In a dental practice, efficient scheduling and patient communication are crucial for smooth operations and high patient satisfaction. If your library is either struggling with staffing, or just want a little help for scheduling, a Dental Scheduling Service might be just what you’re looking for. Before your practice takes the step to bring on a scheduling service, there are a few things your practice needs to know.
There are a lot of options out there, and it’s important to note some key differences between a dental specific service like Unique Dental Scheduling and other general answering services in the market.
1. Specialization: Dental-Specific vs. General Answering Service Support
Unique Dental Scheduling (UDS) is tailored exclusively for dental practices. Their team is trained specifically in dental terminology, common patient concerns, and the workflow unique to dental offices. This means they’re well-prepared to handle anything from routine appointment scheduling to answering questions about dental procedures, recalls, or urgent care. Whenever a new practice starts with Unique, we go through all the practice’s policies and procedures and build out our knowledge base. By integrating with our new practices our agents are equally prepared to answer calls on behalf of your practice as practice staff themselves.
On the other hand, general answering services -even medically specific ones- cater to a broad range of industries, including medical, legal, and administrative fields. While they may offer scheduling as part of their package, they aren’t specialized in dental practice needs. This can lead to inefficiencies or miscommunications when handling dental-specific tasks or interacting with patients.
2. Cost Structure: Usage vs. Package
One of UDS’s key differentiators is its pay-per-call pricing model. You’re charged based on the number of calls handled, allowing you to align costs directly with service usage. This is especially beneficial for practices that want to focus on scheduling without paying for additional services they don’t need. The cost of Unique’s service is directly tied to usage, and by extension, revenue generated. This won’t cause unforeseen costs because you only pay for what you use.
Compare the pay-as-you-go model to general answering services that charge by the hour or offer bundled packages. While this might make sense if you need a broad range of services, you could end up paying for features that aren’t essential to your practice, like virtual assistant tasks or general administrative duties.
3. Location: US-Based vs. Global Support
UDS operates with a fully US-based team. This ensures clear communication, familiarity with US healthcare guidelines, and an overall smoother patient experience. With a US-Based team, it eliminates hurdles that international teams encounter like cultural nuances, language, and legal considerations.
General answering services often have agents in foreign countries, which can offer cost savings but sometimes lead to communication challenges or misunderstandings due to differences in language or familiarity with dental-specific practices.
4. Industry Knowledge: Focused Dental Expertise
The dental industry is a very specialized field. That’s why our agents train specifically for fielding dental patient calls. We’ve found that dental practices benefit from a service that understands their unique needs. UDS is focused solely on the dental industry, meaning our staff knows how to handle everything from discussing insurance coverage to managing patient expectations for procedures like cleanings, fillings, or orthodontic care. This industry focus translates to fewer errors, smoother scheduling, and more satisfied patients.
General services, while experienced across various sectors, often lack the specialized training required to effectively manage dental-specific needs. A broader focus can lead to gaps in knowledge that might affect the patient’s experience or cause inefficiencies in scheduling.
Unique answers calls from 7am-7pm Eastern on weekdays and from 8am-5pm on Saturdays. This setup means that no matter what part of the country your practice is in, UDS can answer calls either before or after open hours. Our extended hours means that dental practices extend their virtual office hours without losing the personal touch. Whether it’s handling after-hours inquiries, setting up emergency appointments, or just answering a simple question, UDS’s specialized approach ensures that patient interactions remain consistent and professional, even outside of typical office hours.
5. Practice Support Tools and Continuous Improvement
When selecting a dental answering partner, trust is a huge component. Knowing that your calls are being handled to the standard you expect is an important part of the relationship with a scheduling partner. At Unique Dental Scheduling, transparency is a core value. We offer an online portal where all calls that we answer on your behalf are recorded, tagged for resolution, and available to customers at any time.
Other services may require a request or may not offer transparent call recording altogether. We stand by our service and our commitment to transparency, and we make it easy for practices to leave feedback when we fall short of the mark. You’ve got to make sure that the service that is working on your practice’s behalf are committed to transparency and accountability.
The Right Fit for Your Practice
Choosing the right scheduling service boils down to your specific needs. If your primary focus is on efficient, dental-specific scheduling handled by a US-based team with industry knowledge and experience, then Unique Dental Scheduling is a great option. Its specialized approach ensures that every interaction is tailored to the needs of your patients and practice.
In contrast, if your practice needs a broader range of services—like virtual assistance across multiple tasks or non-dental support—a more general service might work better. However, this comes with the trade-off of potentially paying for features you don’t need and a less specialized approach to patient care.
For practices looking to streamline scheduling without the extra bells and whistles, UDS offers a focused, efficient, and cost-effective solution that’s purpose-built for the dental industry.