7 marketing ideas for National Dentist Day

National Dentist Day is celebrated annually on March 6. The holiday gives patients the chance to express gratitude to the professionals who help maintain their oral health, including dental surgeons, orthodontists, periodontists, pediatric dentists, prosthodontists, dental assistants, dental technicians, and dental hygienists.

With some savvy marketing strategies, National Dentist Day is an opportunity to drive awareness and new appointment bookings. Read on for 7 ideas you can implement today to engage new and existing patients alike. 

Staying top of mind with patients is a must for any dental practice. Use the tips shared here as timely marketing ideas In celebration of National Dentist Day. 

On National Dentist Day, thank your patients for trusting you with their smiles. It’s important to take advantage of opportunities like this in order to remain top-of-mind and encourage strong patient retention.

Show your gratitude to patients by sending them a thank you email, sharing a social media post, or even thanking your patients in person on March 6.

With the right marketing campaigns — not to mention years of serving as a valued community leader — patients may even be inclined to send cards or flowers to celebrate National Dentist Day. But as any dentist would tell you, what they really want is a commitment to better oral health.

During the weeks leading up to National Dentist Day, encourage patients to re-commit to taking excellent care of their teeth and gums. For example, you could: 

It’s not every day you get to talk with patients about your career choice. In anticipation of National Dentist Day, film a video detailing what inspired you to become a dentist. This will give current patients the chance to know you on a more personal level and better understand your professional passion. It may also serve to inspire younger patients interested in the field. 

Video gives you the ability to showcase your personality to prospective patients who haven’t met you yet. It also provides you with content to share across your social media accounts. According to a 2023 survey by Statista, respondents consume an average of 17 hours of online video content per week, making video a great medium to reach new patients.

A smart dental marketing strategy uses timely events like national holidays to drive traffic to your website. Write a blog post about National Dentist Day to increase your chances of appearing in search results when people Google the term.

In your blog post, explain the significance of National Dentist Day and offer ways patients can acknowledge their dental care team. Take it a step further by sharing your blog post on social media or by including it in an email to current patients. 

Offering a discount is always a good way to inspire patients to schedule appointments. Discounts are usually offered for a limited time, which creates a sense of urgency and gives people the extra push they need to take action.

On March 6, consider offering a discount on out-of-pocket services like teeth whitening for any patient who schedules their appointment on National Dentist Day. Make prospective and current patients aware of the offer by sharing it on social media in the weeks prior.

According to Sprout Social, 46% of consumers say their primary reason for following a brand on social media is to have access to exclusive offers and promotions.

Social media is an excellent place to engage patients, but many practices fail to take advantage of it. Our 2023 Patient Perspectives survey found that only 18% of respondents said they follow their provider’s office on social media, but 45% said they would if their provider posted regularly.

Leading up to and on National Dentist Day, share content on your social media channels and include the hashtag #NationalDentistsDay. Hashtags help get your content in front of more people. Make sure you also tag your location to be sure you’re reaching people in your local area.

A social media post can be as simple as a photo of you and your staff in the waiting room alongside a friendly caption. This simple act introduces your team and office space, giving prospective patients an idea of the pleasant patient experience they’re sure to have.

Having a strong online reputation is essential to attracting new patients to your practice. Tebra’s 2023 Patient Perspectives survey found that 3 in 4 patients say online reviews are extremely or very important when choosing a healthcare provider.

On National Dentist Day, encourage your current patients to describe their positive experiences at your practice via an online review. The best way to get more patient reviews is to ask for them.

Most patients are happy to share a review of their experience — especially if it was positive. BrightLocal’s Local Consumer Review Survey 2023 found people are more likely to leave online reviews for a great experience (67%) as compared to a negative one (40%). 

National Dentist Day only comes around once a year, but the folks at Tebra recognize the hard work dentists do year-round. From us to you, happy National Dentist Day!