How to Start Your Own Successful Dental Business?

One of the most potentially lucrative industries today is dentistry. Some professionals opt for traditional dental care, which remains in high demand within local communities, while others venture into the rapidly growing field of cosmetic dentistry.

Regardless of the path you choose, certain key principles are essential for establishing a thriving practice. If you’re wondering how to start your own successful dental business, understanding these fundamentals will be crucial to building a strong foundation and ensuring long-term success.

We’re going to spend the next couple of minutes taking a look at each of these key building blocks in turn. By the time you get to the end, you will have a much better grasp of the basics of how to start your own successful dental business.

Get full training and certification

It goes without saying that you need to know what you’re doing from a dental point of view before opening your own practice. If you’re approaching this more from the perspective of a practice manager, you need to hire the right dental hygienists and assistants if you are going to get your business off the ground.

While it may be all too easy to overlook simple checks and balances in the rush to get things open for business, they are there for a very good reason. You want to be able to hire dental industry professionals safe in the knowledge that they will always do the right thing. Checking qualifications, and certifications, and having in-person interviews is the best way to solve this issue.

Pick an accessible location

Location, location, location. This cliche is one that still holds, and it’s something that every aspiring dental business owner needs to take very seriously. Dentistry is a local service that serves the needs of the people within a couple of miles of the practice’s front door. If you place your practice in the middle of nowhere, or somewhere that is so crowded that parking is always going to cause issues, you are doing yourself a disservice before you even open your doors.

Build a marketing plan

Once your location is settled, you need to start attracting attention for all the right reasons. Raising awareness is what marketing is all about, and it’s never been easier to catch the eye of the local community in the social media age.

Use a friendly, personable, and yet professional style of writing combined with attractive imagery and you will soon have all the patients you need. The key here is to make sure that everyone knows what you offer — traditional treatments, cosmetic services, or both — and let them know how to join your waiting list. The more accessible and approachable you can make your practice, the further your business is going to go in a short space of time.

Partner with a trusted equipment supplier

Something as simple as running out of dentist gloves or having to make do with substandard disposable masks can have a significant impact on your business. You want to be able to place orders with complete clarity and peace of mind, always safe in the knowledge that you’re striking the right balance between quality and value.

Searching for a trusted national supplier with a proven supply chain and a reputation for providing quality equipment is your next step. Taking the time to ask questions about how they ensure their supply chain is robust and uninterrupted will give you all the reassurance you need that you are making the right choice.

Build patient loyalty

The more your business grows, the harder it can be to continue to focus on what got you there: personal service and excellent results. As your business grows and you take on more team members, you need to make sure that every one of them fully buys into what you’re trying to achieve. Something as simple as a quick 15-minute refresher on a lunch break can be all it takes to put standards back where you want them.

Upsell consumables to patients

Turning your practice from a community resource into a thriving business is all about going the extra mile for your patients. While they won’t want a sales pitch the moment they get out of the chair, they do want to know they’re doing the right thing. Recommend specific floss, brushes, and mouthwash, and then provide a gentle nudge to buy by having them on display at the check-in desk.

Final thoughts

Building a successful dental business is about consistently applying effort in the right places. Focus on your marketing, build relationships with the right supplier, and show your patients that you truly value their custom. Do key things like this every single day and you will have a lucrative business for many years to come.