Review & Referral Scripts
Review & Referral Request Scripts for Dentists
For dental practices, reviews and referrals don’t just bring in more cleanings—they bring in the high-trust cases like crowns ($800–$1,500) and emergency extractions ($200–$600) where patients pick the office that feels most reliable. The challenge is you’re often in full PPE with your hands in someone’s mouth, so you can’t “catch up later” on calls, review requests, or follow-ups. Use these scripts to ask at the right moment, with patient-friendly language, without slowing down care.
Google Review Request After a Routine Cleaning (Front Desk Checkout)
Use right after the hygienist finishes and the patient is scheduling their next cleaning at checkout.
“Before you head out—if today felt smooth, could you leave us a quick Google review? A sentence or two helps a lot, especially for families looking for a new dentist. I can text you the link so you don’t have to search—what’s the best number? If you mention ‘cleaning’ or ‘hygienist,’ it helps patients know what to expect.”
Tips for this scenario
- -Ask after they’ve rebooked their 6‑month cleaning—patients are most positive once the next visit is set.
- -Offer text link delivery so they can do it in the car, not ‘when they get home.’
- -Prompt a specific word like “cleaning,” “gentle,” or “on time” so the review sounds real, not generic.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
!Asking for a review while you’re still gloved up and the patient can’t talk (suction running, mouth open). It feels rushed and patients forget.
!Waiting a week after a cleaning to request a review—by then they barely remember the visit and won’t post.
!Not giving patients the words they actually use (toothache, gentle, numbness, bite feels high, emergency). Reviews end up vague and don’t convert.
!Trying to ‘defend’ yourself in a negative review by mentioning appointment details, X-rays, or treatment—this can create privacy issues and makes you look argumentative.
!Only asking happy patients in person but missing after-hours emergency callers who became patients—those emergency saves are your strongest review stories, and they’re easy to forget without a follow-up workflow.
