Last month you may have resolved to make changes in various aspects of your personal life as well as your dental supplies. However, wiping the slate clean can sometimes seem like a daunting task. Not to worry; you don’t have to start over from scratch. It’s ok to ease into things with small changes as long as those changes are significant.
Updated Brochures Make a Lasting Impression
One of the easiest places to start to make a big impact is your reception area. Hanging new artwork or rearranging furniture will certainly freshen things up, but making sure you’re up-to-date on the information you provide your patients is even more important. Your patients consider you the authority when it comes to dental care and it’s very important that they get all the right answers to their questions. Here at SmartPractice®, we’ve recently redesigned an entire line of Bright Smiles® Brochures so you can stay up-to-date with the latest information on services you provide, while conveying professionalism with the modern graphics and images.
There are many ways you can use educational brochures to your advantage. Here are a few:
Start a Conversation
Often patients are hesitant to ask about treatments for any number of reasons. If your patient comes into the exam room holding a brochure regarding sensitive teeth, use this opportunity to ask if it’s something they’ve been suffering from or if they have any questions about it. You can then use the brochure as a guide to go over causes, ways to protect against it and treatment options. You can take it a step further and recommend a specialty product such as toothpaste formulated especially for sensitive teeth that’s available for purchase at the front desk.
Treatment Compliance
Perhaps you have a patient showing early signs of gum disease. You’ve explained to them what they should be doing at home as well as how you’d like to treat them. To ensure they keep up with at-home care and schedule regular visits, give them a brochure that’s chock-full of helpful tips and signs to look for. Many times patients are overwhelmed with all the verbal information they’ve received in the office; it helps to give them material they can take home and read in a more comfortable environment at their own pace. Treatment compliance increases when patients fully understand why it’s necessary.
Tuck Into Supply Bags or Statements
Give new patients a warm welcome by concluding their first appointment with a goody bag filled with dental supplies they can use for travel or at home. Include a custom, “Welcome to Our Practice” brochure, personalized with the information most relevant to your practice. You can list office hours, payment options, photos of your staff and a list of all the ways you can help transform their smile.
Whichever way you choose to use brochures, you’re sure to see a positive response. How do you incorporate the use of brochures into your dental practice? We love hearing your ideas!