We see and hear the same things from our patients regularly: They’re busy. A growing number of Missoula families have less time than they once had. Clearly, the burdens placed on the time of today’s families make it difficult to fit in irregular appointments, such as the dentist. Today, we’ll provide you with our favorite tips for ensuring that each member of the family can regularly see the dentist twice a year.
Dentist Scheduling Tips & Tricks
When to Schedule
The toughest part, by far, is scheduling your dentistry appointment. While a single person may have a relatively easy time with this, parents struggle with scheduling above all else. Finding a day that allows for minimal time off work, avoids pulling the kiddos out of school, and generally doesn’t interfere with other commitments can be quite the challenge. We advise scheduling well in advance and picking optimal dates for known commitments. Consider picking minor holidays that allow for a break from school, such as Columbus Day or President’s Day; our Missoula dentist’s office will still be open, the kiddos don’t miss school, and the weekend is left intact. Longer breaks work especially well for college students, as they will be back in town for family visits anyway; summer vacation takes care of one appointment without any school conflicts.
Make it a Bundle
Think like your cable company and bundle your family’s appointments into a single day whenever possible, especially for smaller kiddos. It may be easiest to keep your appointment on a separate day, but having all of the kids’ appointments happen simultaneously means only two days of the year where you have to load the car, make the trip, and deal with the other schedule hassles. Plus, keeping appointments aligned makes it easier to remember the appointment, tougher to cancel and reschedule, and generally makes it more “sticky.”
Use Technology
The best way for anyone to remember their dentist appointment is with technology. Once, you had to remember to write on and look at your paper calendar, but now with a couple of keystrokes you can get regular reminders through your phone, email, or even with specialized apps that can notify and remind the entire family at once. By taking advantage of the technology already at your fingertips, you can rest assured that your family will make the appointment with minimal resistance.
Proximity is Priority
The best tip for keeping your appointment is to keep the entire family excited and engaged with their oral health. Most appointments aren’t missed simply due to negligence or schedule conflicts, but instead from having a half-hearted desire to see the dentist. Remember, your dentist is here to help your family maintain a bright, healthy smile. By making dental care a priority for yourself and the family, you will have a far easier time getting everyone to the dentist at least twice each year!
