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Why Don’t People Trust Your Dental Practice?
Dentophobia, or the fear of dentists, is not as common as people might think. Approximately 2.7% of men and 4.6% of women struggle with dentophobia. It’s important to understand that it can stop people from seeking dental treatments. The fear is, therefore, not something that dental practices can take lightly.
However, on the other end, it only affects a small proportion of the population. Therefore, it would be unfair to claim that dental phobia is keeping people away from your business. In reality, trust is often the most common issue that dental practices have to manage. What are the underlying reasons that cause people to lose trust in your business? Here, we list the most frequent issues and how to handle those.
You’re not visible online
Finding a dentist can be a time-demanding process. Most people begin their journey online, comparing websites and social media presence. Your social media profiles tell the day-to-day story of your practice. Most people tend to reach out to local dental practice online, using Twitter or Facebook to ask about your services.
Therefore, if you’ve got accounts that are not maintained, most people will likely turn to a competitor. Indeed, your social media is like a live channel that not only tackles queries but also promotes your new services and shares the latest success stories.
They’ve heard of previous mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes. That’s precisely why you want your staff and yourself to attend training workshops and classes regularly. When it comes to complex dental procedures, you’ll also need to boost your knowledge about anesthetics or even facial reconstruction.
It doesn’t mean that you should be able to perform those procedures in your practice. But you should be able to recognize when you need to call in a specialist for your patients’ safety. The last thing you want is to receive an official malpractice complaint from someone such as Greg Hoag attorney because you failed to call in an expert or didn’t identify risks properly.
They’re not quite sure what you mean
Ah, jargon! Just because you understand what every specialist dental term means, it doesn’t mean that your clients do. Using complex or specialist terms can only confuse people. Ideally, medical jargon should be kept out of your communication with your audience. If you are creating a blog or writing a list of your services, it’s best to avoid jargon and keep things simple. Confusion doesn’t drive visits! On the contrary, it makes patients feel isolated because they don’t understand what you are saying or how you can help them.
Your decor is not reassuring
Admittedly, dentophobia only affects a small part of the population. Yet, dental anxiety is a real thing that can be just as debilitating. People with dental anxiety can find it hard to build a trust relationship with their dentists. They can get nervous in a clinical environment and are more likely to stay away from dental practice decors that feel too impersonal. The addition of friendly colors can create a welcoming space and help people relax.
As a dentist, building a trust relationship with your clients is the key to success. Your skills and qualifications play a significant role in earning their trust. However, patients will also consider your online presence, communication, decor, and reputation.
