In today’s digital-first world, Google reviews have become the modern equivalent of word-of-mouth recommendations. For dental practices, these five-star ratings aren’t just nice to have — they’re essential for attracting new patients and building trust in your community. And not only that, but especially in today’s AI-powered search landscape for dental practices, Google reviews are an increasingly important “ranking factor” influencing where you show up in local search results.
Google reviews are critical for getting your practice listed in the Google “Map Pack” and ranking at the top of page 1 or in cited sources on AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini. But here’s the thing: those reviews won’t magically appear on their own. You need a strategic approach to consistently generate positive feedback from your patients.
In this blog post, we’ll explore exactly how to get more Google reviews for your dental practice.
Why Google Reviews Matter for Dental Practices
Before diving into the how-to, let’s talk about the why. Google reviews impact your dental practice in several crucial ways:
Local Search Visibility: Google’s algorithm (and AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini) heavily weighs review quantity and quality when determining local search rankings. More positive reviews mean higher visibility when potential patients search for “dentist near me” or “best dentist in [your city]”.
Trust and Credibility: Prospective patients read reviews to gauge the quality of care they can expect. A practice with dozens of glowing reviews instantly appears more trustworthy than one with just a handful or a lower average rating.
Patient Decision-Making: Studies show that 84% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Your Google reviews directly influence whether someone chooses your dental practice or a competitor.
The Foundation: Exceptional Patient Care
Here’s the not-so-secret secret: the best review strategy starts with delivering outstanding patient experiences. No amount of marketing wizardry can compensate for subpar care or poor client service.
Focus on these fundamentals:
- Consistent, gentle care that prioritizes patient comfort
- Clear communication about procedures, costs, and treatment plans
- Minimal wait times and efficient scheduling
- Friendly, professional staff who make patients feel valued
- Follow-up care that shows you’re invested in their outcomes
When patients genuinely love their experience, they’re naturally more inclined to share positive feedback.
Creating a Review Request System
The biggest mistake dental practices make is waiting for reviews to happen organically. Instead, you need an automated strategy for getting more Google reviews for your dental practice.
Timing is Everything
The optimal time to request a review is immediately after a positive appointment, or at least within 24 hours. This window allows patients to process their experience while it’s still fresh in their minds.
Consider these timing strategies:
- After routine cleanings when patients typically leave feeling satisfied
- Following successful restorative or cosmetic procedures when patients are excited about their results
- After completing treatment plans when patients appreciate the comprehensive care
The Personal Touch
Generic review requests feel impersonal and often get ignored. Instead, train your staff to make personal connections:
“Mrs. Johnson, I’m so glad we could help you feel more confident about your smile. If you have a moment, we’d really appreciate it if you could share your experience on Google to help other patients find us.”
Encourage staff to frame the message in their own words; use frameworks, not scripts.
This approach feels natural and emphasizes the benefit to future patients rather than just your practice.
Multiple Touchpoints for Maximum Impact
Don’t rely on a single review request. Create multiple opportunities throughout the patient journey:
In-Office Requests
- During checkout: Train front desk staff to mention reviews when patients are paying
- Waiting area materials: Display tasteful signage with QR codes linking to your Google Business Profile (and promoting your giveaway — we’ll discuss that in a moment)
- Appointment confirmations: Include non-pushy review requests in confirmation emails or texts
Digital Follow-Up
- Text messaging: Use SMS text messages for immediate, mobile-friendly review requests (automate this with a patient engagement or lead management platform like DentalScapes’ DentOwl or Weave)
- Email campaigns: Send personalized follow-up emails with direct links to your Google review page
- Patient portals: Include review reminders in your practice management system
Social Media Integration
- Share positive reviews on your social media accounts (with patient permission)
- Create review-focused posts that encourage patients to share their experiences (and hype your review contest giveaway)
- Use social proof by highlighting your overall review score and patient testimonials
Making It Easy: Technical Considerations
The easier you make it for patients to leave reviews, the more likely they are to follow through.
Direct Links
Create a short, memorable URL that goes directly to your Google review page. Something like “yourdentist.com/review” is much more user-friendly than a long Google Business Profile URL.
QR Codes
Print QR codes on business cards, appointment cards, and office materials. Patients can simply scan and review — no typing required.
Mobile Optimization
Ensure your review process works seamlessly on mobile devices, since most patients will be using their phones to leave feedback.
Handling Negative Reviews Professionally
Not every review will be positive, and that’s okay — it happens to even the best practices. How you handle negative feedback can actually strengthen your reputation.
