A Guide to Dental Practice Management

A woman working on a tablet in a dental office with a dental chair and equipment.

Effective dental practice management may require you to adopt a holistic approach to running your business.

From ensuring the premises are welcoming to streamlining patient communication, organizing appointments, and stepping up your marketing efforts, there is a lot you might need to think about.
 


Dental Practice Management: A Quick Guide to Cover the Basics

Here are some steps that could help you stand out from the competition and set your dental practice up for success.


Make Sure the Premises are Clean and Patient Friendly 

Maintaining hygienic premises is a must in the healthcare sector. To ensure optimal patient experience, however, you may need to go beyond mere cleanliness. 

A bright, welcoming, and well-decorated waiting area can help patients feel more at ease. Some good rules of thumb include:
  • Set up a water dispenser. 
  • Ensure the seating is abundant and comfortable. 
  • Opt for neutral walls. Muted or pastel shades may have a calming effect on the mind. 
  • If possible, go for natural light. Artificial light can be hard on the eyes. However, try to stay away from too many windows: your patients might not appreciate feeling on display.
  • Provide reading materials. Up-to-date and well-organized magazines, newspapers, and informational leaflets could help keep people busy while they wait. 


Streamline Patient Communication

Clear and timely communication may help your patients stay on top of their upcoming appointments, changes in your schedule, and other important updates. 
To that end, you should ensure people can easily reach your practice through multiple channels, including:
  • In person
  • Over the phone
  • Using video conferencing solutions
  • Via email, social media, chat, or instant messaging apps
If you handle large numbers of queries, you could get a cloud-based system that can integrate and manage all patient communication in a single, easy-to-use platform. 
It is also a good practice to proofread all outgoing written communication – typos and grammatical errors may reflect poorly on your business. 

You might also consider training your reception staff to improve their communication skills. A friendly, attentive, and respectful attitude can help make a good first impression.


Set Up a System to Manage Your Schedule 

If your calendar tends to be on the fuller side, it may be worth investing in dental practice management software. Modern technological solutions can help streamline and automate your schedule by:
  • Tracking appointments 
  • Sending automated reminders
  • Preventing overbooking
  • Making room for emergencies
  • Helping reduce no-shows and cancellations
  • Storing patient contact details
 

Offer Flexible Payment Plans

Dental procedures may be costly for some of your patients. To facilitate timely billing, you should consider accepting various payment methods – cash, credit or debit cards, checks, bank transfers, and more – and offering flexible payment plans such as:
  • Discounts
  • Referral schemes
  • Insurance coverage
  • Special financing
  • Payment by installments
It is also good business practice to set up a standard protocol for managing accounts receivable and collecting overdue bills.


Step Up Your Marketing 

A well-thought-out marketing strategy could help you get increased exposure, reach your ideal target audience, and expand your patient base. Some marketing channels you may wish to explore include:
  • Email campaigns
  • Social media platforms 
  • An SEO-optimized website
  • Creating educational content like webinars and blogs to generate traffic, bring value to your viewers, and attract new leads
You should also consider hiring a professional marketing company to draw up and implement a marketing plan specifically tailored to your unique needs.


Safeguard Patient Data 

If your dental practice is a covered entity, it may have to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). 

HIPAA rules require dental practices to store, handle, and transmit patient data in a way that protects its security and confidentiality. This includes health information as well as dental and billing records.

In addition, HIPAA gives patients the right to request you to amend inaccurate or incomplete record information or not disclose their information to third parties. A patient may also ask you to communicate with them confidentially, via alternative means, or at an alternative location. 
The so-called HIPAA Security Rule also requires dental practices to carry out a written risk assessment and set up administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect electronic patient information. 


Invest in High-Quality Modern Tools

As a practice owner, you should keep up with industry developments and consider implementing new solutions in your business. These may include modern technology – such as dental practice management software or integrated communication platforms – as well as the latest dental instruments and other equipment. These tools can help you gain a competitive edge and stand out in what can sometimes be a fairly saturated market.


Consider Hiring a Dental Practice Manager

By focusing exclusively on the day-to-day running of your business, a dedicated practice manager can help reduce your workload and enable you to concentrate on treating your patients.   

A typical dental practice manager will have multiple and varied responsibilities, especially in a small firm. These may include:
  • Financial management: taxes, payroll, discounts, refunds, payment plans
  • IT: working with dental practice software, installing software and hardware updates
  • Marketing: updating the practice website, managing social media accounts
  • HR: training, onboarding, and managing staff members
  • Maintenance: overseeing the upkeep and hygiene of the premises
  • Organizational and administrative tasks: data entry, filing patient records, replacing stock
While the role requires no formal qualifications, many practice managers tend to be former receptionists. There are also specialized dental administration and practice management courses that can help prepare them for the position.


Take Out Dentist Malpractice Insurance 

A malpractice insurance policy for dentists can cover licensed healthcare professionals against allegations of negligence. 

You may also want to look into getting dental professional liability insurance for practice owners to cover your business against a broader range of potential risks. 


Are You Thinking of Opening a Dental Practice? 

While you may have a lot to do and think about, managing a dental practice can be a rewarding and profitable career path. However, to help set your new business up for success, you should consider covering it against malpractice liability. 

Claim and compare dentist insurance quotes for free.