Many of us have patients who only visit when they are experiencing pain or have a broken tooth. These patients may avoid dental care for various reasons, such as concerns about cost, insurance coverage, fear, or a tendency to procrastinate. While these patients may be challenging, they can also be good candidates for conversion to regular dental care.
One approach is to offer these emergency patients the opportunity to sign up for your office’s membership plan. In many cases, the cost of emergency palliative care or a limited exam with x-rays is similar to the cost of the membership plan. By joining, the patient can receive coverage for emergency exams and x-rays, as well as a follow-up comprehensive exam and cleaning appointments.
This approach benefits the patient by ensuring that they have access to emergency care and can establish a relationship with your office. It also benefits your office by providing more opportunities to engage with the patient and encourage them to pursue comprehensive, long-term care. If the patient does not show up for appointments, they forfeit their benefits, but the membership plan payment still covers the cost of the emergency visit.