How Can Dentists Book New Patients Using TikTok?

Traditional marketing alone won’t suffice for dental practices in today's digital world. Dentists are increasingly using social media to attract new patients, and one platform stands out: TikTok.

With over 1.5 billion active users, TikTok is no longer just for viral dances. It's now a powerful tool for businesses, including dental practices, to build trust and connect with potential patients in an authentic way.

TikTok offers a unique opportunity to showcase your expertise, foster brand loyalty, and turn followers into paying patients. While many dentists have yet to fully tap into this potential, those who do can unlock new avenues for patient acquisition and practice growth in ways traditional marketing can't.

So, how can dental practices leverage TikTok to book new patients? From creating engaging content to using paid ads and optimizing lead capture, we’ll break down the steps to turn your TikTok presence into a valuable tool for business growth.

Why TikTok is Perfect for Dental Practices

As a dentist, your ultimate goal is to connect with patients, build trust, and grow your practice. However, attracting new patients in today’s competitive market requires more than just traditional marketing strategies.

TikTok presents a unique and valuable opportunity for dental professionals to reach a broad and diverse audience.  

It’s not just the numbers that make TikTok an ideal platform for dentists—it’s how the platform allows you to create engaging, authentic, and visually compelling content that resonates with viewers.

TikTok’s Demographics is a Goldmine for Dental Practices

TikTok’s user base is diverse, spanning various age groups, locations, and interests. While often associated with younger audiences, about 33.9% of TikTok users are between 25 and 34 years old, making it an ideal platform for targeting busy adults, young professionals, and families. Additionally, 36.2% of users are aged 18 to 24, ensuring a wide range of potential patients.

TikTok’s global reach is perfect for local dental practices, as its geo-targeting features allow you to target specific areas—whether your audience is just down the street or in a nearby city.

Engaging Content that Builds Trust

TikTok thrives on authenticity, offering dental practices a unique opportunity to showcase their human side. Unlike traditional ads, TikTok’s informal nature lets dentists interact with potential patients in a genuine, approachable way.

You can build trust and rapport over time by sharing quick dental tips, funny office moments, or patient transformations. TikTok encourages creativity and relatability, which are key to effective healthcare marketing.

Visual Appeal and Educational Potential

TikTok’s short-form videos make it easy to simplify complex dental concepts and educate potential patients.

Before-and-after transformations are particularly powerful, offering clear proof of your services' impact. Plus, since TikTok videos are highly shareable, this content has the potential to reach an even wider audience, amplifying your practice’s visibility.

The Untapped Opportunity for Dental Practices

Despite TikTok’s rapid growth, many dental professionals have yet to fully embrace its marketing potential. This creates a unique opportunity for early adopters to stand out, positioning their practice as innovative and forward-thinking.

While many dental practices focus on traditional marketing methods like print ads, SEO, and Google Ads, TikTok is quickly becoming an essential tool in modern marketing strategies. By incorporating TikTok into your marketing plan, you can stay ahead of the competition and attract new patients in today’s digital age.

Now that we’ve established why TikTok is essential, let’s explore how to create content that drives new patient bookings.

Creating Memorable, Engaging Content

One of the most compelling aspects of TikTok is its focus on creativity and authenticity. Unlike other platforms that may require highly polished content, TikTok thrives on genuine, relatable, and visually captivating videos. For dental practices, this opens the door to connecting with potential patients in a more human, engaging way.

To effectively use TikTok as a marketing tool, it’s essential to create content that resonates with your target audience while highlighting the unique aspects of your practice. Here’s how you can start:

Showcase Your Expertise Through Educational Content

Patients look to dentists not only for care but also for guidance. TikTok allows you to share quick, valuable educational content that showcases your expertise while making dental topics more approachable.

These short, informative videos help establish trust and position your practice as a reliable resource. Consider creating simple yet effective content like:

• Dental tips

• Myth-busting

• Procedure explanations

• “What happens if...” series

These educational videos are highly shareable, helping you reach potential clients who might not have discovered your practice otherwise.

Give a Glimpse into Your Practice with Behind-the-Scenes Content

Another great way to build trust and engage with your audience is by taking them behind the scenes of your dental practice. TikTok is the perfect platform for sharing your team's personality, your office, and your work environment.

Think about showcasing:

• A Day in the Life: Share casual moments in the office, from setting up for the day to the team interacting with and treating patients.

• Office Culture: Highlight the positive environment in your office, such as the team celebrating a milestone or a funny moment between staff members.

• Technology and Tools: Show off any advanced technology you use in your practice.

This type of content allows patients to see that your office is not just a place for dental care but also a welcoming environment where they will feel comfortable and at ease.

