The COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly every industry, with dentistry being no exception. From the initial concern for dentists’ safety, to the early shuttering of practices, and now the current challenges of providing an essential service as safely as possible, dentists have felt the significant impact of this virus. So, it should come as no surprise that the sales of private practices to larger entities have also been (and continue to be) affected by these unpredictable times.

Recently released data from the ADA Health Policy Institute reports that dental patient volume has stagnated, still only 80% of pre-COVID-19 levels. Experts warn that the dental industry won’t see a full recovery until well into the summer or perhaps even the fall.

On Friday, January 15th, two of the DSO industry's leading marketing professionals sat down for an informal conversation about patient acquisition strategies for 2021. This Facebook Live was part of the Small Talk, Big Ideas series of freewheeling conversations held each month by The DSO Leadership Summit. 

Teledentistry, as a whole, is a fairly recent concept that was thrust into the forefront by the recent pandemic. Dentists saw the value of using the internet for triage and communication with their patients, and as an alternative to an office visit when appropriate.

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced DSOs and group dental practices to shut their doors, teledentistry came to the rescue. Now that so many more patients are taking advantage of this newer way of visiting the dentist, they’re discovering just how much they like it. Here are just some of the reasons why they’re likely to keep on requesting it. 

A recent study published in The Journal of the American Dental Association reported that fewer than one percent of dentists tested positive for COVID-19.

Dr. Travis Campbell is ready to share the number-one tactic that has kept his practice “alive and thriving” this year: emergency patients. He explains how, in addition to an act of compassion, welcoming patients with emergencies into your practice can also be a savvy business move.

The long-term value of a new patient is one of the most important — and misunderstood — metrics in dentistry. Determining how much the average patient spends in your practice over the lifetime of the relationship is critical because it enables you to make data-driven decisions about your marketing, including how much you should be willing to spend to acquire a patient, which campaigns are actually paying off, and whether you’re getting the best return on investment (ROI).