As the demand for personalized care that addresses patients' emotional wellbeing increases, sedation dentists can benefit from highlighting their ability to provide enhanced dental care.
By Genni Burkhart, Incisor Editor
According to Grandview Research, the dental anesthesia market in the United States is expected to reach $447.1 million by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3%. Sedation dentistry is part of this growth, driven by the rising demand for personalized care and management of dental anxiety.
Given this potential, dental practices that offer sedation have a unique opportunity for growth. As many dentists know, the level of unease patients feel toward the dental chair can vary, making sedation a highly adaptable service. Furthermore, the demand for personalized care is rising as patients increasingly seek practices that recognize their overall wellbeing as a vital component of their oral health.
Considering this, sedation practices can significantly benefit from promoting their ability to provide elevated comfort and care to dental patients. We'll review how to promote sedation dentistry to grow and expand your practice effectively.
Educate and Inform
Roughly 36% of Americans experience some level of dental anxiety, with 12% suffering from extreme fear, often leading to the complete avoidance of dental care.
This eye-opening statistic highlights the value of sedation dentists and the importance of educating the public on the positive impact of their services. Self-promotion includes informing potential patients (and existing patients) on how sedation can help:
- Overcome Anxiety: Sedation reduces anxiety and pain perception and increases comfort during procedures. With sedation, even the most fearful patients can get the dental care they need without an emotional rollercoaster that perpetuates avoidance.
- Encourage Better Health: Because sedation allows patients to experience dental care in a calm and comfortable environment, patients can establish a routine of regular dental checkups, improving their overall wellness.
- Ease Misconceptions: Use consultation visits to explain the sedation options you offer, safety procedures, training and education, and the benefits. Be sure to allow time for questions and provide print material debunking the most common misconceptions about sedation.
By educating patients and potential patients on the benefits of dental sedation, you can grow your practice by creating a safe, welcoming space for those who have been avoiding dental care and need a dentist they can trust for the long term.
Let Patients Speak For You
Patient testimonials are one of the most effective ways for dentists to highlight the impact of their care. Sharing sedation success stories provides real-life examples of how truly transformative the experience can be. However, it’s essential to follow HIPAA guidelines to protect patient privacy. Some dental practices have learned the hard way that both the federal government and state dental boards will sanction dentists for online reviews that violate these regulations.
When crafting testimonials, consider highlighting how sedation simplifies complex procedures, makes dental visits more efficient for busy patients, and benefits a wide range of demographics seeking a stress-free experience, including fearful children, busy adults, and older patients with medical conditions to consider.
If your practice has a blog or active social media presence, case studies showcasing successful sedation cases can be incredibly impactful. With the patient’s consent, before-and-after photos or a video with a clear, patient-friendly description of the procedure can further demonstrate the benefits of sedation dentistry.
However, it's important to be mindful of the visuals. What seems like a great "before" image to you might look like a crime scene to a patient. Stick to images highlighting positive transformations rather than those that might send patients running.
Good Marketing Matters
Over 70% of your patients turn to online search engines to research treatments and choose a dentist, while 40% rely on social media to guide their dental care decisions. This digital landscape makes it essential for sedation dentists to have a well-planned and strategically executed online marketing campaign. Some of the main components for sedation dentists to consider include:
- Brand development
- Website design
- Copywriting
- Digital ad creation
- Social media
To effectively promote your sedation dentistry services, you must ensure that people know about them. An effective marketing strategy will allow you to share success stories, provide valuable information, and engage with patients. Video testimonials, blog posts, and a well-designed website can seamlessly highlight sedation as a key benefit, helping patients who might not have considered it realize it’s the solution they’ve been looking for.
Other methods of marketing your sedation services include partnering with healthcare providers, such as specialists and other dental professionals, who can refer patients who need dental sedation.
Participating in local health fairs, school talks, and community events is another effective way to raise awareness about sedation dentistry and ensure that your practice is remembered by those seeking a dental provider. These efforts position you as an active community member and a trusted expert in the field.
In Conclusion
By promoting sedation services through education, testimonials, and targeted marketing, dentists can reach a larger population while improving patient care and creating a sustainable path for growth.
But here’s the catch: If you don’t promote it, potential patients won’t know it’s an option.
Practices that invest in sedation training enhance patient comfort and position themselves as specialists. In a world where people Google “painless dentist near me” before booking an appointment, being known for stress-free, patient-centered care isn’t just good medicine—it’s smart business.
Author: With over 15 years as a published journalist, editor, and writer, Genni Burkhart's career has spanned politics, healthcare, law, business finance, technology, and news. She resides in Northern Colorado, where she works as the editor-in-chief of the Incisor at DOCS Education.
