Complete 90-Day Roadmap

Dental Practice Growth Checklist

Your complete 90-day roadmap to get 20-50 more patients every month. Foundation setup → Patient acquisition → Scaling systems.

0-30 Days

Foundation Phase

30-60 Days

Growth Phase

60-90 Days

Scale Phase

Get Started for $50/Month Talk to Growth Specialist

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5 Quick Wins (Do These First)

Before you dive into the full 90-day plan, knock out these high-impact, low-effort wins. Each takes 1-3 hours but delivers immediate results.

Add Online Booking (Day 1)

Capture appointments 24/7 without phone tag

3-5 extra appointments per week

Low - 1-2 hours setup

Request Google Reviews (Day 1)

Text your last 50 happy patients asking for review

10-20 new 5-star reviews in 1 week

Low - 30 minutes

Enable Missed-Call Text-Back (Day 7)

Auto-text when you can't answer phone

Capture 52% of missed calls

Low - 1 hour setup

Optimize Google Business Profile (Day 7)

Add services, hours, photos, posts

Show up in Map Pack (top 3 results)

Medium - 2-3 hours

Launch Google Local Services Ads (Day 14)

Pay-per-lead, Google Screened badge

5-10 qualified leads per week

Medium - 2 hours setup + background check

Phase 1

Foundation (Days 0-30)

Build your online presence foundation. These are the non-negotiables—without these, you're invisible to 84% of patients who research dentists online.

Online Presence Foundation

Launch professional dental website

CRITICALDay 1-7

Mobile-first design with sub-2s load time, tap-to-call, and online booking CTA above the fold. 78% of dental searches happen on mobile.

Instant credibility with new patients

Set up Google Business Profile

CRITICALDay 1-7

Complete profile: services (cleanings, implants, Invisalign), hours, insurance accepted, office photos, team photos. Essential for Map Pack ranking.

Show up in 'near me' searches

Add 24/7 online appointment booking

HIGHDay 1-7

Integrate with Dentrix/Eaglesoft. Patients book hygiene cleanings at midnight when you're sleeping—capture appointments 24/7.

3-5 extra appointments per week

Claim directory listings

MEDIUMDay 7-14

Healthgrades, Zocdoc, Vitals, WebMD Physician Directory. Ensure NAP (Name, Address, Phone) is identical across all platforms.

Stronger local SEO signals

Add trust signals to website

HIGHDay 7-14

Display: 5-star Google reviews, 'ADA Member' badge, financing options (CareCredit, Proceed Finance), insurance logos (Aetna, Delta Dental, etc.).

Reduce patient hesitation, increase bookings

Review & Reputation Setup

Set up automated review requests

HIGHDay 14-21

Text patients 24 hours after cleaning/procedure with one-click Google review link. Target: 100+ 5-star reviews in 12 months.

Build social proof, dominate Map Pack

Respond to ALL existing reviews

MEDIUMDay 14-21

Reply to every Google review (positive and negative) within 48 hours. Show you care about patient feedback.

Improve reputation, show responsiveness

Create review response templates

LOWDay 21-30

Pre-write responses for: 5-star reviews, negative reviews, specific procedures (cleanings, implants, emergencies).

Respond faster, maintain consistency

Content & Visual Assets

Upload office & team photos

HIGHDay 7-14

Google Business Profile + website: reception area, treatment rooms, team photos, before/after smile transformations (with consent).

94% more likely to get calls vs no photos

Create service-specific landing pages

MEDIUMDay 14-30

Separate pages for: dental implants, Invisalign, teeth whitening, emergency dentistry, cosmetic dentistry. Target high-value procedures.

Rank for specific searches, attract high-value cases

Write FAQ content

MEDIUMDay 21-30

Answer common questions: 'Do you accept my insurance?', 'Do you offer payment plans?', 'What to expect during root canal?', 'Emergency dentist hours?'

Improve SEO, reduce phone call volume

Phase 2

Growth (Days 30-60)

Turn on patient acquisition channels. Now that your foundation is solid, it's time to generate predictable lead flow and automate follow-up.

