TRIARE has extensive experience in developing booking apps and software. These range from education to sports to e-mobility to events. Health industry requires additional rigor and expertise. In this article, we want to share some of it with you to guide in a brave new world of digitalization. This time, for dentists and dental practices.

Why is booking patients online important?

There are several reasons why booking patients online is important:

Convenience. Online booking allows patients to schedule appointments at their convenience, rather than having to call the office during business hours or wait for a response to an email. This can be especially helpful for patients who have busy schedules or who live in different time zones.

Improved efficiency. Online booking can help to streamline the appointment scheduling process, reducing the need for phone calls and paperwork. This can free up time for staff to focus on other tasks and improve the efficiency of the practice in general.

Increased patient satisfaction. Online booking can enhance patient satisfaction by making the appointment scheduling process easier and more convenient. Patients are more likely to be satisfied with their care if they can easily schedule appointments and receive reminders without having to navigate a complex process.

Reduced no-shows. Online booking can help to reduce the number of missed appointments, or “no-shows,” by providing reminders and alerts to patients. This can help to increase the overall efficiency of the practice and reduce wasted time and resources.

Improved patient access. Online booking can help to make patient access to care and scheduling appointments easier by reducing the time required to do so. This can be especially important for patients who live in rural or underserved areas or who have mobility challenges.

To summarize, online booking can provide numerous benefits to both patients and practices, making it an important tool for improving the delivery of healthcare. But do dentists use online dental appointment booking? And if so, what are the perks?

What software features are there for booking dental appointments?

According to a report published by Grand View Research in 2022, the global dental practice management software market was valued at approximately $2 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach a value of $4.9 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 10.16% during the forecast period. This suggests that the dental practice management market is significant and is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.

A G2 visual grid of software for dental booking

Dental scheduling software can provide a range of features to help practices streamline their appointment scheduling and management processes. One common feature is patient self-scheduling, which allows patients to book appointments online without having to call the office or go back and forth to confirm. Another important feature is appointment reminders, which can be set up to reduce no-shows and cancellations.

Two-way messaging allows patients to communicate directly with the front office via SMS or email, while virtual waitlists enable practices to allow patients to move up their appointments in case of cancellations. After-care surveys can be used to understand patient satisfaction levels and improve care, and online payments allow patients to make secure payments from home.

Finally, recalls enable practices to send targeted and personalized campaigns to bring back patients to resume care. All of these features can help to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of dental practices.

Small Business Dental Practice Management Software

What kind of SaaS for dental booking is out there?

There are at least three neat and free dental scheduling software options.

The first is Appointy. It’s a web-based scheduling tool that can be used by professionals and businesses across industries to manage their calendars and book appointments online. It offers features such as online payments, automatic reminders, and live chat and email support.

SimplyBook.me is an online patient booking system for service-based businesses that allows clients to book appointments via various channels, including Facebook, Instagram, Google Maps, and a widget on your website. It offers customization options such as domain name, themes, translation, and calendar layout, as well as features such as online bookings, reminders, online payments, and coupons and gift cards.

The third medical patient booking option is Mend. It was designed specifically as a telehealth solution that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to predict no-shows and cancellations with 90% accuracy. It integrates with major EHR and PMS systems and manages patient scheduling and digital forms.

Paid plans in these solutions unlock additional value and features. But apart from monthly payments for having a working tool, are there any other cons of this software?

Best ways to organize software for dentists

There are a few different ways that software for dentists can be organized and made available, such as through a website, a mobile app, or as part of a practice management system (CPM).

Advantages of custom software for booking patients in dentistry

There are several potential advantages to using custom software over SaaS. As you may have noticed, there are numerous options of apps and software to choose from, but the initial comparison and research may lead nowhere as it might eventually fail to meet your business needs and preferences; SaaS solutions have limited customization options.

• Control: With custom software development for booking patients, the dental practice has more control over the development and maintenance of the software.
• Integration: Custom software can be more easily integrated with other systems or software that the dental practice may be using, whereas SaaS solutions may have more limited integration options.
• Security: Custom software can be designed with specific security measures in place to protect sensitive patient data (the must in medical practice!), whereas SaaS solutions may have more general security measures.
• Cost: Custom software may require a larger upfront investment, but it may have lower ongoing costs compared to SaaS solutions, which often require a subscription fee. Read more about an app development cost here.

Overall, custom software can help dental practices effectively manage appointments and patient information, leading to improved patient care and satisfaction.

How we create software for dentists

Online dental booking development is no different from other projects. In fact, it will be useful to remind you of the workflow TRIARE team has back-tested with over a hundred of projects in dozens of domains.

1. Define project requirements and scope: Identify the specific needs and goals of the dental practice, as well as any constraints or limitations that need to be considered.
2. Design user interface and user experience: Determine the layout and navigation of the app, as well as any features or functionality that will be included.
3. Develop and test software: Write code, build databases, and integrate any necessary third-party systems or APIs. Thoroughly test the software to ensure it is functional and free of errors.
4. Deploy software: Install the software on servers or host it in the cloud, as well as provide any necessary training or support for users.
5. Maintain and update software: Fix bugs, add new features, or make other improvements to ensure the software continues to function properly and meets the needs of users.

Booking appointments as a key CPM feature

CPM stands for Clinical Practice Management. In dental software, CPM refers to software that is specifically designed to help manage the clinical aspects of a dental practice, including patient records, treatment plans, and appointment scheduling.

While CPM software can be integrated with other tools and apps, such as financial management software, booking is a crucial solution for managing all aspects of a dental practice. See our case study below.

Examples of dental booking apps by TRIARE

Selecting dental implants has traditionally been an expensive procedure that involves the use of advanced medical equipment. In the past, doctors would spend a significant amount of time with patients, only for them to ultimately decide against the proposed implants. A dental company approached TRIARE with a task to expand the client base by improving an overall customer experience. Our job was to develop a marketing solution that visualizes how a patient’s new smile will look with just a few clicks on a tablet.

As a result, this solution began to attract more clients to the clinic and streamlined the CRM process. Additionally, it will save time and costs for our client and their patients by using photo diagnostics, and allowing patients to visualize and customize their new smile.

Final Thoughts

It’s worth noting that there are potential advantages to using SaaS solutions, such as lower upfront costs, faster deployment, and less maintenance required on the part of the dental practice. We hope that we’ve provided you with a bounty of options to choose from. However, It’s important to carefully consider the specific needs and goals of the practice when deciding which type of software is the best fit. This is where a custom dental booking app comes in.