For dental practices
Google Reviews for Dentists
When someone searches “dentist near me”, Google shows a few practices on the map first — with the star rating and review count right under each name. Here's how to get more Google reviews for your dental practice: what to say at the front desk, what to text, how to reply without a HIPAA problem, and how you compare with the dentists around you.
How does your practice compare with nearby dentists?
Type your practice name and city. We'll compare your Google rating and review count with the top 3 dentists on Google Maps near your office — free, no sign-up — and give you your direct review link.
Why Google reviews matter for a dental practice
Google says local results are ranked by relevance, distance and prominence, and thatreview count and score factor into prominence. For a dental practice that means reviews do two jobs at once: they help you show up for “dentist near me”, and they help a new patient choose you once you do.
Count protects your rating
At 40 reviews and 4.9★, one 1-star review drops your average by 0.10 — Google then shows 4.8★.
Stars are a shortcut
Patients comparing three practices on a phone often decide on the rating and the newest reviews.
Recent beats old
A steady trickle of new reviews shows the practice is active today — not just a burst from years ago.
When to ask patients for a Google review
Ask at a moment the patient already feels good, and let them review later on their own phone. These moments work in most practices:
| Moment | Who asks | How |
|---|---|---|
| Checkout after a routine cleaning | Front desk | Hand a review card with the receipt — they can leave it at home tonight. |
| A finished cosmetic result (whitening, aligners, veneers) | Dentist or treatment coordinator | Patients are proud of the result; ask once, warmly, and give a card. |
| An emergency visit that ended pain-free | Front desk | Relief is a strong moment. Keep it short: thank them, mention the card. |
| A parent bringing a child | Front desk | Ask the parent, never the child. The card goes in the take-home bag. |
| The same-day text or email | Your patient messaging system | One line and the review link. No treatment details in the message. |
What to say: front-desk scripts for dental review requests
Keep it short, ask everyone, and never ask for five stars or for specific words. Copy these and adapt them to your team's voice:
You're all set for your next visit! One small favor: if you were happy with us today, would you leave us a quick Google review? Just tap your phone on this card or scan the code — it opens the review page directly.
That's so kind of you to say — thank you! Would you mind sharing that in a Google review? It really helps other families in [city] find a dentist they can trust. Here's a card so it only takes a minute at home.
I'm really happy with how this turned out. If you're happy too, a Google review would mean a lot to our team. [Name] at the front desk has a card that opens the review page — no pressure at all.
Hi [First name], thanks for visiting [Practice] today! If you have a minute, we'd love your honest Google review: [review link] Reply STOP to opt out.
Mention the visit, never the treatment. Only text patients who agreed to receive messages from your office.
Subject: How was your visit to [Practice]? Hi [First name], Thank you for choosing [Practice]. Reviews help other people in [city] find a dentist they're comfortable with, and we read every one. If you have a minute, you can leave a Google review here: [review link] Thank you, [Your name], [Practice] [Practice address]
More scripts for every situation: how to ask for Google reviews.
Where review cards and stands work in a dental office
Reception counter
A review stand next to the card reader. Patients tap their phone while you print the receipt.
Take-home card
A review card with the appointment reminder. No pressure in the office — they review at home.
Hygiene goodie bag
Drop a card in with the toothbrush and floss. It's the part of the visit patients take home anyway.
Window or door
A QR review sticker for patients waiting outside or picking up a family member.
HIPAA and Google reviews: what dentists can and can't say
Asking for a review is fine. The risk is in the reply. In 2019 a Dallas practicepaid a $10,000 HHS settlement after responding to online reviews with patient names and treatment details. Reviewers can say what they like about their own care; your practice can't confirm it.
- Don't confirm the reviewer is a patient, or mention dates, procedures, insurance or billing.
- Do thank everyone in general terms and offer a phone number for anything specific.
- Do keep review-request texts and emails to “thanks for your visit” — no treatment in the message.
Thank you so much for the kind words! Our whole team works hard to make every visit comfortable, and it means a lot to hear it. — [Your name], [Practice]
Don't repeat any details from the review (procedure, dates, the dentist's notes). A friendly general thank-you is enough.
Thank you for taking the time to share this. We take every concern seriously, but privacy rules don't let us discuss anyone's care online. Please call our office manager, [Name], at [phone] so we can talk it through directly. — [Practice]
Never confirm that the reviewer is a patient, and never correct their story with details from a chart — even if they shared those details themselves.
This is practical guidance, not legal advice. Check your reply policy with your compliance officer.
What dental offices shouldn't do to get reviews
Google's review policyand the FTC's consumer review rule both apply to practices. Reviews that break them get removed, and the FTC rule carries civil penalties.
No free whitening (or anything else) for a review
Google removes incentivized reviews, and the FTC's 2024 rule (16 CFR 465.4) bans giving incentives for reviews that express a particular sentiment. Ask for an honest review — nothing in return.
Don't ask your team or their families to review
Reviews from staff and relatives are a conflict of interest under Google's policy, and the FTC rule restricts managers from soliciting them (465.5).
Don't ask only happy patients
“Review gating” — sending only satisfied patients to Google — breaks Google's policy. Hand the card to everyone at checkout.
Skip the in-office review tablet
Google asks businesses not to pressure people into reviewing on the premises, and many reviews from one device can be filtered out. A card works on the patient's own phone, whenever they're ready.
No quotas that name staff
Google specifically disallows asking staff to collect a number of reviews or reviews that mention a staff member.
How many Google reviews does a dental practice need?
There's no national number — patients compare you with the practices next to you on the map, so use the checker above. For your star rating, the math is simple: a practice at 4.6★ with 85 reviews needs 51 new 5-star reviews to show 4.8★ (136 reviews averaging 4.75).
Run your own numbers in the Google review calculator. At 20 patients a day, asking every one of them adds up quickly — even if only a few leave a review.
A review kit for your front desk
Your practice logo, your review link programmed in, tap-tested before it ships. Patients tap their phone or scan the QR code and your Google review form opens — no app, no searching.
- Review stand for the reception counter — $24.98
- NFC review cards for take-home bags and checkout — from $11.90 each in packs of 10
- QR stickers for the window, door or appointment cards
Google reviews for dentists: FAQ
Is it legal for a dentist to ask patients for Google reviews?
Yes. Google allows businesses to ask customers for genuine reviews, and nothing in HIPAA stops you from asking. The rules are about how you ask (no incentives, no pressure, ask everyone) and what you say when you reply.
Is replying to a patient's Google review a HIPAA violation?
It can be. Confirming someone is a patient or mentioning their treatment in a public reply can disclose protected health information — HHS settled with a Texas dental practice in 2019 over patient details in review replies. Keep replies general and take specifics offline.
How should a dental office respond to a negative Google review?
Reply calmly within a day or two, thank them for the feedback, don't confirm they're a patient or discuss their care, and give a phone number to talk privately. Future patients read the reply more than the complaint.
Can we give patients a discount for leaving a review?
No. Google treats discounts, gifts and entries into prize draws for reviews as incentives and removes those reviews, and the FTC's 2024 consumer review rule bans incentives for reviews with a particular sentiment.
How many Google reviews does a dental practice need?
Enough to hold up against the practices that show above you on Google Maps. Use the free checker on this page: it compares your review count and rating with the top 3 dentists near your address.
Do NFC review cards work with every patient's phone?
Tapping works on iPhone XS and newer and on NFC-enabled Android phones. Every card and stand also has a QR code, so patients with older phones can scan it with the camera instead.