It's no secret that dental hygienists are the backbone of our practices. They spend a great deal of time interacting with and caring for patients as the face of your practice – a vital aspect of building your own special dentistry brand that shouldn’t be overlooked.
When it comes to cosmetic dentistry, hygienists are the educators primarily speaking to patients about the services you offer. It’s paramount to ensure that they are equipped with the proper tools and knowledge to assist in reaching your end goal: providing patients with bright, white, healthy smiles, and the best oral care.
What is the most effective way to inform patients of services available to them? How can we ensure our hygienists receive optimal training and opportunity so they may open doors to new treatments? Here are a few key things to consider and how GLO can help.
Marketing Tools
As dentists, your services extend far beyond traditional cleanings and cavity fillings. But are patients aware of the extent of your services? They won’t be unless you and your staff tell them. Marketing tools are a pivotal key to success. Hygienists have the opportunity to discuss whitening treatments at each appointment. With their lead, patients will follow suit and elect cosmetic treatments they may have otherwise not known about.
GLO provides many marketing materials directly on our website, making incorporating a GLO whitening program in your practice a seamless experience for your team and your patients. Everyone on your team should be familiar with how to use GLO and how to position whitening in your practice. An informed, prepared practice is a successful one. Together, we can change patient perspectives of what it means to go to the dentist - for the better!
Showcase Your Work
Each smile transformation is an opportunity to build your customer base. Taking before and after photos is a must. Patients don’t want to only hear about what you offer; they want to see it for themselves, so don’t forget to make your practice team a part of your brand! If hygienists are using products they love, encourage them to share their knowledge and recommendations with others. Share images and videos on your website and social media and let your work speak for itself.
Patient Education
Because we work in the profession, it’s easy for us to take it for granted that patients are more knowledgeable about oral care than they truly are. Perhaps a shift in thinking from the perspective of a dental professional to that of a patient is in order. People don’t know what they don’t know - and if you aren’t telling them, how can they fully understand the full scope of your services and how important it is for them to take an active role in their own oral health?
Patients tend to be comfortable with their hygienists and more apt to turn to them for guidance on oral care, including whitening. Having your staff focus on educating and engaging patients is crucial. Check out our videos and online tutorials to gain valuable skills, build expertise, and learn how to incorporate GLO into your education system in a way that increases patient satisfaction and adds value to every hygiene visit.
Today’s post-pandemic era has provided dentists a fresh start from which to assess their business model. There’s never been a better time to evaluate the training, tools, and delivery methods your staff uses to promote cosmetic treatments, and overall oral health.
A well-trained and motivated practice team is your best asset in developing a successful whitening program, and for practice growth overall. As GLO continues revolutionizing the professional whitening industry, we’ll also continue sharing valuable ways to elevate your practice and revamp your services. As always, we’re here to support you in any way we can.
Sources:
The value of a dental hygiene appointment | Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) Magazine