How to reactive old patients in your clinic?

How to Reactivate Patients in Your Dental Clinic — Strategies by AS DIGITAL

For dental clinics in British Columbia, attracting new patients is important, but reactivating inactive patients is often even more profitable. Patients who haven’t booked an appointment in months—or even years—represent untapped revenue and can be re-engaged with the right approach.

At AS DIGITAL, we specialize in helping BC dental clinics implement digital marketing strategies to reconnect with these patients, improve retention, and grow their practice.

Why Patient Reactivation Matters

While acquiring new patients can be expensive, reactivating existing ones is cost-effective and efficient. Consider these points:

Lower Acquisition Cost: You already have the patient’s contact information, history, and familiarity with your clinic.

Higher Conversion Rates: Patients who have visited your clinic before are more likely to respond to reminders and promotions.

Revenue Growth: Reactivating patients for routine cleanings, follow-ups, or advanced treatments generates predictable revenue.

Building Loyalty: Patients who return consistently are more likely to become advocates, leave positive reviews, and refer others.

For clinics in BC, especially in areas with growing competition, strategic reactivation campaigns can help maintain patient flow and strengthen your digital presence.

How Digital Marketing Can Reactivate Patients

Traditional methods like phone calls and postcards are still useful, but digital channels allow for more personalized, scalable, and measurable campaigns. Here’s how AS DIGITAL helps clinics in BC reactivate patients:

1. Automated Email Campaigns

Email is a powerful tool to remind patients of overdue appointments or ongoing treatment needs:

Personalized Reminders: Emails can be tailored to patients based on their last visit, treatment type, or age group.
Educational Content: Include tips on oral health, benefits of routine checkups, or information about new treatments.
Promotions & Offers: Highlight preventive packages or seasonal promotions to encourage booking.

For example, a patient who hasn’t visited in 12 months may receive an email saying:

“We noticed it’s been a while since your last cleaning. Keep your smile healthy—book your appointment today!”

AS DIGITAL designs automated email sequences that keep your clinic top-of-mind without overwhelming your staff.

2. SMS Reminders and Text Campaigns

Text messaging has higher open and response rates compared to emails. Clinics can send:

Quick reminders for overdue cleanings
Notifications about new services or seasonal offers
Follow-ups after appointments to encourage rebooking
AS DIGITAL helps implement SMS campaigns integrated with your clinic’s scheduling software, ensuring timely and personalized communication.

3. Google Business Profile (GMB) Engagement

Patients often check your GMB listing before returning. Regular activity here signals that your clinic is active and trustworthy:

Post updates about new treatments or special offers
Share patient testimonials or success stories
Respond to reviews promptly to show engagement
AS DIGITAL optimizes GMB profiles for local visibility and patient engagement, helping inactive patients rediscover your clinic online.

4. Social Media Retargeting

Not every inactive patient responds immediately to emails or texts. Social media allows retargeting campaigns:

Show ads specifically to previous patients who visited your website or interacted with your clinic online
Highlight preventive care, advanced treatments, or seasonal promotions
Encourage them to book with clear calls-to-action
AS DIGITAL designs social media campaigns that reconnect with past patients and nurture them toward booking again.

5. Website Landing Pages for Reactivation

Your website can also play a role in patient reactivation:

Create dedicated landing pages for inactive patients, highlighting overdue checkups or preventive care packages
Include online booking forms to make scheduling easy
Share educational content to demonstrate your clinic’s expertise and the importance of regular visits
AS DIGITAL builds conversion-focused landing pages to increase appointment bookings from both emails and social campaigns.

Case Study: Re-engaging Patients in BC

One of AS DIGITAL’s clients, a dental clinic in Richmond, faced declining appointments from long-time patients. Our approach included:

Segmenting inactive patients based on the last visit
Launching an automated email sequence with reminders and educational content
Running a social media retargeting campaign to previous website visitors
Optimizing the clinic’s GMB profile with posts and reviews highlighting preventive care

Results after 4 months:

40% of inactive patients rebooked appointments
30% increase in overall clinic revenue from routine checkups
Greater engagement on GMB and social media, boosting local search visibility
This demonstrates how digital marketing by AS DIGITAL can turn dormant patient lists into active, loyal clients.

Best Practices for BC Dental Clinics

To maximize patient reactivation:

Segment Your Patients: Tailor communications based on treatment type, last visit, and demographics.

Be Consistent: Regular reminders through email, SMS, and social media keep your clinic top-of-mind.

Educate and Incentivize: Provide value through educational content and gentle promotions.

Track Results: Monitor which channels bring the highest reactivation rates and adjust strategies accordingly.

By following these best practices and leveraging AS DIGITAL’s expertise, dental clinics can ensure a steady flow of returning patients.

Reactivating patients is one of the most cost-effective ways to grow a dental practice. In BC, where patients have more options due to CDCP and other market changes, digital marketing is essential for re-engaging inactive patients.

At AS DIGITAL, we help dental clinics implement:

Ready to bring back your inactive patients and grow your clinic revenue? Contact AS DIGITAL today to see how we can help your dental practice reconnect with patients through smart digital marketing strategies.