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Google reviews play a big role in how patients choose a dental practice. Before booking an appointment, people often check out your reviews on Google to see what past patients have said about their experience. These reviews can be about your clinic staff, specific treatments, wait times, or anything else.
Positive reviews build trust and bring in more new patients. On the other side, a few bad reviews—or too few reviews—are more likely to raise doubts and send your possible patients elsewhere. In 2025, having a strong presence on Google Reviews is crucial for the growth of your dental practice.
Alongside convincing potential patients, these reviews also impact your practice’s credibility, local SEO rankings, and overall reputation. As a marketing partner, we understand your primary goal is to provide excellent dental care to your patients. However, encouraging your patients to leave a positive review is equally essential for sustained growth.
But how do you get good Google reviews for dentists? Let's simplify the solution!
In this guide, you’ll discover easy, effective ways to get more Google reviews from happy patients—without making it awkward or time-consuming. We’ll cover personalized strategies your team can use daily to turn satisfied patients into vocal advocates.
A patient leaves a review after their appointment or treatment, sharing feedback on your services. These reviews can be positive or negative, or they may share valuable information about the practice.
Here are the top reasons why reviews are important for dental practices:
1) Increased Patient Trust: When a happy patient leaves positive feedback, this acts as social proof that enhances credibility and makes potential patients feel more confident in choosing your services. When your patients share good experiences, it reduces first-visit anxiety for others with the same concerns. It makes them choose you for great patient care.
2) Better Online Visibility: Good reviews about your dental services give a positive signal that helps search engines trust your practice’s relevance and authority. More positive reviews are more likely to improve your ranking on SERPs, which leads to improved visibility and more new patients finding your practice. For a more detailed strategy, explore our local SEO services for dentists.
3) Increased New Patient Acquisition: Improved visibility allows new patients to find your practice, and positive reviews result in higher conversion. When a patient finds you at the top of the SERP with positive reviews, they are more likely to choose you over a competitor with fewer or no reviews.
4) Constructive Feedback & Improvement: Reviews, even the occasional critical ones, provide valuable insights. They help you understand how efficient your practice is at delivering patient care.
5) Competitive Advantage: A strong collection of positive reviews can significantly differentiate your practice in a local market with multiple dental practices. It helps you stand out and attract patients who are actively comparing their options.
With a complete understanding of why patient reviews matter for your dental practice, let’s dive into the best ways to ask your patients for valuable feedback. Asking for a review shouldn’t be complicated, forced, or annoying—it should feel like a natural part of a happy patient journey. Here are the most effective ways to request reviews from your patients:
Before you start asking patients for reviews, it’s essential to have a clear and consistent plan. This plan should outline how you’ll approach patients, when and who will ask, and how your team will respond—whether the feedback is positive or negative.
Develop a plan to train your staff on exactly how they should politely ask a satisfied and valued patient to leave a review—without sounding pushy or salesy.
Next, it is equally important to prepare how you’ll respond to negative and positive reviews. A warm thank-you to kind words shows appreciation, while a calm, constructive reply to criticism reflects professionalism and genuine care.
You can also consider offering small, ethical incentives—like a thank-you card or free dental care tips—as a gesture of appreciation (without violating any platform rules). And don’t forget to make this entire process part of your follow-up routine.
Asking for feedback should never feel awkward or pushy. To make it feel natural, timing is everything. So—when is the right time to ask for a review?
It’s when your patient is genuinely happy with your care. Maybe they just finished their treatment and thanked you. Maybe they smiled on their way out, relieved and satisfied. That’s your moment.
Patients are far more likely to leave a positive review when they feel cared for and appreciated. So instead of making it feel like a task, let it be a gentle nudge at a time when their experience is fresh, and their gratitude is real.
Most automated review messages are ignored, lost in inbox clutter, or dismissed as just another generic text. You can make your feedback request feel more personal and real to avoid that.
Don't send the same copy-paste message to every patient. Instead, address them by name and mention something specific about their visit. For instance:
"We're happy that you enjoyed the teeth whitening today, [Patient Name]. It means so much to us! If you could spare a moment, we'd love to know your experience at [Clinic Name]."
That small effort—mentioning their name and the treatment—makes a big difference. It shows that you remember them and care, and their feedback truly matters.
Want a smoother way to track responses? Our healthcare review management service helps clinics like yours monitor and respond to every review.
