Dental Marketing Statistics 2025-2024

We’re nearing the end of 2024, and we’ve encountered numerous innovative marketing trends that influenced the dental industry this year. These crucial stats have helped shape how dental offices attract, close, and nurture patients through various digital marketing tactics.

Let’s recap some of the most important dental marketing statistics for 2024:

• 71% of Patients Research Potential Dentists Before Booking an Appointment.

• Only 26% of Dental Practices Offer Online Booking.

• 81% of Patients Trust Feedback From Past Patients.

• 50% of Dentists Don’t Know Which Platforms To Invest In.

• 35% of Traffic for Dental Offices Came From Paid Search Ads.

• Dental Offices Are Investing 12% More in Their Digital Marketing Efforts.

• 37.4% of High-Quality Dental Patients Came From Referrals

• 50% of Readers See Online Reviews as Good as Referrals

• Patients Are 37.7% More Likely To Click on the Top Organic Search Result.

• 41% of Potential Patients Rely on Social Media To Choose Their Provider

71% of Patients Research Potential Dentists Before Booking an Appointment.

Modern-day patients are more technologically inclined. With every decision they make, it’s almost impossible not to leverage tools to help them make the right choice. About 71% of patients look up dentists they see online before booking an appointment. These potential patients check reviews, read service inclusions, compare providers, and evaluate credentials before clicking the “Book Appointment” button. If you want to attract more patient conversions, make your website a one-stop shop for all the information they need to pick your practice.

Only 26% of Dental Practices Offer Online Booking.

With local and international businesses going digital, it makes absolute sense to get a website for your dental practice, right? Yes! Unfortunately, not a lot of dentists have made this leap. Approximately only 26% of dental practices allow online booking. Providing a convenient way for potential patients to book an appointment online without calling or visiting your office will surely increase your patient booking significantly. Patients today, particularly young ones, tend to move away from businesses without this feature. If other practices have it, why should they waste their time with yours?

81% of Patients Trust Feedback From Past Patients.

In marketing, there’s no stronger proof than social proof. About 81% of patients read and trust feedback from past patients. They usually get these reviews from Yelp, Google Reviews, and even social media platforms like Facebook. There’s no trick here. You need to maintain a consistent quality of care for your patients and encourage them to leave a good review for potential patients to read.

50% of Dentists Don’t Know Which Platforms To Invest In.

Should you hop on that new TikTok trend? Maybe a viral Instagram reel or carousel post would be better? Is it better to start simply with a Facebook post or an ad? These questions plague the minds of many dental practice managers. About 50% of dentists question the right digital marketing platform for their marketing efforts. The truth is, there’s no “right” platform to spend all your marketing budget. The best move is to start with market research and spread your budget across different media your target users use frequently.

35% of Traffic for Dental Offices Came From Paid Search Ads.

In relation to the fact above, there might be a good answer to where best to invest your marketing budget. According to this statistic, around 35% of dental offices’ overall traffic comes from paid search ads. Google Ads is an excellent platform to get started — a simple way to put up and manage ads for your dental practice.

Dental Offices Are Investing 12% More in Their Digital Marketing Efforts.

The race to capture a patient’s attention is getting tougher as more dental practices go digital. As dentists and practice managers see the significant effect of digital marketing on dental practices, most of them are more inclined to spend more on this strategy. Numerous dental offices plan to invest 12% more in their digital marketing endeavors. Whether you already have a digital presence or you’re planning on establishing one, now is the best time to start.

37.4% of High-Quality Dental Patients Came From Referrals

As previously established, social proof is the best proof you can have in marketing, and about 37.4% of high-quality dental patients come from referrals. People trust those with first-hand or second-hand experience, especially if it comes from a friend, a family member, or a co-worker. Referrals remain a top marketing tactic for any healthcare providers and practices.

50% of Readers See Online Reviews as Good as Referrals

We’ve repeatedly talked about the weight of online reviews in the patient’s decision-making process. Another important fact in this area is that about 50% of readers view online reviews the same way as referrals coming from people they know. So, online reputation management should be a priority in your digital marketing strategy. You should promote good reviews and learn how to respond to and manage bad reviews. The world can see how you react to customer testimonials on the internet.

Patients Are 37.7% More Likely To Click on the Top Organic Search Result.

While paid search is a good way to attract traffic to your dental practice, as mentioned earlier, it’s not a good idea to neglect your organic search strategy. This statistic shows that potential patients are 37.7% more likely to click on the top organic search results. You don’t have to notch the number one search result to see traffic coming in; you just have to be on the first page to see results. Creating a long-term SEO content marketing strategy is key to dominating organic search.

41% of Potential Patients Rely on Social Media To Choose Their Provider

Aside from reviews and organic search, another important parameter potential patients use to drive their decision is your practice’s social media presence. About 41% of consumers rely on social media to influence their decisions. Many users look up a business’s or a clinic’s social media to check if they’re legit or still active. They also read reviews and recommendations previous clients leave on your social media page. Maintaining an active social media account allows you to establish your legitimacy and respond to inquiries much faster.

Leverage Dental Marketing To Grow Your Practice

Now, what’s the lesson with all these numbers? If you want to succeed in marketing your dental practice, you should not rely on a single strategy or a single platform. Sure, online reviews and referrals shine better than most marketing strategies, but you could lose out on traffic when you deny other opportunities. Keep an open mind and learn to embrace opportunities as they come.