You could have the best dental team, the latest technology, and a spotless clinic — but if your dental reviews on Google don’t show it, new patients will never know.
First impressions don’t happen at your front desk anymore. They happen online.
One quick search. A few star ratings. A handful of reviews. That’s all it takes for someone to decide if they trust you or move on to the next dentist down the street.
If you’re serious about growing your practice, you need more than good service. You need patients who are willing to share their experiences with the world.
The good news? It’s easier (and less awkward) than you think. Here’s how to start getting more Google reviews — naturally, consistently, and without sounding desperate.
Why Google Reviews Matter for Dental Clinics
Today, patients trust online reviews almost as much as personal recommendations. For dental clinics, having strong Google reviews isn’t just a bonus—it’s essential.
Here’s why:
- Builds Instant Trust: Before booking an appointment, most patients check Google reviews. A clinic with positive reviews instantly feels more reliable and professional.
- Boosts Local SEO: More positive reviews help your clinic appear higher in Google search results and on Google Maps. That means more visibility and more new patient inquiries.
- Influences Patient Decisions: Patients often choose clinics with more and better reviews, even if they don’t know much else about them.
- Shows Real Patient Experiences: Honest feedback about your staff, dental services, and results gives future patients a clear idea of what to expect.
- Helps You Improve: Reviews can highlight what you’re doing well and where you might need to improve, helping you build a stronger, more patient-focused practice.
In short, Google reviews are a powerful tool to grow your dental clinic’s reputation, trust, and patient base—all at once.
10 Easy Ways to Get More Google Reviews for Dental Clinic Online
1. Ask Patients Right After a Successful Appointment
The best time to ask for a review is right after a patient has had a positive experience. They’re happy, relieved, and more likely to share their thoughts while the visit is still fresh in their mind.
Train your front desk staff or dentist to say something like this gently: We’re so glad everything went well today! If you have a minute, we’d love it if you could leave us a quick review on Google. It helps us grow and helps others find quality dental care.
Keep it natural, polite, and pressure-free. A quick, friendly ask at the right moment often leads to genuine and positive reviews without needing a formal follow-up. Additionally, consider making a follow-up call to thank the patient and gently remind them to leave a review.
2. Use a Short, Direct Google Review Link
People are busy. If you want more reviews, make it as easy as possible. A direct Google review link takes your patients straight to the review form—no searching, no extra clicks.
Here’s what you should do:
- Create your Google review link using your Google Business Profile.
- Shorten it with a tool like Bitly or TinyURL for a clean, easy-to-share link to your Google listing.
- Add this link to your follow-up emails, text messages, website, and even printed cards at your reception.
When you remove the hassle of finding where to review, patients are far more likely to leave feedback quickly and happily.
3. Automate Review Requests via SMS or Email
Following up manually with every patient can be overwhelming, especially for a busy dental clinic. That’s why automation is your best friend.
Use your practice management system, CRM, or simple automation tools to send a quick SMS or email after each appointment. Set it up so that once a patient checks out, they automatically receive a thank-you message with a direct link to leave a Google review.
Example message:“Hi [Name], thank you for visiting [Clinic Name]! We’d love your feedback. Please leave us a quick review here: [link]”
Automation saves you time, ensures you don’t miss anyone, and keeps review requests consistent, leading to more reviews with minimal extra effort. Automation is a powerful tool to collect online reviews efficiently and consistently.
Also Read: Easy Ways to Collect Reviews with SMS
4. Train Your Staff to Ask Naturally
Your staff interacts with patients the most, making them a key part of your review strategy. A friendly request from a familiar face often feels more personal and less pushy. A positive patient experience is crucial for encouraging reviews, and your staff plays a key role in this.
Teach your team to spot happy patients—those smiling after a successful cleaning or treatment—and gently ask for a review. Keep the approach casual and natural, like:
“We’re so glad you had a great visit! If you don’t mind, a quick Google review would mean a lot to us.”
You can even provide small reminder cards with a QR code linking to your review page. When staff feel confident and comfortable asking, patients are much more likely to respond positively.
5. Add a Review Prompt to Appointment Reminders
Appointment reminders for scheduled appointments are already part of your communication flow—so why not use them to encourage reviews too gently?
At the end of your reminder emails or text messages, add a short line like:
“Loved your visit? Share your experience with a quick Google review: [link]”
Keep it light and optional. The main message should still be about the appointment details, but this small prompt plants the idea early. It reminds patients that their feedback matters—and makes it easy for them to leave a review after their visit without needing a separate follow-up.
6. Place Review QR Codes at the Reception Desk
Sometimes, the best time to ask for a review is when the patient is still in your office—and feeling good about their visit. A simple QR code at the reception desk makes it quick and easy. Consider placing QR codes in the waiting room as well, where patients can easily scan them while they wait.
Print a small sign that says something like: “Happy with your visit? Scan here to leave us a quick Google review!”
Make sure the QR code links directly to your Google review page. Place it where patients can easily see it—at the front desk, near the exit, or even by the payment counter.
