where to find patients

[dentheartthrob]

So i've just started working on clinic this trimester, problem is I hardly have any patients. I was assigned 5 but only 2 are active. One of them is on vacation and the other I won't see until four months from now. I know that patients can always be referred from upper classman, but they are also in a rush to finish requirements to graduate. I'd ask friends and family but I'm not from around here and everyone I know who is related or close to me isn't from around here. Any suggestions?

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[KinKs]

So i've just started working on clinic this trimester, problem is I hardly have any patients. I was assigned 5 but only 2 are active. One of them is on vacation and the other I won't see until four months from now. I know that patients can always be referred from upper classman, but they are also in a rush to finish requirements to graduate. I'd ask friends and family but I'm not from around here and everyone I know who is related or close to me isn't from around here. Any suggestions?

Craigslist - I have tried and was somewhat successful. Place in the beauty section.

 

[SeattleRDH]

Make a flyer and distribute it to restaurant workers. They mostly work at night and tend to have the time to sit for long appts. Just don't go to the restaurants at night during their busy time. Stick to 3-5.

Include in your flyer that the costs are %X less than "normal" fees since most of these patients will have to pay cash.

 

[UBDent19]

Wow! Your school doesn't supply you with enough patients that you have to go drum up your own sales? That must be very aggravating. Here you are paying top dollar for a professional graduate degree, performing dental work for a fraction of the real cost and are still struggling to have patients to work on.

 

[sokrman14]

I couldn't help you with that problem. At my school I am getting rid of patients because we are supposed to have no more than 50, and I have about 70 active patients.

 

[LazurasDC]

Go to volunteer events and health fair etc. to screen and pick up pts. Or see if your current pt's have any family members. Also, talk to your pt managers and ask for more!

 

[Decan]

Go to dental practices...my dentist has referred a lot of patients to me. I just go to him and say what I need (endo, bridges, etc.) and if he gets a patient who can not afford his prices he gives them my contact info and I bring them in for a screening appt. It helps me get patients, and he comes out looking like a hero trying to help out those who need it.

 

[picaso]

Wow! Your school doesn't supply you with enough patients that you have to go drum up your own sales? That must be very aggravating. Here you are paying top dollar for a professional graduate degree, performing dental work for a fraction of the real cost and are still struggling to have patients to work on.

dentheartthrob goes to USC and KINKS goes to Howard.

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

You can go to local churches and speak with the pastor/father/etc. I know of a couple people who have donr this and have had luck getting a few.

 

[WhichRoom]

I couldn't help you with that problem. At my school I am getting rid of patients because we are supposed to have no more than 50, and I have about 70 active patients.

Nice! Tell me Temple 😀???????????

 

[New2Philly]

Nice! Tell me Temple 😀???????????

I think they go to Creighton, which is also known for having a very busy clinic

 

[jay47]

I think they go to Creighton, which is also known for having a very busy clinic

Freaking Katrina and the recession are still screwing us over here in Houston....prices of dental work are dirt cheap here at the school, but lots of people still have trouble finding people to get all of their requirements done. Mostly because of people not wanting or being able to pay for the dental work itself.
Most complete all requirements by graduation, but we sure as hell don't have 70 patients.

 

[picaso]

Freaking Katrina and the recession are still screwing us over here in Houston....prices of dental work are dirt cheap here at the school, but lots of people still have trouble finding people to get all of their requirements done. Mostly because of people not wanting or being able to pay for the dental work itself.
Most complete all requirements by graduation, but we sure as hell don't have 70 patients.

Does any one know the patient situation at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland?

 

[picaso]

Does any one know the patient situation at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland?

Bump

 

[Mackchops]

... and these are the same people who will argue vehemently that the best dental school is the cheapest dental school. Sigh. Spoiler alert -- not all dental schools are the same!

I've weaned my roster down to about 20 active patients as I prepare to graduate. Only holding onto the fun cases -- implants, full-mouth cases, max molar endo. See 4-5 patients a day -- minimum 3. I've never had too few patients...

 

[UBDent19]

Are you implying that the cheaper dental schools have problems supplying students with patients, mackchops? I've never heard that but I suppose it could be true. Then again, cheaper schools may be making up the cost difference but pumping huge numbers of patients through the clinics.

Anybody out there have more info on cost of tuition vs. number of patients available?

 

[Mackchops]

Are you implying that the cheaper dental schools have problems supplying students with patients, mackchops? I've never heard that but I suppose it could be true. Then again, cheaper schools may be making up the cost difference but pumping huge numbers of patients through the clinics.

Anybody out there have more info on cost of tuition vs. number of patients available?

No no no! Please God, no! I'm saying that there's more to deciding which school to attend than the price tag. Or boards passing rate. Or specialty placement. Why not go somewhere where you learn dentistry? On patients? That actually exist? Solid clinical experience is something you can't count on everywhere. Regardless of the cost.

 

[1992Corolla]

No no no! Please God, no! I'm saying that there's more to deciding which school to attend than the price tag. Or boards passing rate. Or specialty placement. Why not go somewhere where you learn dentistry? On patients? That actually exist? Solid clinical experience is something you can't count on everywhere. Regardless of the cost.

True. I can't believe some schools would charge you astronomical fees and then can't supply the demands to meet requirements?!?!

At Temple I could have easily had 100 patients on my list...could I have seen them all? Maybe most of them, I tried to keep my list at 30-40 active patients. The ones who didn't show up ONCE were kicked off my list. I told each one of them that fact the day I met them. I was too busy to BS with babysitting appointment times, especially when I knew I could book a reliable patient to take the chair.

Most of the 30-40 patients I had easily filled my graduation requirements because they had a lot of work.

My suggestions...MARKET like mad! This will become a valuable tool to learn from your dental school experience. Make a website through blogger (free) and get a 100 business cards on the internet (5 bucks) and craigslist, and etc.

 

[sokrman14]

Nice! Tell me Temple 😀???????????

Nope, Creighton

 

[stdmufin27]

One thing I always try to do is work well with my colleagues. If you read this thread and notice the amount of students who say they have way to many patients (myself included) then it helps to befriend as many classmates and see if you can share/trade pts/tx. Or, ask for certain work straight up and you'd be surprised how many people go "oh, I just got this pt and I don't really want him/her".