What to put on a dentist’s digital card
- Degrees and speciality BDS or MDS with the branch tells patients and referring doctors whether you handle orthodontics, implants or children.
- Council registration number Shows you are a registered dental surgeon, which matters to patients wary of unqualified practitioners.
- Clinic-wise timings Dentists often split the week between clinics; listing each stops patients turning up where you are not consulting.
- Map location Clinics in residential buildings or on upper floors are hard to find, so a map pin avoids missed appointments.
- After-hours contact A number or clear instruction for swelling, bleeding or injury reassures patients after extractions and surgery.
- WhatsApp for appointments Patients reschedule and send X-ray reports on WhatsApp far more easily than by calling during clinic hours.
- Procedures you focus on Patients search for root canals, aligners or children’s dentistry by name, so a neutral list of what you routinely do helps them choose the right clinic.
- Parking and access notes Many dental patients are elderly or bring children; “ground floor, parking in the lane behind” saves them a stressful first visit.
When to share it
- Displayed as a QR standee at reception so new patients save the clinic number while filling in their case history form.
- Sent on WhatsApp after a procedure along with aftercare instructions and the date of the next appointment.
- Shared with general physicians, paediatricians and ENT doctors who refer patients to you for a dental opinion.
- Given to parents after school dental check-up camps, within the organiser’s and council’s rules, so they can follow up on findings.
What to say when you send it
A card link on its own is easy to ignore. Add a line that reminds the person where you met and what to do next — for example:
Hello Mr Prakash, this is the clinic card for Dr. Bhat. Your next sitting for the root canal is on Thursday at 6 pm. Save the number for rescheduling, and message us if the swelling increases before then.
Where to put the QR code
- The appointment card you hand out after the first sitting, so the clinic number is saved before the patient leaves.
- A small stand at the reception counter next to the payment desk.
- Post-treatment instruction sheets, so patients know whom to call if pain or swelling increases.
Mistakes to avoid
- Showing before-and-after photos on the card Treatment photos can breach patient confidentiality and may count as promotion under professional rules. Keep the card to facts and discuss outcomes during consultation.
- Hiding the clinic’s weekly off day Patients in pain will call on Sunday if the card does not say you are closed. List the off day and where to go for urgent dental care.
- Mixing two clinics without saying which days If you consult at two clinics, a card listing both addresses without days sends patients to the wrong one. Put each clinic with its own days and timings.
Tips for a card that gets saved
- Do not print “free check-up” or discount lines on the card. Keep it to identity, qualifications, timings and contact, which is safer under ethics rules and more useful to patients.
- If an MDS specialist visits your clinic, list their days separately with their qualification, so patients know which cases can be handled in-house.
- Update timings immediately around holidays and conference days, and post the change on WhatsApp too, because patients in pain act on whatever the card says.