Patient Acquisition Channels

Launch Google Local Services Ads

HIGHDay 30-37

Google Screened badge + pay-per-lead ($25-75 per call). Appear ABOVE Map Pack for 'emergency dentist', 'dentist near me'. Background check required.

5-10 qualified leads per week

Start Google Ads (Search)

MEDIUMDay 37-45

Target: 'emergency dentist [city]', 'dental implants [city]', 'Invisalign [city]'. Budget: $1,000-2,000/month. Track calls and form fills.

Predictable lead flow, scale what works

Optimize for 'near me' searches

HIGHDay 30-37

Add location-specific content: 'Dentist in [Neighborhood]', embed Google Map, reference local landmarks. Rank for local searches.

Show up when people search while driving

Create new patient special offer

HIGHDay 30-37

Example: '$99 cleaning + exam + X-rays for new patients' (normally $300). Promote on website, GBP posts, ads.

Lower barrier to trial, convert price shoppers

Marketing Automation Setup

Set up missed-call text-back

CRITICALDay 37-45

Front desk on lunch or with patient → Instant auto-text: 'Got your call! Click here to book or describe your emergency.' Capture 52% of missed calls.

Never lose emergency calls again

Enable AI phone answering (optional)

MEDIUMDay 45-52

AI answers after-hours calls: 'Thanks for calling [Practice]! Are you calling about a toothache, appointment, or billing question?' Routes appropriately.

Capture after-hours emergency calls

Create appointment reminder workflow

HIGHDay 37-45

Automated SMS/email reminders: 7 days before, 2 days before, morning of appointment. Reduce no-shows by 40%.

Fewer no-shows, fuller schedule

Set up reactivation campaign

MEDIUMDay 45-52

Text patients who haven't visited in 12+ months: 'It's been a year since your last cleaning. Book now to avoid gum disease.' Include scheduling link.

Re-engage dormant patients, easy revenue

Content Marketing Engine

Publish weekly Google Business Profile posts

HIGHOngoing

Topics: seasonal offers ('Halloween candy = tooth decay, book cleaning'), procedure education ('What is a dental crown?'), patient stories.

Keep GBP active, improve local ranking

Create before/after case studies

MEDIUMDay 45-60

With patient consent: smile transformations, implant cases, Invisalign results. Share on website, GBP, social media.

Social proof for high-value procedures

Start blog for SEO

LOWDay 52-60

Publish 2-4 articles/month: 'How much do dental implants cost?', 'Invisalign vs. braces', 'Emergency toothache remedies'. Target long-tail keywords.

Rank for informational searches, build authority

Phase 3

Scale (Days 60-90)

Optimize, scale, and dominate. Build systems that generate referrals, reactivate dormant patients, and turn your practice into a patient acquisition machine.

Referral Program Launch

Create patient referral incentive

HIGHDay 60-67

Offer: 'Refer a friend → You both get $50 credit toward next visit' or 'Free whitening kit for 3 referrals'. Track via CRM.

Turn happy patients into marketing channel

Build physician referral network

MEDIUMDay 67-75

Send intro letters to local PCPs, pediatricians, ENTs: 'We accept referrals for [implants, oral surgery, TMJ]. Here's our referral fax/portal.'

Steady stream of high-value referrals

Create referral tracking system

MEDIUMDay 60-67

Ask new patients: 'How did you hear about us?' Tag in CRM: Google, referral, insurance directory, ad. Measure ROI by channel.

Know what marketing actually works

Retention & Reactivation

Launch recall campaign

CRITICALDay 60-67

Automated reminders for 6-month cleanings. Text 2 weeks before due date: 'Time for your cleaning! Book now before we fill up.' Include scheduling link.

Keep hygiene schedule full, prevent attrition

Create treatment plan follow-up sequence

HIGHDay 67-75

Patient diagnosed with 3 cavities but doesn't book → Automated emails/texts: 'Still have questions about your treatment plan? Here's what to expect...'

