How To Effectively Implement Orthodontics Into Your Practice

Many general dentists are turning to orthodontic services as a means of growing their practices. To that end, below is a set of 5 strategies to help incorporate orthodontic treatment options into your practice. Each can increase the diversity of cases you handle, improve patient satisfaction, and support long-term growth.

1. Invest in quality orthodontic training.

The first step toward expanding your practice with orthodontic services is ensuring that you get the quality training needed to handle every step of treatment. Comprehensive ortho courses for general dentists cover more than appliances; they provide you with a complete foundation to deliver the best for your patients. 

In particular, that includes areas such as orthodontic evaluation, diagnosis, treatment planning, and follow-up. You’ll want to make sure to choose a course that offers hands-on learning as well, as it will impart the physical skills necessary to provide care with confidence.

Some dentists might try to save money by going with fast-track courses, but these routes ultimately fail to foster the practical skills and knowledge that are fundamental to actually providing treatment. Investing in orthodontic education today unlocks excellent revenue opportunities for your practice in the future.

2. Educate your existing patient base.

Adding orthodontic services to your practice can attract new patients, but that doesn’t mean your existing patient base is a resource you should overlook. Your current patients will likely need orthodontic treatment at some point, if they don’t already. Educating them about your new orthodontic services can lead to many new consultations and bookings. 

Take every opportunity to spread the word about your new service. Of course, that includes bringing up potential treatment options during routine checkups and other in-person opportunities, but you can also provide educational materials throughout your practice. Posters and chairside visuals on treatment options can pique patient interest, as can having brochures on hand. 

3. Market your new services locally.

If you’re branching out with new treatment options, then you have a prime opportunity for effective marketing. Not only can you inform potential patients of these new services, but the expansion of treatment options reflects well on your practice in general. Altogether, marketing is an integral part of maintaining your practice’s growth, and there are many dental practice marketing techniques you can take advantage of. 

First, make sure to update your website with information regarding these new treatments, both on your home page and on individual treatment pages. Make use of local search engine optimization (SEO) tactics to improve reach in your community through optimal keyword use, and take the time to update your Google Business Profile to showcase these new treatment options as well.

Leveraging your existing newsletters and social media accounts is also a great way to share the news of your new ortho options and their benefits. Including real patient success stories and before and after photos in these posts would be ideal; just remember to get explicit permission from your patients to ensure that healthcare privacy laws are followed, of course.

4. Train and involve your team.

You might take the best orthodontic courses for general dentists out there, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready to provide treatment just yet. Before that, you’ll also need to bring your team up to speed to guarantee that the intake process and administration of orthodontic services are carried out properly.

There are courses available for dental hygienists and assistants to prepare them for the introduction of orthodontic services, and these are great investments. But you can also start by providing some level of training and instruction yourself. Ensure that your team is familiar with the requirements that these new services will entail. You can provide scripts and instructions to help your team address these details consistently.

5. Optimize your schedule for orthodontic cases.

Scheduling is another key difference between general dentistry and orthodontic services. Orthodontic treatment plans include consultations, follow-ups, and adjustments. Blocking off time in advance for these will help you make the best use of your time.

Efficient scheduling will help you maximize the dental practice growth you attain by incorporating orthodontic services, and understanding how these treatment plans play out over longer periods will help you maintain a consistent schedule without feeling overwhelmed.

Taking the Right Approach to Growing Your Practice

Adding orthodontics to your practice can be a great opportunity, but that’s only if you put the right strategies into action. Taking the above steps to ensure proper training, marketing, and support can make orthodontic care one of your practice’s most valuable assets. Build a strong foundation by browsing courses from the American Orthodontic Society to find the right opportunity to develop your orthodontic services today.