Online appointment booking for dentists: convenient, but not a patient magnet

Digitalization has significantly transformed the healthcare sector in recent years. Patients now expect the same level of convenience they’re used to in e-commerce or travel booking: everything must be fast, simple, and online.

It’s no surprise, then, that online appointment booking for dentists has long become the norm. According to a study by the German National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, more than 60% of patients already use online services to schedule medical appointments—and demand is growing every year.

But despite all its advantages, one central challenge remains: an online calendar alone rarely attracts new patients.

Why Online Appointment Booking Alone Isn’t Enough

Many dental practices have embedded an online calendar on their website. This is a huge benefit for existing patients—appointments can be booked flexibly without phone calls or long waiting times.

However, for new patients, this is often not enough. The reasons:

• Lack of visibility: Potential patients first need to find the practice website—usually only through Google search. 
• High advertising costs: Visibility via Google Ads or social media is expensive and doesn’t guarantee results. 
• Competition: In cities, several practices often compete for the same patients. 

The outcome: the calendar is used, but mainly by patients who already know the practice.

Conclusion: Online booking alone does not solve the problem of reach.

Patient Trends: How New Patients Search Today

To understand why DentalAce is so important, let’s take a closer look at patient behavior:

• More than 70% of patients search for a doctor online first (Source: Bitkom). 
• Over 50% compare reviews before choosing a practice. 
• Around 40% prefer practices with instantly bookable appointments online (Source: jameda study 2022). 

This means: patients are not just looking for a dentist—they want to book immediately, ideally right from Google search results or through specialized platforms.

DentalAce: The Smart Solution for Greater Visibility

This is where DentalAce comes in. Our platform makes your practice visible where patients are actively searching for appointments.

How it works:

• We integrate a free forwarding button to your existing online calendar—whether you use Softdent or another system. 
• Your available appointments are displayed on our portal, where patients in your region are actively looking for a dentist. 
• With just a few clicks, patients can book an appointment directly with you. 

This way, your calendar becomes more than just a service tool for loyal patients—it turns into a powerful marketing instrument.

Benefits of DentalAce for Your Practice

• More visibility: Your practice is found by patients who don’t yet know your website. 
• Efficiency: You keep using your familiar system—DentalAce runs seamlessly in the background. 
• New patients: Visibility + easy booking = more new patients. 
• Free to start: No high investments, no complicated tech setup.

Softdent Integration Included 

Many dental practices already use the Softdent online calendar. DentalAce offers a key advantage here:

• Thanks to our partnership, DentalAce is directly connected to Softdent. 
• Appointments are synchronized automatically. 
• Your administration runs as usual—without any duplicate effort. 

And the best part: additional integrations with leading practice management software providers are already in progress.

Building Trust with the DentalAce Review System

Alongside booking, patient trust is a decisive factor. But reviews on Google and similar platforms are often unreliable or even manipulated.

That’s why DentalAce relies on its own review system:

• Authentic: Only real patients can leave reviews. 
• Trustworthy: Clear rules and full transparency. 
• Tamper-proof: More secure than many other platforms. 

The result: greater credibility—and with it, more new patients for your practice.

Case Study: How One Dental Practice Won More New Patients 

A dental practice in Vienna had previously relied only on its own online calendar on the practice website. The result: about 80% of bookings came from existing patients.

After integrating DentalAce:

• 35% more new patients within 6 months 
• Significantly reduced advertising costs for Google Ads 
• Better appointment utilization, even for short-term slots 

DentalAce not only increases visibility—it demonstrably boosts practice growth.

Conclusion: Online Booking + DentalAce = Sustainable Growth

Online appointment booking is a must today—but it’s not enough to win new patients. Only with additional visibility, reach, and trust does your calendar become a true growth engine.

With DentalAce, you gain:

• New patients without costly advertising 
• More visibility through our portal 
• Greater trust with a secure review system 
• Seamless integration into your existing software