{"id":1455,"date":"2019-03-22T23:07:24","date_gmt":"2019-03-22T23:07:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dentalsupportspecialties.com\/blog\/?p=1455"},"modified":"2019-04-17T23:14:25","modified_gmt":"2019-04-17T23:14:25","slug":"how-a-dental-answering-service-helps-patient-practice-relationships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dentalsupportspecialties.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/22\/how-a-dental-answering-service-helps-patient-practice-relationships\/","title":{"rendered":"How a Dental Answering Service Helps Patient-Practice Relationships"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"A<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As a dental practice, your goal is not only to provide the best\ndental care possible. It\u2019s also to make patients feel welcome when they arrive\nand prepared once they come back. It\u2019s about making them feel comfortable\nduring every step of their dental appointment. This should include the initial\ncontact to your practice, especially if it\u2019s over the phone. The last thing\nthey should hear is an answering machine with no one to help them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the help of a dental answering\nservice<\/a>, you can take the hassle out of scheduling while still ensuring\nthat your new and existing patients are getting the service they deserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why Patients Value Human Interaction Over Answering Machines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When a patient is in need of dental care or an appointment, more\noften than not they\u2019re expecting to talk with an administrative staff member or\nat the very least a real human being. While an answering machine can be\nconvenient, especially if you have a busy office, it\u2019s a major turn-off for individuals,\nand even more so if they are new patients looking to for a new dentist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, data on the subject has shown that people\nprefer speaking with real people rather than automated messaging systems.\nAccording to Consumer Reports, 75 percent of people named their top issue as not\nbeing able to get a live person on the phone, at least when it comes to\ncustomer service. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Dental Support Makes In-Office Interactions Easier<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When choosing a dental answering service, it\u2019s important to\nmake sure that your new and current patients are able to speak with a human\nbeing, rather than simply sit on the other side waiting to be told it\u2019s time to\nchoose a date and time to schedule their next appointment. Furthermore, having\nreal people answer the phone gives your practice a chance to shine. Dental\nsupport staff are just as much concerned about providing a positive image for\nyour practice when people call. In fact, their goal should be to make the\npatient ask who they spoke to once they arrive! That\u2019s not something you can expect\nfrom an answering machine, and it may not be something your office staff can\nmanage if they are busy working with patients in-house or doing other tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other Ways Dental Support Can Enhance the Patient Experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While having a positive first impression over the phone is\nalways a plus for your patients, it\u2019s not the only way a dental answering service\ncan make a difference. Administrative tasks are the bread and butter of dental\nscheduling support and answering services. To name a few examples, these\nsupport teams can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n