Most dental email campaigns fail miserably. I know because I've been collecting and analyzing them for three years.
Remember the last time you got an email from your dentist?
If you're like most patients, you probably deleted it without even opening it.
You're not alone.
After analyzing over 1,700 dental practice email sequences over the past three years, I discovered something shocking:
82% of dental emails get immediately deleted without being read.
Not because patients don't care about their dental health...
But because most dental practices are making the SAME CRITICAL MISTAKES with their email communication—mistakes that are leaving an average of $217,500 IN ANNUAL PRODUCTION ON THE TABLE.
THE ACCIDENTAL DISCOVERY THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
In early 2021, I noticed something unusual in our email research. While most practices struggled with dismal 19% open rates, a small practice in Ohio was achieving:
✔️ 72% OPEN RATES
✔️ 34% RESPONSE RATES
✔️ 41% REACTIVATION RATE for dormant patients
The difference was SO DRAMATIC I had to investigate. So I reached out to Dr. Sarah Conley, the practice owner, and asked if I could study her approach.
What I discovered changed our entire understanding of patient communication.
THE EMAIL THAT REACTIVATED 17 PATIENTS IN ONE DAY
Here's the exact email that brought 17 dormant patients back to Dr. Conley's practice in a single day:
Subject: Quick question about your last visit, Jessica
I was reviewing patient charts this morning and noticed it's been 9 months since your last visit with us.
This isn't like you - you've usually been so consistent with your 6-month check-ups.
Is there something specific that's kept you from coming back? Did we drop the ball somehow?
Just hit reply and let me know. I'd like to fix it if we did.
- Dr. Sarah
NO fancy formatting. NO promotional offers. NO generic newsletter content. Just a GENUINE, PERSONALIZED MESSAGE that felt like it was written specifically for the patient.
Compare this to what MOST practices send:
Subject: Monthly Newsletter - Sunshine Dental
Dear Valued Patient,
We hope this email finds you well.
At Sunshine Dental, we are committed to providing top-quality dental care to all our patients. Our team of experienced dentists and hygienists work diligently to ensure your oral health is maintained.
For the month of June, we are offering a special promotion on teeth whitening services. Mention this email and receive 15% off your next teeth whitening treatment!
We also want to remind you of the importance of regular dental check-ups. Regular visits to the dentist can help prevent serious oral health issues and save you money in the long run.
Call our office today at (555) 123-4567 to schedule your next appointment.
The stark contrast explains why most dental emails FAIL MISERABLY:
→ Generic subject lines that scream "mass marketing"
→ Impersonal greetings that feel automated
→ Content about the practice rather than FOR the patient
→ NO recognition of the individual relationship
→ Calls-to-action without providing any value first
THE THREE CORE PRINCIPLES THAT SUPERCHARGE PATIENT EMAILS
After studying Dr. Conley's approach and testing it with 27 other practices, we identified three core principles that completely improve email effectiveness:
1. The "One Person" Principle
Emails that feel like they're written by one human to another human get dramatically better results than "practice newsletter" emails.
How we implement this:
→ Emails come from the doctor PERSONALLY, not the practice
→ Using the doctor's actual email address (not info@dental.com)
→ Writing in a conversational, natural voice
→ Including a simple signature with direct contact information
→AVOIDING fancy html templates - plain text works better
2. The “Missing You” Framework
Patients respond OVERWHELMINGLY to emails that notice their absence and express genuine concern.
How we implement this:
→ Referencing specific details about their last visit
→ Acknowledging the gap in expected behavior ("This isn't like you")
→ Expressing authentic concern, not promotional urgency
→ Asking a direct question that's easy to respond to
→ Giving them multiple ways to reconnect
3. The "Human Connection" Sequence
Emails that build relationship FIRST and promote services SECOND generate 4X MORE PRODUCTION.
How we implement this:
- Initial emails focus entirely on re-establishing the relationship
- Only after engagement do we introduce clinical recommendations
- Each message builds on previous interactions
- Patient responses shape the next communication
- The entire sequence feels like a natural conversation
OUR FIVE CORE EMAIL SEQUENCES THAT GENERATE MASSIVE RESULTS
Based on these principles, we've developed five email sequence systems that consistently deliver REMARKABLE RESULTS:
The “We’ve Missed You" Sequence
For patients absent 7+ months
Example First Email:
Subject: Have we done something wrong?
[Patient First Name],
I was reviewing patient charts this morning and noticed it's been 8 months since your last appointment with us.
I'm wondering if perhaps we did something to make you uncomfortable? If so, I'd genuinely like to know so we can address it.
Or if it's simply been a matter of time, insurance, or other concerns, I'd be happy to help find a solution.
Either way, could you let me know? I've been a bit worried.
Dr. [Name]
[Personal cell number]
RESULTS: 59% OPEN RATE, 27% RESPONSE RATE
The "Treatment Completion" Sequence
For patients with unscheduled treatment
Example First Email:
Subject: About your treatment plan from October
[Patient First Name],
I was looking through our upcoming schedule and remembered we had discussed [specific treatment] during your visit in October.
Did you know your insurance benefits for this year include coverage for exactly this type of treatment? If you wait until next year, you'll essentially be leaving money on the table.
Would it be helpful if Lisa from our front desk reached out to discuss timing options?
Dr. [Name]
RESULTS: 63% OPEN RATE, 34% RESPONSE RATE
The "Review Generation" Sequence
For patients after successful appointments
The "Referral Activation" Sequence
For your most satisfied patients
The "Special Announcement" Sequence
For birthdays, anniversaries, and life events
When dental practices implement this email approach, the results are IMMEDIATE AND DRAMATIC:
PARKSIDE DENTAL CASE STUDY
Before working with us:
- 22% open rate
- 3.1% click rate
- 2-3 patient reactivations per month
- $2,700 average monthly production from email
AFTER implementing our system:
- 68% open rate
- 31% response rate
- 27 patient reactivations per month
- $18,300 monthly production from email
“I was honestly shocked. Patients started replying to our emails almost immediately. Some were apologizing for missing appointments, others were sharing personal updates, and many were asking to get back on the schedule. These weren't just transactions - they were real conversations with people who'd been away for months or even years."
— Dr. Michael Parkside
WHAT MAKES OUR EMAIL SERVICE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
Most dental marketing agencies approach email as an afterthought:
❌ They send the same generic newsletter to every patient
❌ They focus on "pretty" templates instead of psychological triggers
❌ They have no system for measuring production generated from email campaigns
❌ They risk HIPAA violations with improper personalization
❌ They create content about your practice instead of for your patients
Our approach is fundamentally different:
✅ We create behavior-triggered sequences tailored to each patient segment
✅ We focus on plain-text, conversational emails that get read and generate responses
✅ We track exact production generated from each email campaign
✅ We maintain strict hipaa compliance while still personalizing effectively
✅ We write every email from the patient's perspective, not yours
HOW TO GET STARTED
If you're ready to stop leaving $217,500+ in annual production on the table and start generating substantial additional production from patients you already have, here's what happens next:
1. Book your FREE Email Marketing Analysis (normally $997)
2. Receive your custom Email Psychology Blueprint within 5 business days
3. Watch your patient reactivations INCREASE while your practice generates SUBSTANTIAL additional production without spending more on advertising
Click the button below to get started
Note: We're only able to provide this level of custom analysis to 3 practices per month. Once these spots are filled, you'll be placed on our waiting list for next month.
