Why February Felt Slower (And What You Can Do About It)
February was rough. 🥶
If your practice felt it, you’re not alone.
✅ Marketing results were down
✅ Fewer patient referrals
✅ New patients are harder to come by
✅ Treatment acceptance dropped
It wasn’t just you—this was happening across the board.
But what’s actually causing the dip?
Let’s talk about a big shift in the economy that’s quietly impacting your patient flow: Remote workers are going back to the office.
💼 The Return to Office is Real (and it’s Impacting Dental)
You’ve probably seen headlines like:
- Elon Musk requiring full-time office return
- Federal workers ending remote work privileges
- JP Morgan’s CEO reportedly yelling at leaders to return to in-person
- Amazon, TikTok, and others doing the same
What does that mean for you?
Well, your patients are losing flexibility.
And dental—being mostly 9 to 5, Monday through Thursday—isn’t keeping up.
🕐 Why Fewer People are Showing Up
Here’s the conflict:
- When people worked remotely, they could sneak in a cleaning or exam midday.
- Now? They’re back in the office with limited lunch breaks and tighter windows.
- A 30-minute lunch isn’t enough to travel, sit through a cleaning, and get back.
That flexibility is gone.
And if your schedule isn’t flexible, you lose.
🇦🇺 This is Already Happening in Australia
Australia is seeing a massive wave of in-office mandates and a noticeable impact on service businesses.
📰 “A domino effect of widespread acceptance that the work-from-home party is ending.”
Translation?
Get ahead of this now, or February’s problems become your Q2 reality.
✅ How to Fix it Fast
You don’t need to overhaul your practice.
But you do need to shift your scheduling strategy.
Here’s what’s working:
1. Implement Block Scheduling for New Patients
Create dedicated time blocks during:
- Early mornings
- Lunch hours
- Late afternoons
- (Consider adding Fridays if you’re currently closed)
Why?
These are high-value times where flexibility matters most. Don’t let healthy hygiene patients fill these.
Think of your schedule like real estate:
🏙️Morning, lunch, and late-day = Boardwalk & Park Place. Reserve them for high-needs patients.
2. Gently Reschedule Hygiene Patients
You love Miss Susie. She’s been with you for years.
But she’s healthy—and doesn’t need a prime-time slot.
Instead of seeing her every 6 months at 10:00 a.m., push it to every 7 months at 2:30 p.m.
That opens the door for high-production new patients who can’t come at any other time.
3. Shorten Time to Appointment
The average wait right now? Three weeks.
That’s too long for new patients in pain or ready to start treatment.
🔑 Keep appointment slots open just for new patients.
Don’t let loyal-but-low-urgency visits block your growth.
🧠 Final Thought: This isn’t Going Away
As more people return to the office, this problem gets worse, not better.
But the good news?
A few simple changes can help you win while others struggle.
- Shift your schedule
- Reserve prime-time for new patients
- Stay operationally flexible
- Track your no-show rates and tighten them up
Want to improve leadership and take your practice to the next level? Schedule a free strategy call with SMC today!
👉 Click Here To Book Your Free Consultation!