--- title: Top 5 Ways to Improve the Dental Patient Experience description: Christina Villarreal, Patient Experience Manager, takes us through the five phases of the patient experience and talks about the top five ways to improve the experience. image: https://blog.patientprism.com/hubfs/Blog/Featured%20Images/ChristinaVillarreal.png --- - [Contact](https://patientprism.com/contact/) - [Patient PrismLOGIN](https://web.patientprism.com/) [![Patient Prism | Healthcare Lead Tracking Software](https://blog.patientprism.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2024_Patient-Prism_Logo_Blue.png?width=800&height=247&name=2024_Patient-Prism_Logo_Blue.png "Patient Prism | Healthcare Lead Tracking Software")](https://blog.patientprism.com/hubfs/PP-Logo-2024.png) - Product - ![](https://patientprism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Patient-Prism-Product-Overview-@2x.png) ### [Product Overview Learn more about Patient Prism's key features and benefits](https://patientprism.com/product-overview/) - ![](https://patientprism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Patient-Prism-Case-Studies@2x.png) ### [Case Studies Learn how Patient Prism transforms dental practices](https://patientprism.com/case-studies/) - ![](https://patientprism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Patient-Prism-Dental-Practice-Customers@2x.png) ### [Customers Discover the amazing dental practices that utilize Patient Prism](https://patientprism.com/customer/) - Solutions - ### [Private Dental Practice Our software is perfect for single dental practices. 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Visit our help center for quick answers and tutorials.](https://support.patientprism.com/hc/en-us) - ![](https://patientprism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Affiliate-Program@2x.png) ### [Affiliate Program Be a part of Patient Prism's growing network of affiliates.](https://patientprism.com/affiliates-program/) - [Contact](https://patientprism.com/contact/) - [Patient Prism LOGIN](https://web.patientprism.com/) - [Schedule Demo](https://patientprism.com/schedule-demo/) Patient Prism's Dental Industry Blog Here you'll find hundreds of articles and video interviews with dental industry experts on the topics of DSO and practice growth, dental software, call-tracking technology, patient experience and artificial intelligence fueling the dental industries ability to treat more patients and change lives. - by: Christina Villarreal - 5 min read # [Top 5 Ways to Improve the Dental Patient Experience](https://blog.patientprism.com/christina-villarreal-top-5-ways) - [Dental Practice Leadership](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/dental-practice-leadership) - [AI Call Intelligence (1)](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/ai-call-intelligence) - [Dental Call Tracking (23)](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/dental-call-tracking) - [Dental Marketing (33)](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/dental-marketing) - [Dental Practice Leadership (192)](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/dental-practice-leadership) - [Dental Technology (71)](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/dental-technology) - [DSO (42)](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/dso) - [Multi-Practice Growth (95)](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/multi-practice-growth) - [![](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/6464971/blog_9_wow_design/facebook-logo%20(2).svg)Share](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.patientprism.com%2Fchristina-villarreal-top-5-ways) - [![](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/6464971/blog_9_wow_design/twitter%20(5).svg)Tweet](https://www.twitter.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.patientprism.com%2Fchristina-villarreal-top-5-ways) - [![](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/6464971/blog_9_wow_design/linkedin-logo%20(2).svg)Post](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.patientprism.com/christina-villarreal-top-5-ways) - [![](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/6464971/blog_9_wow_design/envelope%20(1).svg)Mail](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.patientprism.com/christina-villarreal-top-5-ways) February 2020--Christina Villarreal, Patient Experience Manager at Dental Associates, interacts with patients and practice team members every day.  She discusses five phases of the patient experience and how to make these five phases a wonderful experience.     ## Phase 1: Pre-Contact Online Research The first thing we have to keep in mind is that patients want to research everything. "Having your website up to date, having information that they want is important," says Christina. "So we have videos of our doctors. We have patient reviews on our website. They can find out about the different specialties that we offer and request an appointment at one of our locations. If they have a good experience right away on the website and they know that we are very current with what we do, that helps them take the next step--either requesting an appointment online or calling us." The Tip: Keep your website up to date and inform the public about the ways in which you are current with the highest standard of care available.   ## Phase 2: First Phone Call This leads to the second place where patient experience can completely fall apart. It is that first phone call. "Taking care of patients on the phone is extremely important," says Villarreal. Dental Associates uses Patient Prism to "make sure that we are doing our best on those calls-- listening, building rapport, talking up our doctors, our hygienists, the staff and letting patients know that we are the place they should come to have their dental care. " The Tip: Use Patient Prism to monitor new patient phone calls and get the coaching feedback your team needs to develop highly effective communication skills.    ## Phase 3: The First Visit Again, you need to make a good first impression to give patients confidence and win their trust. Villarreal says, "Look at the reception area. Is it up to date? Is it clean? Listen. What are the patients listening to? Are the front desk staff members smiling? Are they welcoming and taking care of patients? Are they keeping patients up to date if there are any delays? This is all important." The Tip: Look at fresh eyes and hear with fresh ears what patients are experiencing when they arrive in your office. Based on your own senses, make improvements in the environment and coach your team members to be personable and helpful, to think about how they would want to be treated if they were the patient.   ## Phase 4: Interaction with the Clinical Team When new patients are brought back to the operatory area, how is the interaction between them and your team members? "Patient interaction with the dental assistant, the hygienist and the doctors is vitally important," says Villarreal. "If at that moment the patient just isn't feeling like they're being cared for, they're not going to come back. It's just extremely important to make sure that we are doing our best and taking care of the patient and working together as a team. We don't want a patient to see that there's a disconnect between anyone on the staff.  The Tip: Stay on your toes to be personally attentive to the patient. Show the patient you care about her or him as an individual. Always strive to work well as a team.    ## Phase 5: The Ending of the Appointment Then there is the last part of the appointment with the patient being escorted out, "thanking the patient for choosing us as their dental provider and making sure that their experience went very well." The Tip: Make sure the patient experience was a good one. Develop the habit of sending patients off to enjoy their day and really thank them for making you their dental home. 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We're committed to your privacy. Patient Prism uses the information you provide to us to contact you about our relevant content, products, and services.  You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time.  - Recent - Popular [Dental Practice Leadership](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/dental-practice-leadership) ##### [Bulletproof: Patient Prism Equips Private Dentists to Compete with DSOs](https://blog.patientprism.com/bulletproof-patient-prism-equips-private-dentists-to-compete-with-dsos) [Dental Practice Leadership](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/dental-practice-leadership) ##### [Bulletproof: Did a New Patient Call and Then Fail to Schedule? 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Patient Prism provides your front desk team or call center with the tools and coaching they need to book more new patients on the first phone call.  [![Schedule Demo](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3321879/0b902015-8fd3-4970-b9f9-fd203c36af1c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3321879/0b902015-8fd3-4970-b9f9-fd203c36af1c) ### Related Posts - [by Deborah Bush](https://blog.patientprism.com/author/deborah-bush) - 6 min read #### [Bulletproof: Patient Prism Equips Private Dentists to Compete with DSOs](https://blog.patientprism.com/bulletproof-patient-prism-equips-private-dentists-to-compete-with-dsos) August 2023 In Bulletproof Dental Practice Podcast Episode 302, hosts Dr. Peter Boulden and Dr. Craig Spodak ask Patient... - ##### [Dental Practice Leadership](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/dental-practice-leadership) - [by Deborah Bush](https://blog.patientprism.com/author/deborah-bush) - 4 min read #### [Bulletproof: Did a New Patient Call and Then Fail to Schedule? 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