Dental Reviews and Reputation

Most new patients read reviews before they call. They compare the practices on the map, scan the most recent reviews, and notice whether the practice replied and how. A dental practice’s reputation used to live in word of mouth; now it lives on Google, Yelp, Healthgrades and Facebook, where anyone choosing a dentist can read it.

The basics of getting and answering Google reviews are in the Google Business Profile reviews chapter. This guide goes further: a review-request system your team actually runs, replies that don’t create a HIPAA problem, how to handle unhappy patients and unfair reviews, the federal rules on fake reviews and incentives, the other review sites, and how to use reviews in your marketing without breaking privacy or advertising rules.

None of this is legal advice. Where the law matters, and in reviews it often does, check with your state dental board or a healthcare attorney for your situation.

Chapters

1. 01A review-request system your team actually runsWho asks for reviews, when and how: the wording, text and email follow-up, short links and QR codes, consent and tracking.
2. 02Replying to reviews without violating HIPAAWhy confirming a reviewer is a patient can be a HIPAA disclosure, with reply templates for positive, negative and mixed reviews.
3. 03Handling negative reviews and unhappy patientsHow to resolve complaints offline, when a review can be reported to Google or Yelp, and why legal threats and removal deals backfire.
4. 04Fake reviews, incentives and the rulesWhat Google and the FTC prohibit for dental practices: fake reviews, rewarded reviews, staff reviews, review gating and suppression.
5. 05Reviews beyond Google, and how to monitor themWhere patients review dental practices besides Google, why Yelp is different, and how to monitor and measure your reputation each month.
6. 06Using reviews and testimonials in marketingPutting reviews and testimonials on your website and social media: patient authorization, FTC endorsement rules and state board rules.