What Social Reviews Say About Your Dental Practice

May 22, 2025

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A glowing review on Google or Yelp is worth more than just a gold star. It’s one of the most powerful signals of patient satisfaction and trust.

Patients today are doing their research. They’re looking for dental practices with real stories, recent feedback, and authentic experiences shared by others. And for dental teams, those reviews are more than just a boost to your reputation. They’re a window into the strength of your patient relationships.

So how are practices doing when it comes to collecting reviews? Let’s take a look.

What the benchmark data shows

Across the 3,300+ practices included in our benchmark report, one trend stood out: Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) practices lead the way in social reviews.

Why? In part, because referrals are such a big part of their business — and reviews play a huge role in influencing where general dentists send their patients. A strong online reputation isn’t just about attracting new patients directly; it’s also about building trust among referring providers.

That said, every type of practice can benefit from prioritizing online reviews, and many are already seeing a lift.

For example, HealthPlex Dental Centre, a full-service general practice, saw a 25% increase in patient reviews in just one month after implementing Intiveo’s Social Reviews add-on.

Why reviews matter more than ever

Here’s what high-volume, high-quality social reviews tell us about a practice:

Patients feel heard. They’ve had a good experience and want to share it.
Trust is high. Patients are confident enough to publicly endorse your care.
Your team is consistent. Positive reviews reflect repeatable, reliable service.
You’re findable. Online reviews boost you in the Google algorithm, bringing more patients to your door.

And according to third-party research, businesses with a review rating between 4.2 and 4.5 stars tend to earn the highest levels of trust from prospective patients.

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How to encourage more reviews — authentically

You don’t need to beg for 5-star reviews. Instead, focus on building a system that makes it easy for happy patients to share their experience. Here’s how:

Ask at the right moment, right after a successful visit or positive interaction.
Make it effortless! Use a tool that sends patients a direct link to your review page via text or email.
Automate the ask. Integrate it into your post-appointment workflow so no one forgets.
Respond with care. Thank patients for reviews and address concerns if they arise.

Social proof = growth

Strong reviews aren’t just a marketing tool. They reflect the kind of practice you run — one that values patient relationships, consistency, and great outcomes. And in a crowded, competitive market, that can be your biggest differentiator.

Dive into the full 2025 Dental Patient Engagement Report for benchmarks, insights, and real-world examples. Plus, we offer a number of resources to support your practice, including our podcast, The Patient Experience Blueprint.

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