Show the Power of Before-and-After with Patient Transformation Videos

Visual content is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. Before-and-after transformations are especially impactful in the dental industry, where the results of treatments like teeth whitening, veneers, or clear aligners are dramatic and highly visual.

These videos serve as proof of your skill and the effectiveness of your services. Remember, the more dramatic the visual transformation, the more likely the video will capture attention and get shared.

Show the Human Side of Your Brand by Engaging with Trends and Challenges

While it’s important to maintain a focus on professionalism, TikTok is all about trends, challenges, and memes. Don’t be afraid to participate in viral trends that can align with your dental practice. Engage with trending audio, challenges, or memes and adapt them to your practice’s message.

By jumping on trends, you show that your practice is modern, in tune with the latest culture, and open to engaging with a wide audience. Trends also provide a fantastic opportunity to humanize your practice while keeping things light and fun.

Build Social Proof with Patient Testimonials

There’s no better way to demonstrate the quality of your work than through the voices of happy patients. Capture real-time reactions as patients see their smile transformations. You can also ask patients to share their experiences, whether it’s a story about overcoming dental anxiety, achieving a smile makeover, or undergoing a complex treatment.  

These types of posts offer undeniable social proof—people trust the opinions of others, especially when it comes to healthcare services.

Once you’ve got engaging content, it’s time to expand your reach with TikTok’s ad platform.

Leveraging TikTok Ads and Targeting to Expand Your Reach

TikTok ads allow you to reach an audience far beyond your current followers and organic reach. With the right targeting, you can put your content in front of individuals who are most likely to be interested in your dental services, making it a highly effective tool for driving new patient acquisition.

TikTok ads come in several formats:

• In-Feed Ads: These ads appear in users’ feeds as they scroll through TikTok. They’re a great way to promote special offers, showcase patient testimonials, or highlight specific treatments.

• Branded Hashtag Challenges: Create your own challenge to encourage user-generated content. For example, launch a “#SmileTransformation” challenge where people share their dental journeys and use your practice’s hashtag for visibility.

• TopView Ads: These full-screen ads are perfect for big announcements, such as a special promotion or the introduction of a new service.

• Location and Demographic Targeting: TikTok’s robust targeting options allow you to target potential patients in your local area. You can also specify the age, interests, and behaviors of your ideal patient to ensure your ads reach the right people.

Each type of ad has its strengths, and the right choice for your practice depends on your specific goals, whether increasing brand awareness, promoting a specific service, or driving consultation bookings.

Target the Right Audience

TikTok ads offer powerful targeting options, allowing you to reach potential patients based on factors like location, demographics, and interests.

• Location Targeting: Focus ads on users within a specific distance from your practice, ensuring they’re relevant to your local audience.

• Demographic Targeting: Target specific age groups, such as 25-45-year-olds, who are likely to seek dental services like whitening or clear aligners.

• Interest Targeting: Reach users interested in health, wellness, or beauty, as they may care more about their smile and oral health.

• Custom Audiences: Upload a list of previous patients or engaged users to retarget them with relevant promotions or reminders.

With these targeting features, you can ensure your ads reach the right people, increasing the chances of booking new appointments.

Create Compelling Ads

When it comes to TikTok ads, the content should be creative, visually engaging, and aligned with the platform’s informal, fun nature. Keep in mind that TikTok users are accustomed to content that is fast-paced, visually appealing, and not overly polished.

Here’s how to create ads that capture attention:

• Focus on visual appeal

• Keep it short and sweet

• Include a strong CTA

• Leverage user-generated content

Budget and Campaign Optimization

TikTok ads are a cost-effective way to reach a large audience. However, setting a clear budget and optimizing campaigns is key to success.

Start with a modest budget to test different ad formats, targeting, and creative approaches. TikTok operates on an auction system, so balancing your budget and bid is crucial for maximizing exposure without overspending.

Monitor key metrics like engagement, click-through rates, and conversions to assess ad performance. TikTok’s analytics help you identify what’s working best.

Test variations of your ads—such as different CTAs, video lengths, or content types—to see what resonates with your audience. Continuously optimizing your ads ensures the best ROI and attracts the right patients.

Converting Those Views into Bookings

Once you’ve created engaging content and expanded your reach with TikTok ads, the next crucial step is turning those views into actual bookings. This is where having clear, actionable strategies comes in—making it easy for potential patients to take the next step and schedule an appointment.

Use Clear and Compelling CTAs

Your content needs to include a direct call to action (CTA) that tells viewers exactly what to do next. Here are a few examples:

• Link in Bio: “Book your free consultation today—link in bio” or “Click to schedule your teeth whitening appointment.”

