Getting your patients to schedule routine appointments is extremely important to make your dental office successful.  Having a scheduling system that flows smoothly is the key in patient satisfaction and building revenue.  No matter the size of the office, the Doctor must set an amount of hours each week he or she would like to see patients.  This time is separate from office hours, this is strictly seeing and working on patients.  Once the hours are determined, then the Doctor can decide how to staff the office to make certain each and every patient is taken care of in a timely manner.  Never double book your patients.  Each patient deserves your undivided attention, this makes the patient feel very comfortable in an uncomfortable setting.  If you are seeing a new patient for the very first time, allow a little more time in your schedule for them.  It’s important to explain everything in detail to brand new patients, this is what will keep them coming back.  Try and organize your day by patient type/procedure type.  For example, if you have your regular patients that just need a simple cleaning, schedule them in the mornings to create easy patient flow, and schedule patients that need procedures done in the later afternoon.  Dedicate one person or a scheduling team to make appointments, avoid just any employee having the capability to schedule appointments, this will reduce scheduling conflicts.  Make your staff aware of the importance of getting your patients to schedule routine appointments.  Having good patient flow creates good revenue, which is what pays the employees salaries.  Never let a patient leave your office without scheduling their next appointment whether it’s a cleaning or a crown/bridge seat.  Cleanings are scheduled every six months which is a long time in your patients busy life, so create a system to mail a postcard one month before the patients appointment and then give a courtesy call the week of the appointment.  Your patients will love you doing the work for them.  If your office follows these strategies, you are sure to easily get your patients to schedule routine appointments and increase office flow and revenue.