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The way patients choose a dentist has evolved. In the past, someone might have gone through their phone book, made a call, and waited for a receptionist to pick up. Today, patients expect instant access, especially when it comes to booking appointments. For many, your online scheduling system is the new front door to your dental practice.
Missed Calls = Missed Patients
Think about the last time your front office staff missed a call. Maybe it happened during a busy morning rush, or after hours when the office was closed. Every unanswered call is more than just a voicemail, it’s potentially a lost new patient.
Studies show that patients are far more likely to move on to the next provider than wait for a callback. In today’s on-demand world, convenience wins. If scheduling isn’t instant, you risk losing patients before they ever step foot in your office.
Phone-Only Scheduling Can’t Keep Up
Relying solely on phone-based scheduling creates friction:
- Limited hours: Your team can only answer the phone during office hours.
- Hold times: Patients may get frustrated waiting while your staff juggles multiple calls.
- Missed opportunities: New patients often search for dentists in the evening or on weekends, times when your office may be closed.
This method simply doesn’t align with how modern patients want to interact with healthcare providers.
How Online Scheduling Changes Everything
Online scheduling is convenient for patients and the office retains control through smart scheduling features. With just a few clicks, they can:
- Book an appointment 24/7 from their phone, tablet, or computer.
- See available times without the back-and-forth of a phone call.
- Feel confident that their appointment is confirmed instantly.
It’s not just about convenience for patients, it’s about growth for your practice. Online scheduling reduces administrative burdens for your team, eliminates double-booking errors, and keeps your chairs filled with fewer holes in the schedule. Flex Dental Solutions, an authorized vendor of Open Dental and a leading patient engagement software, prides itself on advanced online scheduling.
Flex Dental Solutions: Bringing Open Dental to Life
By utilizing the power of Flex, online scheduling has never been easier.
Online Scheduling (FlexSchedule) seamlessly integrates with Open Dental, transforming your website into a powerful scheduling tool. Patients can book directly online, and appointments sync instantly with your practice’s schedule. It works for your practice instead of against it!
With FlexSchedule’s SmartFill technology, your calendar becomes a powerful productivity tool, automatically adapting to fill gaps with the same precision as a seasoned front office coordinator. Instead of patients booking into random time slots, SmartFill intuitively guides them to the most efficient openings, whether that means filling unexpected gaps, stacking appointments back-to-back to minimize downtime, or securing last-minute cancellations that might otherwise go unused. The result? A smoother, more productive day for your team and a better experience for your patients.
Expanding Access with Reserve With Google
FlexSchedule doesn’t just stop at your website. With Reserve with Google, patients can book directly through your Google Business Profile, the same place they find your hours, reviews, and phone number.
This means when a prospective patient searches for “dentist near me” after office hours, they don’t just see your listing, they see available appointment times and can reserve instantly. No waiting for office hours, no missed opportunities. By connecting FlexSchedule with Reserve with Google, you’re meeting patients where they already are, making it easier than ever to convert clicks into confirmed appointments.
But the links don’t stop there. With FlexSchedule, setting up custom links for your dental practice is simple and powerful! Once your link is established, you can attach it anywhere patients interact with your practice, website, social media, recall notifications, or even in text messages for missed calls. Patients can then book directly through that custom link, giving you full control over how and where appointments are scheduled.
The New Front Door is Already Open
If your practice is still relying on phone-only scheduling, you may already be falling behind. Patients expect the ease of instant booking, and with Flex Dental Solutions, you can meet those expectations.
Your website isn’t just a digital business card anymore. It’s your new front door. With Flex, it’s always open.
Learn more about online scheduling with Flex:
Resources:
https://www.klara.com/blog/the-heart-of-healthcare-putting-the-patient-experience-first