We had another client call this week, worried because his diary isn't very busy. He's not alone - we've had similar calls, we know that dental business guru Chris Barrow has had his fair share too. And a survey released earlier this year confirmed that the number of people visiting their dentist regularly is down 69%, the lowest figure since 2001.
Unsurprisingly, the survey also said it was the cost of dental care which is stopping most people (41%) from going. Makes sense - the media may say we're out of a recession but there are a good 2.46 million unemployed people who might argue otherwise. They're likely to be on tight budgets, and so are all those who have suffered pay cuts/freezes/etc over the past year or so.
But there are steps you can take to help fill those voids in your diary. Write to your patients - remind them why it is so important to see you regularly. Reactivate your dormant patients - they won't all come back, but some will.
And make your dental care affordable. That doesn't mean cutting fees - it means helping patients to spread the cost with a monthly dental care plan. It will help you to fill those diary spaces and maintain regular income, and it will help your patients to have a better standard of oral and potentially overall health.
