Not all dentists are perfect. Dentists are human which means we can say with absolute surety that none are 100% right all the time. Sometimes it can be hard to find the cause of the issue, or you may have to try several solutions before one works well for your patient. In other cases, a patient may not want to accept the recommendations given by their dentist. Sometimes a particular dental office may not offer the best solution for a patient and sometimes, dentists even make mistakes.
Dental Patients Seek Second Opinions Online
In these situations, it’s not uncommon for a patient to seek a second opinion. Whether it’s about their child’s braces, their own toothaches, or simple fear of a necessary procedure, modern consumers are more likely to wait on a procedure and take to internet research than accept dental advice they don’t like. If their dentist recommends braces, surgery, or even a change in tooth care habits, modern patients will often seek a second opinion.
Of course, few people today go through the hassle and cost of an appointment when they can start with internet research. They might look up reasons for types of toothache or alternatives to the procedure suggested by their dentist. They will find themselves on sites like WebMD, MayoClinic, or an enterprising toothpaste site. But many actually prefer to find the blog of a friendly professional dentist who can offer genuine medical advice on their situation. And these could be your next patients.
Writing Blogs Offering Second Opinions
The key to attaining new or even temporary clients through second opinion blogs is to offer real advice while making it clear that only a visit can truly diagnose and suggest treatment. Patients often look for second opinions when they are afraid of the solution offered by their dentist or think that the issue is more or less serious than their usual dentist is treating it. Therefore, you will get a great deal of mileage from describing a variety of alternative solutions to common (and uncommon) dental problems along with the experience patients will have with each treatment.
When a patient wants a second opinion, they’re likely weighing how a treatment will affect their life, not the technical details of how a treatment works. They are also looking for a dentist who will listen to their worries and explain the alternatives rather than giving a single unwavering recommendation. This means that even if you might eventually second their dentists’ advice upon examination, your articles should make it clear that you will at least listen to a patient’s worries and explain why alternatives would be less ideal.
An Every-Day Example
Let’s run with the example of a parent whose pre-teen child has slightly misaligned teeth. Their family dentist says braces are the only way but the parent doesn’t want their child to go through the pain and hassle of the braces. Perhaps they remember the braces of 20 years ago and have a reasonable amount of wariness. They take to the internet and research less painful alternatives to braces like Invisalign or brackets, favouring blogs written by actual dentists over toothpaste sites and general medical resources.
They find your blog through an article titled “Modern Alternatives to Teen Braces” which lists a few options. Each paragraph describes a different alternative and what a teen’s experience might be with them along with how long the treatment might take and how severe a misalignment they can solve. You also link each treatment description to separate articles that describe the process, experience, and cost in-detail for curious readers. You also go out of your way to describe how braces today are better than braces 20 years ago, both less painful and more stylish for modern teens.
Relieved that there are options that might be better than their own experience, the parent realises that your office is actually in their city and book an appointment. After reading your articles, they are sure you will listen to their worries and help their teen choose a solution they like rather than feeling trapped in a single solid recommendation. Even if the teen winds up with braces, the parent feels happier getting a second opinion and may come back to your office in future for the same compassionate service.
For more integrated inbound marketing techniques for your dental practice or any other unique business niche, contact us today for all things digital marketing in Australia. Professional content writers can help you specialize your content for both your industry and today’s consumer trends.
