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Doing business in the age of on-demand reviews, ever-rising healthcare costs and increasing patient skepticism means trust isn’t just a “nice to have” in your practice. It’s the foundation of your future success. Without it, your practice could become more of a revolving door than the place your patients call home.
Low Trust: A Costly Gap
Did you know a recent survey revealed 40% of Americans say they distrust dentists? On top of that, 65% said they don’t fully understand what their dentist is showing them and that 19% skip dental care altogether due to cost concerns.* The cascading effect of low trust: delayed care, rejected treatment plans, and shopping around for second opinions. The ultimate result? Lost patients and lost revenue.
Consider how you make your own decisions. When is the last time you accepted the word of someone you didn’t trust? Have you ever hesitated to make a recommended car repair, for example? The same is true for your patients. If they don’t believe what you are telling them about their oral health, they will not accept your recommendations for a treatment plan. If they don’t trust or understand your pricing, they’ll question and possibly refuse it. If they don’t have confidence in your communications, they’ll leave confused.
By contrast, how do you respond when you have complete faith in that mechanic, doctor or home contractor? Trust turns “Let me think about it” into “Let’s go!”
How Did We Get Here?
You know your intentions are good and that you want the best for your patients, but how do you convince them? Lack of trust is not new in the dental profession. It is helpful to look at some of the factors that lead to a lack of trust. Some of these may seem small or unconnected, but together they erode patient confidence.
- Confusing or overly technical explanations: Your patients have not been to dental school; they can’t read an X-ray, and they don’t know most of the terms used to describe issues with oral health.
- Surprise bills or unclear insurance information: You know better than anyone how difficult it can be to translate insurance benefits and coverage. It’s much harder for your patients, and no one likes seeing a bill they were not expecting or an amount they did not anticipate.
- Long wait times and rushed appointments: An office that isn’t running on time can feel more like a factory than the home away from home you are trying to create for them.
Lay the First Stone
Fortunately, trust is something you can actively build – and like every path, it happens one step at a time. Giving patients the clarity, communication and consistency they need is a foolproof way to establish a confident, trusting relationship. These eSolutions, especially in combination, make excellent steps on the path to patient trust.
- Pearl AI: Show patients exactly what’s happening in their mouths with visual, color-coded AI diagnostics and tooth maps. After all, seeing is believing.
- CarePay+ and Real-time Eligibility: Give patients accurate, instant answers about coverage and payment options on the spot. Transparent pricing is a huge confidence booster.
- DoseSpot and Bola AI: Run appointments more efficiently and spend more time with your patients instead of your screen. Streamlined workflows signal professionalism and reduce patient frustration.
Trust just might be the #1 asset at your practice. Nothing else builds loyalty, drives referrals and increases treatment acceptance more effectively. Are you ready to be the place your patients come home to?
Explore how Patterson software solutions can help you build a practice patients believe in.
*(Pearl patient trust survey)
