To get new patients, a dental clinic needs to show up when someone searches for a dentist nearby, build trust as soon as they find you, and reply fast when they ask for an appointment. This comes down to a well-kept Google profile, real reviews, a clear web page for each treatment, and a phone or WhatsApp that's well handled.
What follows is a guide in order of priority. Start at the top: each step builds on the one before, and you can start almost all of them this week without a big budget. If you want to see the full approach for the sector, you'll find more detail on our dental clinic marketing page.
How new patients choose a dentist
Almost nobody picks a dental clinic at random. It usually happens in one of these situations:
- They have pain or an emergency and search for "dentist near me" on their phone.
- They want a specific treatment (orthodontics, implants, cleaning, teeth whitening) and compare options.
- They have moved, or their previous dentist no longer suits them, and ask for recommendations.
In all three cases they go through the same filter: they check Google, read reviews, look at the website, and call or send a message. Your marketing is about making sure each of those steps works in your favour.
1. Look after the clinic's Google profile
For a neighbourhood clinic, the Google profile is the most important shop window. It's what people see on the map and on the right-hand side of results when they search for your name or a dentist in the area.
What to check today
- Main category: "Dentist" or "Dental clinic". Add secondary categories only if they're accurate (orthodontist, implantologist…).
- NAP details: name, address and phone number identical to those on your website and directories.
- Opening hours: kept up to date, including public holidays and closures.
- Services: list every treatment you offer, with a short description and no exaggerations.
- Real photos: front of the building, reception, treatment rooms and team. A nervous patient wants to see where they'll go and who will treat them.
- Booking or WhatsApp button: the path to making contact should take just one tap.
If you want to dig deeper into how to appear on the map, have a look at the guide to appearing on Google Maps. It's written for local businesses in general, but the profile steps apply just as well to a clinic.
2. Get patient reviews consistently
In healthcare, trust matters a great deal. Reviews are the first thing many people read, and it's not just the rating that counts: the number of reviews, how recent they are and whether the clinic replies all matter too.
How to ask without being pushy
- Ask for a review right after a visit where the patient left happy, not weeks later.
- Send the direct link to your profile by WhatsApp or SMS, with a short, friendly message.
- Put a sign with a QR code at reception.
- Let anyone on the team ask, not just the dentist.
Reply to all of them, including the negative ones, calmly and without sharing any clinical details about the patient: confidentiality comes first. A polite reply to a complaint often says more about you than ten five-star reviews. Here's how to get more reviews on Google, step by step.
And a warning: don't buy reviews or offer discounts in return for a positive rating. Google can remove them, and the damage to your reputation outweighs any benefit.
3. A website that answers questions and makes booking easy
Your website doesn't need to be flashy, but it should be clear and fast on mobile. What tends to work best for a clinic:
- One page per treatment: implants, invisible orthodontics, root canal treatment, dental hygiene, paediatric dentistry… Each one answers what people want to know: what it involves, how long it usually takes, what discomfort there may be, when to book.
- Team introduction: photo, name, professional registration number and specialty. It puts a face to the clinic.
- Area and how to get there: mention your neighbourhood or city naturally, not as a list of repeated keywords.
- Visible contact details: a tappable phone number, WhatsApp and a short form, always in sight.
- Information on financing or the first visit, if you offer it, explained clearly.
If you need to prioritise, start with the pages for the two or three treatments you most want to attract patients for.
4. Ads on Google for specific treatments
Once your profile and website are in good shape, search ads can bring you patients faster than organic ranking. They appear just when someone searches for "dental implants + your city" or "orthodontics + your neighbourhood".
- Start with a small budget and a single treatment.
- Limit the area to where your patients actually live.
- Send the ad to the page for that treatment, not to the homepage.
- Set up call and form tracking; without measuring, you're spending blind.
- Review which searches triggered your ads and exclude the ones that don't fit.
You don't need to advertise everything. Many clinics do better by focusing on one or two higher-value treatments.
5. Social media: trust, not just posts
Instagram or Facebook rarely bring in an urgent booking on their own, but they help patients get to know you before they decide. A sustainable rhythm, even a modest one, works better than a burst followed by silence.
- Introduce the team and the clinic: familiarity reduces fear of the dentist.
- Share useful information: how to look after a child's teeth, what to do in an emergency, when a check-up is advisable.
- Show day-to-day life, with the express permission of any patients who appear.
6. Reply quickly: this is where many patients are lost
Attracting contacts is pointless if nobody replies. A patient who messages three clinics will usually stick with the first one that answers them well.
- Check what happens to missed calls during peak hours.
- Decide who answers the WhatsApp and how quickly.
- Prepare template replies for the common questions: approximate price, first visit, insurance acceptance, opening hours.
- Note where each new patient came from by asking them when you book the appointment.
7. Make the most of the patients you already have
Attracting new patients is expensive; winning back and retaining them costs much less. A simple reminder system for regular check-ups or hygiene visits keeps your diary full. And happy patients are your best referral channel: thank them in person, without offering anything in return, and make it easy for them to share your contact details.
Watch out for healthcare advertising
Advertising for healthcare services is regulated in Spain. As a general rule, avoid promising guaranteed results, presenting offers in a misleading way, or using "before and after" cases without meeting the requirements and getting the patient's consent. The details depend on national and regional regulations, so check with your professional college or an adviser before launching campaigns.
What to measure to know if it works
You don't need a complicated dashboard. A simple monthly spreadsheet is enough:
- Calls, WhatsApp messages and forms received.
- Appointments booked and new patients who come to their first visit.
- Declared source: Google, referral, social media, advert.
- Number of new reviews and average rating.
With this data you'll know which efforts deserve more investment and which you can drop.
First-week plan
- Day 1: review and complete your Google profile.
- Day 2: prepare the message and the QR code to ask for reviews.
- Day 3: check that your website loads well on mobile and that your contact details are visible.
- Day 4: write or improve the page for your main treatment.
- Day 5: decide who handles calls and WhatsApp, and how you record the source of each patient.
If you'd like to know where to start in your case, in Nexasmus we offer a free online review of your clinic's digital presence: profile, reviews, website and nearby competition. Request your free review here and we'll tell you what to fix first.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to get new patients for a dental clinic?
It's usually a well-maintained Google profile combined with search ads for a specific treatment, as long as your website and phone answering are ready. Results depend on your area and competition, so it's best to start small and measure.
How much should a dental clinic invest in marketing?
There's no single figure: it depends on your area, your treatments and your appointment capacity. Start with free options (profile, reviews, website) and add ads with a budget you can sustain for a few months so you can evaluate them.
Can I post before and after photos of treatments?
Healthcare advertising is regulated and requires patient consent and compliance with the applicable requirements. Check the rules in your autonomous community and with your professional college before publishing them.