When was the last time you checked how many calls your practice misses? If you're unsure, you’re not alone. Many dental practice owners can’t give an accurate answer. In fact, most aren’t monitoring missed call data, often provided by their phone company. This means they’re not aware of missed opportunities to connect with current or potential patients—and aren’t taking steps to fix it.

The Real Cost of a Missed Call

After making hundreds of calls to dental practices over the years, I’m continually surprised at how many go unanswered. During business hours, I often encounter calls that simply ring out or go to voicemail, asking me to leave my details. And let’s be honest, how many people actually leave a message?

Our research spanning 12 years has shown that 38% of incoming calls to dental practices go unanswered. That’s roughly two out of every five calls that never connect with a person. Most of those callers don’t leave a message. Instead, they might call back later or, more often than not, move on to the next practice.

Why Missed Calls Are Missed Opportunities

Here’s the issue: if practices aren’t checking missed call data, they miss the chance to follow up on these calls. The patients who don’t leave messages are often new patients with immediate concerns—they need help, and they’re reaching out for it. But if we don’t know these calls are happening, how can we possibly follow up?

Think about it. Every caller has a reason for picking up the phone and dialing a dental practice. They’re seeking help with a dental concern, and they’ve chosen your practice to reach out to. Yet without tracking this data, there’s no way to tell how many potential patients with genuine needs never made it past a missed call.

Missed Calls: Who Are We Losing?

If we took the time to cross-reference missed call numbers with patient databases, we’d likely uncover how many of these missed calls came from potential new patients or from current patients with urgent needs. It’s a missed opportunity not only to serve patients better but also to increase appointment bookings with people who have already shown interest in your services.

Consider this: out of the 62% of calls that actually get answered, only one-third result in scheduled appointments. For every five calls, that means only one turns into an actual appointment. Imagine the impact on your practice if you could boost this number by simply answering and following up on missed calls.

How Can Your Practice Benefit by Reducing Missed Calls?

It’s a game-changer. Just imagine what could happen if more calls were answered and more appointments scheduled. Your practice would fill its appointment calendar without any additional marketing spend—all by capturing the calls already coming in.

By converting a greater percentage of those ringing phones into scheduled appointments, you’re essentially creating a source of “free revenue.” And beyond the financial benefits, you’re able to help more patients receive the care they need.

What Steps Can You Take?

1. Check Your Call Logs – Start by asking your phone provider about missed call data. Track how many calls go unanswered during business hours.

2. Identify Patterns – Are there specific times when missed calls peak? Adjusting staff availability during these times could make a significant difference.

3. Follow Up on Missed Calls – Implement a system to reach out to missed calls, especially from potential new patients or those with existing appointments. A friendly follow-up could be the nudge they need to book.

4. Optimize Call Handling – Ensure your team is prepared to handle calls effectively. Each answered call is an opportunity to make a strong first impression.

The phone is already ringing—make it work for your practice! With a few adjustments, you can improve patient satisfaction, boost appointment rates, and increase revenue, all by focusing on one simple metric: answering more calls.