These fields decide which searches your practice appears for. They take an hour to get right and are worth re-checking every few months.
Business name: your real name, nothing more
Use your practice’s real-world name, exactly as it appears on your signage. Google’s guidelines don’t allow adding keywords or locations that aren’t part of your actual name, for example “Smith Family Dental – Best Dentist Las Vegas.” It may seem to help for a while, but it’s one of the most common reasons dental listings get suspended, and competitors report it.
Primary category
The primary category matters most. For a general practice it is usually Dentist. Specialty practices should use the matching specialty category, such as Orthodontist, Endodontist, Periodontist, Oral surgeon, Pediatric dentist or Prosthodontist, but only if the practice actually is that specialty. Your state dental board may restrict who can present themselves as a specialist; see the compliance guides.
Secondary categories
Add a few secondary categories that describe real, substantial parts of the practice, such as Cosmetic dentist or Emergency dental service if you genuinely offer same-day emergency care. Don’t add every category that loosely applies; it dilutes the profile and can look like spam.
Services
List the services you want new patients for: implants, Invisalign or clear aligners, crowns, emergency visits, whitening, sedation, pediatric care. Use the predefined services where they exist and add custom ones for the rest, with a short, plain description.
Description
You get 750 characters. Say who you are, who you serve, what makes the practice different and which neighborhoods you serve, in plain sentences. Don’t paste in a list of keywords, URLs or promotions.
Hours, holidays and the booking link
- Keep regular hours accurate, and set special hours for every holiday closure. Patients who drive to a closed office leave reviews about it.
- Add your appointment or online-booking link if you have one.
- Fill in the attributes that apply, such as wheelchair accessibility.