Convert more treatment plans to revenue

Set up birthday/anniversary emails

LOWDay 75-82

Send birthday month: 'Happy birthday! Enjoy a free whitening treatment with your next cleaning (normally $300).' Personal touch = retention.

Strengthen patient relationships

Create VIP/loyalty program

MEDIUMDay 75-82

Example: 'Dental Wellness Club - $299/year = 2 cleanings, X-rays, 15% off treatments, priority scheduling.' For uninsured patients.

Recurring revenue, patient retention

Advanced Marketing Tactics

Launch retargeting ads

MEDIUMDay 75-82

Show ads to people who visited your website but didn't book. Example: 'Still need a dentist? Book your $99 new patient special.' Facebook/Google Ads.

Recover 10-15% of lost website visitors

Create insurance-specific landing pages

LOWDay 82-90

Pages for: 'Aetna dentist [city]', 'Delta Dental provider [city]', 'Cigna dentist [city]'. List in-network status, accepted plans.

Rank for insurance-specific searches

Add live chat to website

LOWDay 82-90

Answer questions in real-time: 'Do you accept my insurance?', 'Do you have Saturday hours?', 'Can you see me today for emergency?'

Convert more browsers to bookers

Create video content

LOWDay 82-90

Record 2-minute videos: 'Meet Dr. [Name]', 'Office tour', 'What to expect during dental implant surgery'. Post to YouTube, website, GBP.

Build trust before first visit

Performance Tracking & Optimization

Set up conversion tracking

CRITICALDay 60-67

Track: phone calls (CallRail/GoHighLevel), form submissions, online bookings. Connect to Google Ads. Measure cost per new patient.

Know exact ROI of every marketing dollar

Create monthly reporting dashboard

HIGHDay 67-75

Metrics: new patient count, lead source breakdown, cost per patient, revenue per patient, 5-star review count, Map Pack ranking.

Data-driven decisions, spot trends early

Run A/B tests on booking flow

MEDIUMDay 75-90

Test: one-step vs. multi-step forms, 'Book Appointment' vs. 'Schedule Free Consult', phone vs. online booking emphasis.

Optimize conversion rate

Monitor competitor activity

LOWOngoing

Track: competitors' Map Pack rankings, ad copy, new patient offers, review count. Adjust your strategy to stay ahead.

Stay competitive in your market

Industry-Specific

Dental-Specific Growth Tactics

These tactics are unique to dentistry—leverage them to stand out from general marketing advice and outperform competitors.

New Patient Special Offers

Lower barrier to trial with irresistible first-visit offers

$99 Cleaning Package - Cleaning + exam + X-rays (normally $300). Promote on website, GBP, ads. Break-even on first visit, profit on subsequent treatments.

Free Consultation - For implants, Invisalign, cosmetic work. Qualify leads, close 30-40% to treatment plans worth $3,000-8,000.

Insurance Maximizer - 'Use your remaining 2025 insurance benefits before they expire!' Run Nov-Dec to fill schedule before year-end.

Family Discount - '2nd family member gets 20% off' or 'Kids clean free when parent books.' Target young families.

Insurance & Financing Marketing

Remove price objections with flexible payment options

In-Network Badges - Display all accepted insurances prominently: Aetna, Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife, Guardian. Patients filter by insurance.

Financing Options - Partner with CareCredit, Proceed Finance, LendingClub. Offer: '$149/month for implants' instead of '$4,500 upfront.'

Insurance Verification Tool - Let patients check coverage online: 'Enter your insurance info → We'll verify benefits and call you within 24 hours.'

Out-of-Network Positioning - If not in-network: 'We maximize your out-of-network benefits—most patients pay same as in-network after reimbursement.'

Cosmetic Dentistry Upsells

Convert routine patients to high-value cosmetic cases

Smile Assessment - During cleaning: 'Would you like a free smile assessment? We'll show you what Invisalign or veneers could do.' Plant the seed.

Before/After Gallery - Waiting room + website: show dramatic smile transformations. Visual proof = higher close rates.

