Dentist recall: patients return for their check-up
Dentist recall: patients come to the
How do you build a dentist recall for patients?
for patients?
| step | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| A dentist recall for patients consists of three fixed things: a list of who is due for a check-up and when, a schedule for the reminders and a text your team doesn't have to write from scratch every time. The times in the table are recommendations from experience, not requirements. | Check who is due | Once a week |
| You pull the list of patients whose last check-up is far enough back. | First request | One to two months ahead |
| Confirm appointment | Short message with two to three appointment suggestions. | Right after they say yes |
| reminder | Send back the date, time and calendar link. | Shortly before the appointment |
| following up | One line with the date and time. | If no reply comes |
Exactly one friendly second message.
Why do patients forget their check-up appointments?
Patients usually don't forget check-ups out of disinterest, but because the appointment is months away and nothing reminds them. On top of that, a check-up without symptoms rarely feels urgent. From experience, what helps is not pressure but a simple path: The patient only has to say yes and gets the appointment ready in their calendar.
Ask yourself honestly in your practice: Who gets in touch with a patient who is due, and when? If there is no clear answer, that is the gap.
What do you write in the first recall message?
👇 Tap a button and we'll book you in. ✋ To unsubscribe, simply write
Sample text, please adapt it to your practice.
How do you remind without being annoying?
Remind once before the appointment and follow up once if there's silence, no more. After that, the patient stays on the list and is asked in person at their next visit. This protects the relationship. A calendar link in the confirmation helps: The appointment is then in the patient's phone and reminds them by itself.
How does the recall work with SmartChat?
With SmartChat, the recall runs via WhatsApp. A WhatsApp message is read 98 % of the time, while emails are opened only 15 to 20 % of the time (figure from the SmartChat founder). You send the check-up request as a follow-up and schedule a second message in case no reply comes. The confirmation includes an iCal link that saves the appointment in the patient's calendar.
Before you message patients, they must have agreed. SmartChat sends newsletters and follow-ups only to confirmed contacts, and unsubscribing works with STOP. Messages outside an ongoing conversation go out as a template approved by Meta. You can find more about your industry under SmartChat for dentists, and the process is explained under Automations.
, the process explained
Frequently asked questions about the recall in the dental practice.
Dentist recall
How early should a practice remind patients about the check-up?
There is no fixed rule. From experience, it has proven useful to ask one to two months ahead and remind them once more shortly before the appointment.
How often may I follow up with a patient?
One follow-up after the first message is usually enough. If they still don't reply, they don't get another one, but are asked in person at their next visit.
What belongs in a recall message?
The first name, the reason in one sentence, two to three appointment suggestions and a simple way to reply. Health details do not belong in it.
Do I need consent for reminders by message?
Yes, get it beforehand and keep a record. How exactly this must be arranged for your practice, you clarify with your data protection officer or your legal counsel.
How does an iCal link help with forgotten appointments?
The patient taps the link and the appointment is in their phone calendar, including a reminder. They don't have to type anything.
What do I do with patients who haven't been in for a long time?
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Last updated: By SmartChat Team