How to get more Google reviews for your dental practice

01Why Google reviews matter so much for dentists

Google reviews are often the first thing a new patient reads about your practice, right beside your name on the map. They influence who gets the click and the call, and a steady flow of recent reviews is one of the local signals you can actually control. The goal is not a perfect score. It is a large number of genuine, recent reviews that sound like real people.

02When and how to ask

The best moment to ask is soon after a good appointment, while the experience is fresh.

1. Get your review link. In your Google Business Profile, find the option to ask for reviews and copy the short link.
2. Ask in person first. A simple “If you were happy today, a Google review really helps us” at the front desk works.
3. Follow up by text or email the same day, with the link and one line of thanks.
4. Make it routine. Ask every patient the same way, every day, so reviews keep arriving rather than coming in bursts.

03What Google does not allow

Google’s rules are strict, and breaking them can remove reviews or restrict your profile:

04How to reply to reviews

Reply to every review, good or bad. It shows patients that someone is listening, and it gives you a chance to add helpful information.

• Keep it short and warm. Thank the person by first name only.
• Never confirm they are a patient, and never mention treatment details. Health privacy rules apply, even if the reviewer shared details themselves.
• For negative reviews, stay calm, acknowledge the concern in general terms, and invite them to contact the practice directly to resolve it.

A calm, private-by-default reply to a critical review often reassures future patients more than another five-star review.

05Turning reviews into trust on your website

Reviews also help on your own site. Showing your Google rating and recent reviews near your booking buttons reassures visitors at the moment they decide. Pull them from Google so they stay current, rather than copying selected quotes. Our SEO & marketing service includes a weekly review programme, and our guide on showing up on Google Maps explains how reviews fit into local rankings.

06Making it easy for your team

The front desk makes or breaks a review routine, so keep it simple for them. Give them a short script, a card or QR code at the counter, and a message template for follow-ups. Agree who sends the follow-up and when, for example at the end of each day. Share new reviews in team meetings; seeing kind words about their work motivates people to keep asking.

07What to do about unfair or fake reviews

Occasionally a review is clearly fake, from someone who was never a patient, or breaks Google’s policies with offensive language. You can report it from your Google Business Profile. Google decides whether to remove it, and it may take time. In the meantime, a short, calm reply that does not confirm any patient relationship, and invites the person to contact the practice, protects your reputation with future patients.

08Tracking your progress

Keep a simple monthly record: the number of new reviews, your average rating, and how many reviews received a reply. Watch the trend rather than any single month. Many practices find that a steady routine brings a noticeable rise within a few months, and that patients begin mentioning reviews when they call. If numbers stall, look at the routine first: is the link easy to find, and is someone asking every patient every day?

09Building a habit that lasts

Most practices do not lack happy patients; they lack a routine. Make asking part of checkout, track how many reviews arrive each month, and share them with the team so everyone sees the effect of their work. Within a few months, the steady flow of reviews will show in your profile, and often in your calls. You can see how we report this on our how we work page.

10Reviews on other sites

Google is the most important place for reviews, but patients also look elsewhere, such as Facebook and health directories. Keep your details consistent on each, reply to reviews there as well, and point most requests to Google, where reviews have the greatest effect on local search. Spreading requests across too many sites can slow the steady flow that matters most. Whatever the platform, the same principles apply: ask everyone, never offer rewards, protect patient privacy in every reply, and treat each review as feedback that can improve the practice.

Reviews reward consistency more than effort. A practice that asks every patient, every day, and replies to every review will usually overtake a busier practice that only asks now and then. Start this week with one simple routine, and look at the difference three months from now.

Questions

How do I ask patients for Google reviews?

Ask every patient soon after their appointment, in person and then by text or email, with a direct link to your Google review page copied from your Business Profile.

Can I offer a discount for a Google review?

No. Google does not allow incentives for reviews, and offering them can lead to reviews being removed or the profile being restricted.

How should a dentist reply to a negative review?

Stay calm and brief, acknowledge the concern in general terms, never confirm the person is a patient or mention treatment, and invite them to contact the practice directly.

How many Google reviews does a dental practice need?

There is no magic number. A steady flow of genuine, recent reviews matters more than a total, so aim for a routine that brings in new reviews every week.