Seasonal Promotions - 'Wedding season whitening special', 'Back-to-school Invisalign discount', 'Holiday smile makeover package.'

Treatment Plan Financing - Break $6,000 veneers into '$199/month for 36 months—less than your daily coffee.' Remove price objection.

Emergency Dentistry Positioning

Capture high-intent, high-value emergency patients

Same-Day Emergency Slots - Block 1-2 slots per day for emergencies. Promote: 'Emergency toothache? We'll see you TODAY. Call now.'

After-Hours Answering - AI or answering service captures emergency calls 24/7. Text back: 'We have a 7 AM emergency slot tomorrow. Book now?'

Emergency Landing Page - Dedicated page: 'Emergency Dentist [City]—Chipped tooth, toothache, broken crown—seen same day.' Rank for emergency searches.

Google Ads for Emergencies - Bid on 'emergency dentist', 'dentist open Saturday', 'same day dental appointment'. High CPC but high conversion.

Pediatric Dentistry to Parents

Target young families for long-term patient value

Kid-Friendly Messaging - 'No scary drills! We use gentle laser dentistry for cavities. Kids actually enjoy their visit (yes, really).'

Parent Convenience - 'Book back-to-back appointments—mom's cleaning at 3 PM, kids at 3:30 PM. In and out in one trip.'

School Partnership - Sponsor local elementary school events. Offer free dental kits at health fairs. Build community presence.

First Visit Free - 'Kids under 5 get first cleaning free.' Get families in the door, convert to long-term patients (lifetime value = $10,000+).

Complete Growth Engine

FlashCrafter Does 80% of This Checklist for You

Our all-in-one dental marketing platform includes: professional website, online booking, GBP optimization, automated review requests, missed-call text-back, and CRM—all for $50/month.

Professional Website

Mobile-first, sub-2s load time

Online Booking

24/7 appointment scheduling

Review Automation

Auto-request Google reviews

Missed-Call Text-Back

Never lose emergency calls

Start for $50/Month Schedule a Demo

Free $1,500 setup + 2-week trial. No contracts. Cancel anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about implementing this growth checklist

Do I need to hire a marketing agency to do this?

No. Most of this checklist can be done in-house with FlashCrafter's platform ($50/month). The platform handles: website, booking, GBP posts, review automation, and CRM. You only need an agency for Google Ads management (if you want expert help).

How much time does this take per week?

Setup: 5-10 hours total across 90 days. Ongoing maintenance: 2-3 hours per week (respond to reviews, create GBP posts, check analytics). Most tasks are automated once set up.

What's the average cost per new patient?

Organic (SEO, GBP): $0-10 per patient. Google Local Services Ads: $25-75 per call. Google Ads: $50-150 per patient. Average lifetime value of a dental patient = $3,000-10,000, so even paid ads have strong ROI.

Can I skip to the Scale Phase if I'm already established?

Only if your foundation is solid. Check: Do you have 50+ Google reviews, online booking, optimized GBP, mobile-friendly website? If yes, jump to Growth/Scale. If no, start with Foundation—it's the 20% that drives 80% of results.

What if I'm in a competitive market (NYC, LA, Chicago)?

Focus on hyper-local SEO: target neighborhoods instead of city-wide (e.g., "dentist Upper East Side" vs. "dentist NYC"). Invest more in Google Ads and Local Services Ads. Build 200+ Google reviews to stand out. Consider specializing (cosmetic, implants, pediatric).

How long until I see results?

Quick wins (online booking, missed-call text-back): 1-2 weeks. Google Local Services Ads: 2-4 weeks. Organic SEO: 3-6 months. Full system (20-50 patients/month): 90 days. Marketing is a marathon, not a sprint—but you'll see incremental wins weekly.

Ready to Grow Your Dental Practice?

Stop leaving patients on the table. FlashCrafter gives you the website, booking system, CRM, and automation to execute this entire checklist—for $50/month.

Get Started for $50/Month Talk to Growth Specialist

Free $1,500 setup + 2-week trial. No contracts. Cancel anytime.