Innovative Dental Services: How to Stand Out in a Competitive Market 

The dental industry is in demand more than ever, and because of this, it requires dentists to think about what innovative services they should offer their clients in order for them to come back each time. In this article, we’ll go into detail on the different dental services you could offer as a new start-up or expanding dentistry, and how it can help make your dental practice forward thinking in this competitive arena. 

Innovative Dental Services 

Dental services are in high demand; according to the CDC in 2023, there were 65.5% of adults over 18 receiving dental care and work. In 2019, there were over 86.9% of children who visited the dentist. To help increase awareness of your practice, you can offer some of the following innovative services: 

• Same day dentistry: Dentists who offer same day dentistry or emergency dentistry are becoming more popular amongst patients. Using technology such as CERES or Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, it gives dentists the ability to provide same day services for bridges, veneers and crowns. This type of service minimizes the need for patients to continually come back and it also helps improve patient satisfaction by fixing the issue without putting a temporary fix on a major dental problem. 
• Sedation dentistry: Sedation dentistry practices are popular in many parts of the world. With more people afraid of the dentist, a practice which offers sedation can help to ease anxiety when treating more complex dental cases. A service such as this will generally use nitrous oxide or laughing gas, IV sedation or oral sedation. Each option will be chosen based on the level of anxiety the patient has and what dental procedures need to be done. 
• Invisalign®: Invisalign® are a modern take on braces, and are made with smooth, transparent plastic that makes them invisible almost when worn. Each Invisalign® is custom made to fit the individual, and the smoothness of the material reduces irritation or discomfort which can be a problem with traditional braces. These also promote better oral hygiene against normal braces. It’s also important to understand the cost of invisalign and what’s involved with making them, so you can charge appropriately. 
• Cosmetic services: These days cosmetic surgery and dental work has increased greatly with more people wanting to take their look to another level. By incorporating a variety of cosmetic services like teeth bonding, whitening, and veneers, you can offer services that will help to enhance a client’s smile. You can also conduct personalized consultations which work towards meeting a patient’s goals. 
• Preventative care programs: Preventative care programs allow you to provide services beyond regular check-ups and cleaning. You could help to build loyalty by offering things like custom mouthguards, oral cancer screenings, and access to nutritional counseling. You can create a discount membership program which encourages people to visit you regularly. Advanced technology can also enhance these programs. 

How to Market Your Innovative Dental Services 

When looking to incorporate innovative dental services into your practice, you then have to get the word out so you can gain a client base. Some ways to market your innovative services are through: 

• Your own website: Build a user friendly dental website which accommodates both desktop and mobile friendly users. The website should have clear information about your dental services and it should include clear explanations of what each service can help with. Use search engine optimization techniques to help boost your website in search results. You’ll also need to focus on keywords which align with your dental practice. 
• Utilize social media: Use social media to not only connect with your website, but to also showcase how your dental practice can help clients. This can be done via showing patient testimonials, before and after photos, educational posts, and other photos of the practise and the team itself. Social media is a powerful tool to get your brand name out there. 
• Promotions and discounts: You can offer first time patients promotions and discounts to get them to book an appointment. Maybe you can offer a free consultation, or encourage satisfied patients to refer you to friends for a discount. You can also offer the first visit half price. People love to save money where they can and this will help bring more traffic to your door. 
• Community engagement: Work on participating in different local events, such as local health fairs, hubs, or other events where you offer free consultations. You could set up a van or a tent where you can consult people and then book their next appointment to see you at the office. You could also set up a workshop for how to promote dental hygiene. You could gear it towards younger children where parents can watch too. 
• Partnerships and collaborations: You could always check with businesses, schools or organizations on if you can cross-promote. Maybe with local businesses for every item someone buys they get a certain amount of points towards their next dental visit. With schools you can offer dental education and screening to help build trust within the community. 

Endnote

When it comes to building a brand new dental practice or expanding your current one, to get more people in the door it’s all about how you present and market yourself along with the services you have on offer. The more services you offer, the more likely you’ll gain a good client base. Always remember to make sure your team is always up to date on the latest dental procedures to ensure all client concerns are taken care of.