It’s a friendly, low-pressure reminder that can turn a good visit into a great online review before the patient even leaves your clinic.
7. Feature Positive Reviews on Your Website & Social Media
When you showcase great reviews, you’re not just building trust—you’re also encouraging more patients to leave their feedback. A great example of this is sharing a particularly positive review that highlights your exceptional service.
Highlight your best Google reviews on:
- Your website’s homepage or testimonial page
- Instagram Stories, posts, or Reels
- Facebook posts or pinned reviews
- Email newsletters
You can create simple graphics with a short quote from the review or share a screenshot. Always thank the reviewer when you post it.
Seeing others’ positive experiences inspires new and existing patients to share theirs too. It shows that their opinion matters and helps create a stronger, more trusted image for your dental clinic.
8. Respond to Every Google Review
Replying to every review—good or bad—shows that you care about your patients’ feedback and are actively engaged with your clinic’s reputation.
For positive reviews, a simple thank-you strengthens relationships:
“Thank you for your kind words, [Name]! We’re thrilled you had a great experience with us.”
For negative reviews, stay calm, professional, and helpful:
“Thank you for your feedback, [Name]. We’re sorry to hear about your experience and would love to connect with you directly to make things right.”
Responding shows that you value every patient’s experience. It encourages more people to leave honest feedback and shows future patients that you are attentive and committed to excellent care.
9. Building a Strong Online Presence
Building a strong online presence is crucial for dental practices aiming to attract new patients and grow their business. A robust online presence includes a professional dental website, active social media accounts, and a solid collection of online reviews. By focusing on these elements, dental practices can improve their search engine rankings and increase their visibility in search results.
Here’s how to build a strong online presence:
- Professional Website: Ensure your dental website is user-friendly, informative, and visually appealing.
- Active Social Media: Engage with patients on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to build a community and share updates.
- Collect and Manage Reviews: Encourage patients to leave reviews on Google, Yelp, and Facebook. Respond promptly to both positive and negative reviews to show that you value patient feedback.
By consistently collecting and managing online reviews, dental practices can enhance their online reputation, improve search engine rankings, and attract new patients.
Use Review Management Tools
Managing reviews manually takes time—and it’s easy to miss opportunities. Review management tools help automate the process so you can collect more Google reviews consistently while focusing on running your clinic.
Here are some of the best tools you can use:
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Birdeye:
Helps send automated review requests via text and email. It also monitors reviews across Google, Facebook, and other platforms in one simple dashboard. -
Podium:
Great for real-time messaging with patients and requesting reviews after appointments. Works through SMS, making it fast and easy for patients to leave feedback. -
Grade.us:
Focuses heavily on review marketing. You can create review funnels, automate follow-ups, and even showcase positive reviews directly on your website. -
Reputation.com:
Ideal for larger clinics. Offers reputation management, online presence monitoring, and analytics to track review performance over time. -
GatherUp:
Helps automate review requests and creates a feedback loop, making it easy to improve service based on real patient experiences. -
Trustpilot:
While known for broader business reviews, it can also be used by dental practices wanting to publicly showcase patient satisfaction.
By using these tools, you can:
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Automatically ask patients for reviews after their visit
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Track and respond to feedback quickly
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Build more substantial social proof with less effort
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Improve your local SEO and clinic reputation over time
The right tool doesn’t just help you get more reviews—it helps you turn great patient experiences into powerful marketing assets.
What Not to Do When Asking for Reviews
While asking for reviews is important, how you ask matters just as much. A wrong move can hurt your clinic’s reputation—or even violate Google’s policies.
Here’s what to avoid:
- Don’t offer rewards in exchange for positive reviews. Google strictly prohibits offering gifts, discounts, or free items in exchange for good reviews. Always focus on asking for honest feedback, not just 5-star ratings.
- Don’t pressure or guilt patients. A review should feel natural and voluntary. Pushing too hard can make patients uncomfortable and lead to bad experiences or fake-sounding reviews.
- Don’t only ask satisfied patients. Cherry-picking who you ask can look suspicious. Encourage feedback from all patients to keep your reviews authentic and balanced.
- Don’t create fake reviews. Writing your reviews or asking staff to do so is against Google’s guidelines. It can also seriously damage your clinic’s credibility if discovered.
- Don’t ignore negative reviews. Pretending a bad review doesn’t exist makes it worse. Respond politely, try to fix the issue, and show future patients that you care about quality service.
By staying honest, professional, and patient-focused, you’ll build a review profile that truly strengthens your dental clinic’s reputation.
Conclusion
Getting more Google reviews for your dental clinic isn’t about asking harder—it’s about asking smarter. By making the process easy, timing your requests well, and showing genuine appreciation, you can steadily build a strong reputation that attracts new patients and builds trust.
Start with just a few simple strategies, like sending a follow-up text or adding a review link to your emails, and keep them consistent. Over time, your efforts will turn into a powerful collection of real stories from happy patients that speak louder than any ad ever could.
Your most loyal patients can be your best advocates, so make sure to encourage them to share their positive experiences as well.
Ready to take the next step? Start encouraging those reviews today!