Tips for using WhatsApp with patients
- Message only patients who gave you their number for this purpose, and stop at once if someone asks you to.
- Keep it short and use the patient’s name. One message, one purpose.
- Send in clinic hours, not late at night.
- Keep health details out of the message. A reminder needs a date and a time, not a diagnosis.
- Make replying easy. “Reply YES to confirm” is quicker than a phone call, and it gives you a record.
- Answer replies quickly. A patient who gets a reply to “can we shift to Friday?” stays a patient.
What these seven messages cover
- Appointment confirmation — right after booking.
- Appointment reminder — the day before.
- Check-up recall — when a regular check-up is due.
- Next visit for ongoing treatment — when the next sitting is due.
- Polite payment reminder — when a balance is pending.
- Google review request — after a completed visit.
- Birthday wish — on the patient’s birthday.
Doing this by hand every day
Copying messages works for a handful of patients. When it becomes a daily job, Odontra can send the reminders and recalls for you on WhatsApp. Each automatic message has its own off switch, goes out only in the clinic’s hours and respects patients who opted out. Read our guide to WhatsApp for dental clinics or see the AI Front Desk.