Shift Case Acceptance Odds in Your Favor
Struggling to move your desired amount of dental work off the charts and increase your case acceptance? Usually, the issue isn’t that not enough of your patients need treatment, it’s that they have been ineffectively diagnosed or haven’t accepted procedures for a multitude of reasons.
I’m here to show you three painless methods that will get more patients to say ‘yes’ so you can provide the best care possible.
3 Case Acceptance Methods to Increase the Odds
1. Emphasize a Patient’s Wants Over Needs
Focus on helping patients want better dentistry and a more complete solution. Humans inherently spend money on their wants over their needs. Americans spend much more on alcohol, tobacco, and gambling than on dentistry. Help transform their perspective of dentistry from a necessary evil to a desirable solution. Be patient. Allow them the space to understand the consequences of inaction. At some point, they will “want” to know a solution.
2. Develop Curiosity Over Passivity
Ask about the problem and stay in the question. Many patients will begin to come to their own conclusions if we develop their curiosity. Let them co-discover and view things using the intraoral camera or hand mirror. This gives them the chance to really learn about their mouth. Telling them what you see is passive education. Helping them figure it out is more active and creates ownership. Avoid discussing solutions or talking about problems excessively unless they ask.
3. Help Patients Take Ownership
Here’s the honest truth: Patients are not aware, concerned, or interested in the long term consequences of not seeking treatment. They mistakenly believe that having no pain or dysfunction equates to health. If all we do is give them an exam, develop a treatment plan, and tell them what they need, we will fail to convey the value of a procedure to their life. We have to continue to probe by asking questions about the problem and its progression. When they recognize the ultimate untoward outcome, finally taking ownership, we know case acceptance is on the table. A telling sign is when they ask, “what can I do about that?”
How do you increase case acceptance? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!
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TMD & Orofacial Pain: Managing Complex Patients
DATE: January 29 2025 @ 8:00 am - February 2 2025 @ 1:00 pmLocation: The Pankey Institute
CE HOURS: 37
Dentist Tuition: $ 7200
Single Occupancy with Ensuite Private Bath (per night): $ 345
THIS COURSE IS SOLD OUT TMD patients present with a wide range of concerns and symptoms from tension headaches and muscle challenges to significant joint inflammation and breakdown. Accurate thorough…
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Great post Mark!
Always good to review the fundamentals.Thanks Mark