The Best Way to Confirm Dental Appointments in 2025, According to the Data

In a dental practice, appointment confirmations aren’t just a nice-to-have. They’re a vital sign of patient engagement, trust, and operational efficiency. When a patient takes the time to confirm their visit, they’re signaling commitment to their care and confidence in your practice.

But what’s the most effective way to get those confirmations in 2025?

Our latest benchmark data from over 3300+ dental and oral surgery practices reveals the answer — and it starts with understanding how today’s patients prefer to connect.

Text messaging leads the way

The numbers are clear: text messaging is the top-performing method for appointment confirmations. Patients overwhelmingly prefer the speed and convenience of texting, and practices using this channel are seeing higher confirmation rates as a result.

Why? Because texting eliminates friction. No hold times. No crowded inboxes. Just a quick, simple way to say “yes, I’m coming.”

But don’t ditch the other channels just yet

Even though most confirmations are happening via text, that doesn’t mean email and voice reminders are obsolete. In fact, when used strategically, these channels support and strengthen your overall communication flow.

For example:

• A patient might get an email reminder with full visit details and then confirm via text.
• A voice call may provide a personal touch for older patients or more complex procedures.

A truly effective system uses multiple channels to reinforce the message, increasing the chances that patients see, and act on, your reminders.

Timing also matters

Not only does the method of communication affect confirmation rates, so does the time you send the message. Our data shows that:

• Text messages perform best when sent around 9:00 AM
• Voice calls are most effective around 10:00 AM
• Emails tend to see the most confirmations around 8:00 PM

These time windows reflect when patients are most likely to be checking their phones or email and will also be ready to respond.

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Tip: tailor confirmation sequences by procedure type

Another insight from high-performing practices? Customizing confirmation workflows based on the type of appointment can lead to better results.

For example:

• Routine hygiene visits may only need a quick text reminder.
• Surgical or complex procedures might benefit from a voice message or email with prep instructions.

Matching the communication method and timing to the appointment type shows your patients that you respect their time and care about their experience.

Confirmation rates are a growth lever

High confirmation rates = fewer no-shows, smoother scheduling, and more productive days.

In one example from the report, GRAFT Periodontics achieved an 80% confirmation rate using a multi-channel approach with Intiveo, allowing patients to confirm via text, email, or voice messages.

This kind of transparency and accessibility leads to a better patient experience, as well as real business impact for the practice. Explore more benchmarks and strategies in the full 2025 Dental Patient Engagement Report. Plus, we offer a number of resources to support your practice, including our podcast, t.

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