In 2024, millions of patients turned to Zocdoc to find healthcare providers across every state and specialty, booking appointments instantly online. Every click revealed patient preferences, including for dental care — one of the most sought-after specialties. In fact, dentists were the fourth most-booked specialists in 2024.
By analyzing these patient behaviors, we uncovered powerful insights to help practices better support their patients. Here’s what Zocdoc data revealed about dental patients in 2024.
Who was looking for new dental providers?
Zocdoc dental patients skewed younger and female
In 2024, more than half (55%) of Zocdoc dental patients were millennials (ages 27-42) and Gen Z made up a quarter of bookings (25%). 3 out of 5 dental bookers were women.
They sought long-term relationships
Patients seeking dental care in 2024 valued trust and continuity. Over 80% of Zocdoc’s dental patients rebooked with the same provider, making them one of the most loyal patient groups. This loyalty translated to higher lifetime revenue, as patients consistently returned for dental cleanings, routine exams, and tooth pain.
When did they want to see dental providers?
Patients prioritized speed to care
In 2024, 61% of appointments occurred within 8 days of booking — far sooner than the national average wait time of 14.6 days.*
*According to the American Dental Association
Booking flexibility was essential
While only 12% of patients booked dental appointments between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m., this behavior was part of a critical trend we saw in 2024: patients increasingly value flexibility and convenience in scheduling. Offering online self-scheduling ensures practices can capture these bookings and remain competitive by meeting the needs of patients who prefer to book outside of traditional office hours.
They wanted to get in early
The busiest booking days were Mondays and Tuesdays, with 10 a.m. being the most popular time slot. January was the busiest month for bookings, followed by October.
How did they choose dental providers?
Insurance drove decisions
In 2024, 9 out of 10 dental patients booked with commercial insurance and chose in-network providers.
Mobile led the way
60% of dental appointments were booked via mobile device, a number that continues to increase year-over-year, and underscores the importance of meeting patients where and how they’re searching.
Reviews and photos mattered
Patients consistently favored providers with more positive reviews and professional office photos. Relative to dental providers with one to nine reviews, those with 10 to 29 reviews saw 3x as many bookings on average. While many platforms allow anyone to write a review, Zocdoc promotes trust by only publishing reviews from verified patients.
Similarly, providers with one to three office photos got 2x as many bookings compared to providers who didn’t show off their office space.
Why were they looking for new dental providers?
Routine needs and common concerns were top of mind
The most-booked visit reasons included dental cleanings and routine exams, dental pain, broken tooth, cavities, wisdom tooth problems, tooth extractions, and dental emergencies.
In 2024, dental pain was a top-growing visit reason – up 100% and 119% year-over-year for women and men, respectively.
Patients also wanted to improve their smiles
Dental patients showed a particular interest in veneer appointments in 2024 –– up 15% and 16% year-over-year for women and men, respectively.
Where did they want to see dental providers?
Patients wanted to stay close to home
In 2024, 4 out of 5 visits took place within 20 miles.
Looking back at 2024
From prioritizing quick access and long-term relationships to favoring providers with trustworthy reviews, dental patients made their expectations clear. Understanding these trends and how you can meet patients’ unique needs can position your practice for further growth in 2025. Consult with an enterprise sales representative to learn more about how Zocdoc can grow your business.