Make Your Dental Practice Soar in Q4

Have you ever wondered how to break out of the holiday rut at the end of the year? Every year I see two types of outcomes in the last quarter for dentists. Either their practice is so busy they can't fit anyone in and their production and collections soar, or I see doctors and team members scratching their heads wondering where everyone is. Who would you like to be through the end of 2024?

There are three things I would do right now if you want to produce at a high level from October through December. Reach out to me if you want more clarity on any of these.

1. Organize a FREE day. You may have heard of these and you may have participated in someone else's Free day. The idea is that you offer single-tooth, same-day dentistry for a population of people who have the greatest need and on whom you can have the biggest impact. This could be people who have lost income, children in the area in need, the homeless, veterans, seniors and more. Be creative! Every office I work with who has hosted these has loved it, and the best time of the year to do this is right around Thanksgiving. Put out a press release and tell all about it. This is the best type of marketing you can do for your office because it creates goodwill for the community at a time when they are all grateful for it and you feel great giving back to those in need.
2. Send the letters!!! You know the ones. The ones telling patients that "We are rapidly approaching the end of the year and you still have insurance benefits that can be used for the treatment you still need." This can inspire a lot of patients into your chair at the end of the year! Tell everyone who leaves your office today the same thing and that they should schedule to get it done now because December will be really busy and it will be harder to get them in before the end of the year. If you have never done this before, this is a game changer. If you have, don't stop! I have never had an office regret sending the letters, but I have several who wish they had.
3. Everyone loves to save money, and December is the time to do it! At a time where people are trying to spend their hard-earned dollars on the ones they love, give them some relief by doing crowns for $100 off. Make a sign for the front office and for every op. Talk about it all month and watch patients line up to get the work done. This has created such a influx in production and collections in some of my best offices, they do it every year.

Here's the reality, if you are looking at your office slowing down at the end of the year, it doesn't have to be that way. What you are doing right now, or have done for the past several years is getting you the results you've always had through the holidays. Try one or all of these, and see how patients change their behavior to bring a bright spot to your schedule and higher profits at the end of the year.