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The Easiest Dental Recall System Most New Practices Overlook

 

The Easiest Dental Recall System Most New Practices Overlook

When you’re preparing to open your dental practice, it’s tempting to focus on the “big” stuff—location, equipment, new patient marketing. But one of the most overlooked (and most profitable) systems?

A reliable dental recall system.

New patients are exciting. But if they don’t come back, your growth stalls—and your marketing dollars leak out the back door.

Here’s one of the simplest recall strategies we teach at Ideal Practices. It works, it’s easy to implement, and it prevents one of the most common startup mistakes.

The School Calendar Method

Keep a laminated copy of your local school calendar at the front desk.

That’s it.

Why? Because the most common reason patients don’t reappoint is:

“I need to check my schedule.”

So you help them on the spot.

“Would you prefer around spring break or after school lets out? Here’s the calendar if that helps.”

Why it works:

  • Removes hesitation and makes it easy to say yes

  • Helps busy parents (and everyone else) plan confidently

  • Reinforces your practice as organized and community-minded

Why It Matters Now

If a patient walks out without their next visit on the books, the odds of seeing them again drop fast.

And if you’re investing in marketing—as most startups do—this is how you protect that investment.

Simple Recap:

  • Don’t just attract new patients—retain them

  • Put the recall system in place before opening day

  • Use tools (like the School Calendar Method) to make reappointing effortless

Want more proven systems to set your startup up for success?

Small systems create big stability. Let’s make sure your patients keep coming back.

—Stephen Trutter