• DM Us: Encourage users to send you a direct message for more details. For example, “DM us to claim your 10% discount on your first visit.”

• Comment to Engage: Ask viewers to comment with specific responses like “Comment ‘smile’ below if you’re interested in whitening!” This encourages engagement and allows for personalized follow-up.

Clear CTAs help guide potential patients to take action immediately after viewing your content.

Incorporate Promotions and Limited-Time Offers

People love a good deal. Incorporating special promotions or limited-time offers into your TikTok videos can drive immediate bookings. It creates a sense of urgency and encourages viewers to take action before the promotion ends.

Here’s how you can go about it:

• Highlight Special Discounts: “Get 20% off your first cleaning—book via the link in our bio today!”

• Create Urgency: “This offer ends soon—don’t miss out on your chance to get a free consultation!”

• Exclusive Deals: Offer discounts or free consultations exclusively for your TikTok followers to incentivize bookings.

Make Booking Seamless with Online Scheduling

The easier it is for potential patients to book an appointment, the more likely they are to do so. Integrate an online scheduling tool like ZocDoc or LocalMed directly into your TikTok bio. This allows viewers to schedule appointments without leaving the app or getting distracted. The smoother and faster the booking process, the higher your conversion rate.

For example, you could add a simple CTA like, “Tap the link in our bio to book your appointment now!” and ensure your scheduling tool is easy to navigate and responsive on mobile devices.

Don’t Forget to Follow Up!

Converting TikTok views into bookings doesn't end with the initial interaction. The follow-up process is crucial for turning interested viewers into loyal patients. By staying engaged and consistently nurturing your leads, you increase the likelihood of them booking an appointment.

Here’s how to keep the momentum going:

LiveChat for Instant Engagement

When a potential patient enters your website from TikTok, live chat can immediately engage them in real-time. This instant communication allows you to answer questions, ease concerns, and guide them toward booking an appointment. Whether they’re asking about a specific treatment or checking availability, Managed LiveChat ensures no lead is left waiting.

It can also capture essential patient information—such as their contact details and treatment interest—right away, which helps streamline the booking process and boosts conversion rates.

Internal Practice Marketing (IPM)

Once you've captured the initial interest, Internal Practice Marketing (IPM) can help you stay in touch. IPM allows you to automate follow-up messages based on specific actions, like watching a video or clicking on a link. These messages can remind potential patients about your services, highlight special promotions, or nudge them to schedule their consultation.

Automated messages can include appointment reminders, re-engagement prompts for users who haven't booked yet, or gentle nudges for those who might be on the fence. This constant engagement ensures you're always top of mind.

Email or SMS Campaigns

While TikTok is great for attracting attention, it’s often more effective to nurture leads with email or SMS campaigns that keep them engaged over time. Use automated systems to send personalized reminders, educational content, and updates about special offers. For example:

• Appointment Reminders: “Don’t forget to schedule your free consultation! Click here to book.”

• Exclusive Promotions: “Book by [date] to receive 20% off your first cleaning.”

These types of follow-up messages can help guide leads from TikTok through the final stages of the booking process.

Engage Directly via DMs and Comments

Sometimes, a personalized touch makes all the difference.

When someone comments or shows interest in a service, engage directly in the comments or through DMs to answer questions, offer additional information, or provide reassurance. Respond promptly with helpful, personalized messages if someone shows interest in a specific treatment or asks about your services.

For instance:

• DM Follow-ups: “Thanks for commenting on our teeth whitening video! Here’s more info on how it works and how you can schedule a consultation.”

• Comments: “Great question! If you’re interested in whitening, we can set you up with a free consultation—just click the link in our bio!”

Direct engagement builds trust and makes potential patients feel valued and heard, increasing the likelihood of them booking an appointment.

Let’s Maximize Your Practice’s Growth with TikTok

TikTok is a powerful, underutilized tool for dental practices to engage with potential patients, build trust, and drive bookings. By creating authentic content that highlights your expertise and practice personality, you can cultivate a loyal online community that converts into real-world patients.

With trending content, clear CTAs, and performance tracking, TikTok helps expand your practice’s visibility and create an experience that encourages action.  

Combining TikTok ads, LiveChat, and automated follow-ups ensures every interaction moves leads closer to booking an appointment.

TikTok can become a cornerstone of your practice’s growth by measuring success and continuously refining your approach. The potential is massive—now it’s time to take action and watch your patient base grow.

If TikTok feels overwhelming or you’re unsure where to start, Digital Resource is here to help. Our experts specialize in creating engaging TikTok strategies that drive results. Give us a call today, and let’s grow your practice through TikTok!