial part of online reputation management. It shows that your practice values patient feedback and is committed to improving. Responding to both positive and negative reviews can build trust and rapport with current and potential patients.
How should I respond to a positive dental review?
When responding to a positive review, thank the patient for their feedback, express your happiness at their satisfaction, and invite them to return or refer others. You must be professional and genuine in your response.
How should I handle negative dental reviews?
When responding to a negative review, acknowledge the patient’s concerns, apologize if necessary, and provide a constructive response. Take the conversation offline to discuss further and resolve the issue. Remember to keep your response professional and respectful.
How often should I check and respond to dental reviews?
Monitoring and responding to reviews regularly, such as weekly or bi-weekly, is advisable. Responding promptly to dental reviews indicates your practice is attentive and responsive to patient feedback.
How do you respond to a 5-star review?
Respond to a 5-star review by expressing gratitude. Say something like, “Thank you for your kind review! We’re thrilled to hear you had a great experience. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to your next visit.”
How do you respond to a bad review?
Respond to a bad review by acknowledging the issue, apologizing for the negative experience, offering a solution, or asking for a chance to make things right.
For example: “We’re sorry to hear about your experience. We value your feedback and would like to understand more about the issue. Please contact us directly so we can address your concerns.”
How do you thank a dental assistant?
To thank a dental assistant, express your appreciation for their hard work and contribution. You could say, “Thank you for your dedication and commitment to providing excellent patient care. Your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed; it truly makes a difference in our patient’s experiences. We appreciate you!”
How do you evaluate a good dentist?
Evaluating a good dentist involves considering their professional qualifications, years of experience, patient reviews, communication skills, and the cleanliness and technology of their dental office.
A good dentist makes you feel comfortable, explains procedures clearly, and shows a genuine interest in your dental health. Additionally, they should be up-to-date with the latest dental techniques and technology, and their office should adhere to strict hygiene and safety standards.