Response Strategy
- Respond quickly (within 24 hours)
- Acknowledge the patient’s concerns without being defensive — remember, you’re responding as much for others checking out your reviews as you are to the reviewer
- Offer to resolve the issue offline through direct communication
- Keep responses professional and focused on patient care
Example Response Template
“Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your experience and would like the opportunity to address your concerns directly. Please call our office at [phone number] so we can discuss this further and work toward a resolution.”
Learning Opportunities
Use negative feedback as a chance to improve your practice. Look for patterns in complaints and address systemic issues that might be affecting patient satisfaction.
Leveraging Positive Reviews
Once you start generating positive reviews, don’t let them sit idle. Use them strategically:
Website Integration
- Display reviews prominently on your homepage and service pages
- Create a dedicated testimonials section showcasing patient stories
- Include review snippets in your email signatures and marketing materials
Marketing Materials
- Feature reviews in print ads and brochures
- Include testimonials in social media posts and newsletters
- Use review quotes in your practice’s promotional videos
SEO Benefits
Google reviews contribute to your local SEO efforts by:
- Improving local search rankings through increased review volume and quality
- Demonstrating authority and credibility to search engines and AI LLMs like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini
- Generating fresh, relevant content that search engines favor
- Creating local keyword opportunities when patients mention your location and services
Automating the Review Process
For busy dental practices, automation can ensure consistency without overwhelming your staff.
Review Management Platforms
Consider using platforms that:
- Send automated review requests via SMS and email
- Track review metrics and response rates
- Integrate with your practice management system
- Provide templates for responses to both positive and negative reviews
Staff Training
Ensure your team understands:
- When and how to request reviews naturally during patient interactions
- How to handle review-related questions from patients
- The importance of reviews for practice growth and patient acquisition
Measuring Success
Track these key metrics to evaluate your review strategy:
- Total number of reviews and monthly growth rate
- Average rating and trends over time
- Response rate to review requests
- Conversion impact from reviews to new patient appointments
Google-Compliant Review Contests for Dental Practices That Work
While you should never incentivize positive reviews, you can create ethical contests that encourage honest feedback while staying within Google, FTC, and dental board guidelines.
The Right Way to Run Review Contests
The key is offering entry to anyone who leaves a review, regardless of rating. Here’s how to structure a compliant contest:
- Open to all reviews: Include anyone who leaves an honest review, whether it’s 1-star or 5-star
- Focus on participation: Emphasize that you value all feedback, not just positive comments
- Clear contest rules: Make it obvious that review rating doesn’t affect contest eligibility
- Attractive prizes: Consider items like Yeti coolers, gift cards, or local business vouchers
Sample Contest Announcement
“We’re giving away a Yeti cooler this month! Anyone who leaves an honest Google review about their experience gets entered into our drawing. We value all feedback as it helps us continue improving our patient care.”
Real Results
At DentalScapes, we’ve implemented these ethical review contests for clients with remarkable success — sometimes generating 50+ five-star reviews in a single month! The key is that when you provide exceptional care, most reviews naturally tend to be positive, even when you’re not specifically asking for good ratings.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Watch out for these review strategy mistakes:
Incentivizing 5-Star Reviews
Never offer payments, discounts, or gifts in exchange for 5-star reviews. This violates Google’s policies and can result in review removal or penalties.
Fake Reviews
Don’t create fake reviews or ask friends and family to post reviews if they’re not actual patients. Google’s algorithms are sophisticated and can detect fraudulent activity.
Ignoring Negative Reviews
Failing to respond to negative reviews makes your practice appear unprofessional and uncaring. Address all feedback, positive and negative. A professional and sincere response to a negative review that shows how much you care can be just as effective at converting potential patients as a 5-star review.
Overwhelming Patients
Don’t bombard patients with multiple review requests. One well-timed, personalized request and a follow-up is more effective than repeated, generic requests.
The Long-Term Perspective
Building a strong Google review presence takes time and consistency. Set realistic expectations:
- Start with a goal of 5-10 new reviews per month
- Focus on quality over quantity — genuine, detailed reviews carry more weight
- Be patient — it typically takes 3-6 months to see significant impact on search rankings
Making Reviews Part of Your Practice Culture
The most successful dental practices make review generation a natural part of their culture, not an afterthought. Getting Google reviews isn’t about gaming the system — it’s about providing exceptional care and giving satisfied patients an easy way to share their positive experiences.
Our team at DentalScapes can help transform your practice into a consistent Google reviews champion through automated systems, staff training, and proven strategies that make review generation effortless and effective.
Ready to transform your dental practice’s online reputation?
At DentalScapes, we help dental practices build strong online reputations through automated review management and comprehensive digital marketing strategies.
Schedule your free strategy call with our team today and discover how we can help your practice dominate local search and AI results.