Do Dentists need a Website?

The simple answer to this question is a resounding YES!

However, they would not need a traditional hard-coded website built from scratch.

A Content Management System (CMS) website built using WordPress, Joomla or Drupal will do the trick.

As per Digital.com, the benefits of CMS sites are many. “If you opt for a CMS, you’ll be able to move hosts, change domain names, and make other changes to your site at will. The CMS is ready to integrate with whatever systems you want to use.”

For detailed differences between a Website builder and CMS site, check out this article by Digital.com.

Now, let’s explore the reasons why a Dental clinic needs a website.

Why do Dentists need a website?

Is it an absolute requirement for Dentists? No.

While it is not something indispensable, it is a highly valuable asset that can significantly benefit dentists by enhancing visibility, credibility, and patient engagement in today’s digital landscape.

Here are some general benefits of having a website for a dental clinic.

Online Visibility: A website makes your practice visible to potential patients searching for dental services online. Without an online presence, you may miss out on a large portion of your target audience.

Credibility: A professional website establishes credibility and trust. It serves as a platform to showcase your qualifications, services, and patient testimonials, instilling confidence in potential patients.

Information Access: Patients can easily access essential information about your practice, such as services offered, location, hours, and contact details, increasing the likelihood of them choosing your practice.

Appointment Booking: Websites can offer online appointment scheduling, making it convenient for patients to book visits at their convenience.

There are a few good healthcare applications that help patients receive automatic reminders about their upcoming appointment. The Lighthouse 360 app claims to reduce “no show-ups” of patients by 40%.

Over 11,000 Dentists in the US use this application.

It helps Dental Practices:

• To cut down their time at the phone,
• Minimize broken appointments,
• With Periodic automatic patient contacts for recalls
• With Last minute cancellation fill-ins (my favourite)

Check out their free demo here. You can test the app by subscribing to it for a limited time period as there are no long-term strings attached.

Patient Education: A website allows you to educate patients about oral health, dental procedures, and preventive care, positioning you as an expert in the field.

Marketing Tool: It serves as a foundational element for digital marketing efforts, including search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click advertising (PPC), and content marketing.

Patient Engagement: Websites enable ongoing patient engagement through newsletters, blogs, and social media integration.

Competitive Edge: In a competitive dental market, a website sets you apart from competitors who may not have an online presence.

Now, let’s explore some special benefits of having a website, based on a study of websites of over 200 Dental Practices in Canada.

Special Benefits for Dentists to maintain a Website

Some of these ideas shared are very fresh means of leveraging a website that are specific to the healthcare industry.

Virtual Consultations: Offer the option for virtual consultations through your website, allowing patients to discuss their concerns and receive preliminary advice remotely.

Though virtual consultations have been used for over 10 years, the COVID pandemic led the most effective ways of using them by Dental clinics and hospitals of all sizes.

Interactive Treatment Simulators: Create interactive tools that help patients visualize the potential results of various dental treatments.

I recently had the opportunity to learn about “Pearl AI”. Pearl AI has a database of 1000s of Dental X-rays that help in diagnosing dental conditions with great accuracy levels. My explanation here is quite primitive.

The story that led to the discovery of this AI is surely worth a watch for those interested. Incidentally, one of the founders is a dentist.

Telehealth Resources: Provide resources and guides on telehealth options for dental care, especially relevant in the post-pandemic era.

Dental Blog Series: Launch a series of informative blog posts that delve deep into specific dental topics, catering to patients looking for in-depth knowledge.

Live Chat Support: Implement a live chat feature for immediate patient inquiries and assistance.

Virtual Office Tour: Offer a virtual tour of your dental office, helping patients become familiar with the environment before their visit.

Personalized Oral Health Plans: Allow patients to create and access personalized oral health plans on your website, helping them track their progress.

Patient Success Stories: Share compelling stories of patient transformations and success stories through video testimonials.

Dental Education Webinars: Conduct informative webinars on various dental topics, inviting patients to join and ask questions in real-time.

By incorporating these innovative features, your dental website can become a valuable resource, engaging patients, and setting your practice apart in the digital landscape.

At PPC Digital Marketer, we primarily focus on PPC Digital Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Social Media Management and WordPress Website Designing exclusively for the Dentists.