Each month, millions of patients visit Zocdoc to find healthcare providers across every state and specialty and to instantly book an appointment online. That means every day, with their clicks, patients are telling us what they want from their providers — and who meets their standards.
Patient preferences tell us a lot about how best to support those patients. The more insight your practice gains on real patient behavior, the better you can position yourself in the marketplace.
We analyzed the data from hundreds of thousands of dental bookings in 2023 to break down the 5 Ws (and one H) of a Zocdoc dental patient. Here, 15 facts about potential dental patients that you need to know.
Who is on Zocdoc?
Everybody, with a female, 25-plus skew
- 3 out of 5 dental bookers are female.
- More than half (55%) are millennials (ages 25-39).
- 25% are young adults ages 18-29.
What are they looking for?
A provider who takes their commercial insurance, offers online booking, and can see them ASAP
- Nearly 90% of bookings are in-network using a commercial insurance plan.
- 60% of dental patients booked via mobile, while 40% booked via desktop.
- 41% of bookings are for appointments within 4 days, while 59% of bookings are for appointments within 8 days.
When do they want to meet?
Tuesdays are great, but they’ll book anytime — day or night
- Tuesdays are the most popular days for dental appointments, followed by Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Popularity drops off on Fridays and into the weekend.
- Patients booked 55% more appointments on Tuesday, January 3 — the first non-holiday weekday of the New Year — than the average number of bookings made on Tuesdays in 2023.
- Nearly half of patients (48%) prefer to book dentist appointments from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. when the office is typically closed.
Where do they want to meet?
Fairly close by
- 4 out of 5 appointments are booked within 20 miles of their location.
Why do they want to meet?
To brush up
- The top three visit reasons include dental cleanings, consultations, and new patient exams, respectively.
- When patients self-pay, the top three visit reasons include veneers, cosmetic emergencies, and braces/retainer checkups.
- Dental implants, bridges, and bad breath (halitosis) are the top three most booked out-of-network visit reasons.
How do they make decisions?
They trust the wisdom of crowds and want to see providers’ smiles
- Compared to dental providers with 1 to 9 reviews, those with 10 to 29 received nearly 3x the number of bookings; providers with 50 to 99 received 6x the number of bookings.
- Dental providers with 1 to 3 office photos received 2x bookings compared to providers with zero photos. Providers with 4+ photos received 3x bookings compared to providers with zero photos.
Meet the patients
Zocdoc dental patients tend to be young and commercially insured. They are looking for immediate appointments with providers in their local area. They want 24/7 online booking access and to read reviews.
Get to know these patients firsthand by listing your practice on Zocdoc today. Consult with an enterprise sales representative to learn more about how Zocdoc can grow your business.