Do's and don'ts for building lasting relationships with patients

Ideally, patients view their dentists and professional dental team as trusted experts who will maintain their oral health. However, with the pace of the world today, building relationships is more challenging -- and more important -- than ever before. Patients appreciate it when practices take interest in them as individuals and will be more inclined to remain loyal to a doctor and team they know and respect.

Learn at least one new personal fact during each visit. Learning more about a patient can be as simple as asking the question, "What's new in your life?" Most patients will be delighted to answer and will enjoy the resulting conversation. Each time the practice learns more about patients, it deepens the relationship, enhances how much they value the office, and increases their trust.

Don't forget to show thoughtfulness about events in patients' lives. Dentists and staff members can build relationships quickly by reaching out to patients in thoughtful ways, just as they would with their friends. This can be as simple as sending birthday cards to patients or acknowledging significant events in their lives. This not only endears the practice to the patients but also demonstrates its commitment to supporting the community -- in itself another way of strengthening the patient-practice relationship.

Roger P. Levin, DDS, is the CEO of Levin Group, a leading dental management consulting firm, and one of the most sought-after speakers in dentistry. Dr. Levin has authored 65 books and more than 4,000 articles on dental practice management and marketing. You can sign up for the Levin Group Tip of the Day.

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