Thursday, 13 October 2011

Charging For Missed Appointments in Your Dental Business

By Chris Hamilton


Do you have a website or a blog? Do you use targeted keywords on your pages or in your posts?

A keyword is a word or phrase that captures the essence of a topic and is what allows Google and other search engines the ability to look for relevant information to display in their results. Google, which has 71% of searches on the web, looks for relevant content to display to end-users. Google wants to make sure that all the results that are displayed are the best possible match to what a user wants so that they will continue to use Google for their searches, which in turn drives advertising revenue.

The process is started with an initial consultation where x-rays are taken which will allow the dentist to evaluate the structure and strength of your jaw bone. There will be many measurements to calculate the exact location of it. Your dentist will interview to find out about your oral hygiene habits. This procedure will require a commitment to take good care of your teeth after the procedure.

The actual procedure works like this. A hole is carefully drilled into the jaw bone. A titanium screw is inserted into the hole. Gum tissue is covered over the hole and a second protective screw is placed over the hole. It will take up to six months for this to heal completely.

It's not unusual for a dental business to have a cancellation policy and to charge for missed appointments. But cancellation fees are typically in the $20-$25 range, not the $400 fee charged by Expressions Dental.

These artificial prosthetic teeth look identical to real natural teeth. The look so realistic in large part due to the anchoring and fusing to the bone just like a root. As you can see, the finish results are completed over several sessions.

Take a look at your cancellation policy. Do you think it's fair to both you and your patients? Are your patients aware of your cancellation policy ahead of time, or are they only informed of it at the time they call to cancel? Are all of your staff members aware of the policy, and are they able to articulate it kindly an intelligently to your patients.

How much do you charge for a canceled or missed appointment? And how does this compare to your lost revenue from cancellations? How many of your canceled appointments are you able to fill with last minute emergencies?

It is perfectly acceptable for a dental business to create a cancellation policy and to charge a missed appointment fee. It is important, however, that the policy is acceptable to both the dentist and the patients. So take the time to review your policy, both from the outlook of your financial health, and from the outlook of your patients.




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