Emails are still standing strong, even after all the revolutionary shifts in the digital world. Almost everyone checks their inbox at least once a day. So why not gently remind your patients when they’re just a click away?
Thank them genuinely for choosing your dental practice, and let them know how much their feedback means to you and your team. A heartfelt thank you for their visit goes a long way in showing that you truly care.
Try to make the process easy—include direct links to your Google review page, Facebook profile, or other trusted third-party directories where your practice is listed. The easier you make it, the more likely they are to leave a review.
If a patient has shared kind words on a third-party site, don’t hesitate to ask permission to feature them on your website or social media. This will not only build credibility but also make them feel seen and appreciated. Learn how healthcare email marketing strategies can enhance your follow-ups.
Patients value feeling appreciated—not overwhelmed. While review requests are important, sending them too often, especially to the same patient, can have the opposite effect.
Just like visitors on a website may not always know what they’re looking for and benefit from thoughtful navigation, your review strategy should be equally intentional. Instead of repeatedly sending out the same task, create a simple internal system to track who has already left a review. This allows your team to focus on patients who haven’t yet shared their experience—without overdoing it.
And when it comes to timing, don’t rush. Send them your requests in a way that feels natural, not forced. A well-paced, respectful ask is far more likely to result in meaningful feedback than a frequent reminder.
By avoiding review fatigue, you ensure that every request feels considered, personal, and appreciated—just like your patient care.
Your team plays a critical role in creating moments worth reviewing and asking for those reviews the right way. Just like smart website navigation helps guide visitors toward decisions, a well-trained staff helps guide happy patients toward sharing feedback.
Hold short, focused workshops each month to remind your team why patient reviews matter for overall practice growth. This growth can range from building credibility and trust to improving SEO and growing your practice’s reputation. Make it a conversation, not a lecture—people engage more when they understand the “why.”
Next, give your team clear, achievable goals—like encouraging two new reviews per day. Create a simple, fun reward system for team members who go above and beyond. Maybe it’s a gift card, an extra break, or a small spotlight in your team newsletter.
When your team is trained, motivated, and appreciated, asking for reviews becomes second nature—and much more effective.
One of the easiest and most effective ways to encourage more Google reviews is by showing that you value the ones you already receive.
By actively monitoring your Google Business Profile and responding to reviews in real time, you send a strong message: your dental practice genuinely listens and cares. An automated or personalized “thank you note” for an appreciative review or a professional response to a concern builds trust and shows future patients that feedback matters.
This level of attentiveness often motivates others to leave their thoughts too. When patients see you engaging with reviews, they’re more likely to share their experiences—knowing they won’t go unnoticed.
Anxious patients are a part of everyday practice—and as a dentist, you understand their fears better than anyone. When you and your team go the extra mile to make them feel comfortable, it leaves a lasting, positive impression.
That’s why one of the best ways to encourage reviews is to turn nervous visits into great experiences. If a patient feels at ease, thank them for trusting you and gently share how their review could help others feel more confident about coming in.
For example, you might say, We hope you’re happy with the care you received at [Practice Name]. Please be cautious and follow all the aftercare instructions carefully. Leaving a quick review on Google could help someone else who’s feeling the same way.”
It’s a heartfelt way to connect and shows you genuinely care. You can also discover more creative ways in our blog about dental marketing ideas.
Offering exceptional care is one of the best means of promoting patient reviews. When a patient is satisfied with the entire process, from making the appointment to the waiting time, consultation, and treatment, it significantly increases the likelihood that they will write positive feedback.
As soon as they visit, you may also ask if they would like to leave a review or share their experience. A simple, sincere inquiry at the correct time could go a long way toward establishing trust and developing your online presence.
Remember that consistently providing empathetic and patient care lays the groundwork for building patient relationships and word-of-mouth referrals. You can enhance this experience further by building a patient-friendly website that reflects your practice’s warmth and professionalism.
The traditional way of asking patients to visit a website and leave a review is fading. Now, convenience is key. Placing review QR codes at your payment counter, reception desk, or even inside treatment rooms makes it quick and easy for patients to share their feedback.
With just one scan, they’re taken directly to your Google review page—no need to type in links or search online. It’s a modern, effortless way to collect more reviews without putting pressure on your patients.
Get in touch with our healthcare marketing expert