How to Get More Reviews for a Dental Practice: 10 Tactics That Work in 2025

Short answer: The fastest way to get more reviews for a dental practice is to automate the ask — send a text or email review link within 60 minutes of checkout, make it a 2-tap process, and follow up once. Practices that do this see 3–5x more reviews than those relying on word-of-mouth or paper cards.

But the specifics matter. Here's exactly what works for dental practices in 2025.

Why Dental Practices Need More Google Reviews (Beyond Ego)

A dental practice with 50+ reviews and a 4.5+ star rating appears more trustworthy than a similar practice with 12 reviews. That's not speculation — it's how patients choose.

Google reviews directly influence:

• Local search ranking — Google favors businesses with fresh, frequent reviews
• Click-through rate — a higher star rating gets more clicks in search results
• Conversion rate — patients read reviews before booking, especially for procedures like implants or orthodontics

One more thing most dentists miss: review volume matters almost as much as rating. A 4.8-star practice with 200 reviews will outrank a 5-star practice with 8 reviews in local search. Google wants proof the rating is real.

10 Tactics to Get More Dental Reviews

1. Send the Review Link Within 60 Minutes of Checkout

Momentum is everything. A patient who just had a positive experience at the front desk is far more likely to leave a review than one who gets an email three days later.

The system: Use a simple text or email automation (or do it manually) that fires immediately after the patient checks out. Keep it short:

"Thanks for visiting us today, [Name]. If you had a great experience, would you mind leaving a quick review? [Google Review Link]"

Why it works: The emotional high of a good appointment hasn't faded. The patient is still thinking about your team's friendliness, the clean office, or the pain-free procedure.

2. Use a Direct Google Review Link (Not a Search)

Never tell a patient to "go find us on Google and leave a review." That's a recipe for zero reviews.

Generate your practice's direct Google review link using the Google Place ID tool. Shorten it with a link shortener so it's clean and trackable.

Pro tip: Create a QR code with this link and place it at the checkout counter, in treatment rooms, and on printed receipts.

3. Train Your Front Desk to Ask (The Right Way)

Your front desk team is your most powerful review generation tool — if they're trained properly.

Bad ask: "Would you mind leaving us a review?" (Too vague, no action taken)

Good ask: "If everything went well today, could we send you a text with a quick link to leave us a Google review? It takes 30 seconds."

The key difference: The good ask gets permission and sets the expectation that it's fast. Patients agree because it feels low-effort.

4. Follow Up Once (and Only Once)

A single follow-up can double your review rate. But don't spam.

Send a second text or email 48–72 hours after the appointment if no review was left. Keep it polite:

"Hi [Name], just a quick reminder — if you had a great experience at [Practice Name], we'd love a short review. Here's the link: [URL]. Thanks for considering it!"

Rule: One follow-up, then stop. Pushing harder annoys patients and risks negative reviews.

5. Make It a 2-Tap Process

Every extra step between "yes" and "done" kills conversions. Your review link should go directly to the Google review form — not your website, not a landing page, not a login screen.

Test your own link. If a patient has to tap more than twice to write a review, simplify it.

6. Respond to Every Review (Yes, Every Single One)

This isn't directly about generating reviews — it's about sustaining them. When patients see that you respond to reviews, they're more likely to leave one themselves. It signals that you actually read and value feedback.

Respond to positive reviews with a personal thank-you. Respond to negative reviews professionally and promptly.

For exact scripts on handling negative reviews, see our guide: How to Respond to a Negative Review: 7 Examples That Protect Your Reputation

7. Target the Right Patients

Not every patient is equally likely to leave a review. Focus your energy on:

• New patients who had a great first visit
• Patients who thanked you or complimented a specific staff member
• Patients who completed a major procedure (implants, Invisalign, crowns)
• Long-term patients who clearly trust your practice

Don't ask patients who are in pain, had a complicated billing issue, or seemed unhappy. You're just asking for a negative review.

8. Put Review Requests in Your Post-Visit Email Sequence

If you send post-appointment emails (thank-you, aftercare instructions, next appointment reminder), add a review request to one of them. The best spot is the first email after the appointment — before they forget the experience.

Keep the email focused on value (aftercare tips, a smile photo, a thank-you). Add the review request as a soft ask at the bottom.

9. Run a Small Incentive (Legally, the Right Way)

Google's policy prohibits offering reviews in exchange for incentives. But you can offer a small giveaway or contest entry to anyone who provides feedback — not just positive reviews.

Example: "Leave us a review and be entered into our monthly drawing for a free electric toothbrush."

The key: the incentive is for the review itself, not for a positive rating. This keeps you compliant while increasing volume.

10. Track and Measure Your Review Velocity

You can't improve what you don't measure. Track these three numbers monthly:

• Total reviews on Google
• Average star rating
• New reviews per month (velocity)

Set a baseline, then aim to increase velocity by 20–30% each month. If you're stuck, look at your ask process — that's usually where the breakdown happens.

For a broader look at review generation strategies across different business types, see our guide: How Local Businesses Get More Google Reviews: 9 Tactics That Actually Work

Common Mistakes Dental Practices Make With Reviews

• Asking too late — a week after the appointment is too late
• Asking everyone — you want happy patients, not all patients
• No follow-up — most people need a gentle reminder
• Hard-to-use links — if it takes more than two taps, you lose them
• Ignoring negative reviews — silence looks worse than a bad review

What About Review Management for Busy Practice Owners?

The tactics above work. But they also require consistent execution — training staff, sending follow-ups, responding to reviews, tracking results.

If you're a dentist who wants to focus on patients instead of review campaigns, that's exactly why TH Capital exists. We handle the entire review generation and response process for dental practices on a monthly subscription — blog content, social presence, and review management, all done for you.

No hiring a marketing manager. No learning new software. No remembering to send follow-ups.

See TH Capital's done-for-you services