Summary:
The 2025 Dental Practice Marketing Brief reveals how dental professionals are approaching marketing this year, including which channels are performing best, how much practices are investing, and where they see the most opportunity for improvement. Insights from more than 100 respondents show that while marketing tools are evolving, success still starts with the fundamentals: patient experience, trust, and consistency.
Marketing Channels: Referrals Still Reign, Digital Marketing Rising
Word of mouth and patient referrals remain the most powerful drivers of new patient growth. According to the survey, 77.5% of practices said referrals are their most effective marketing channel. This reinforces the continued importance of patient relationships and high-quality care as the foundation of sustainable marketing.
As one respondent put it:
“Nothing beats word of mouth — great care and genuine relationships are still the best form of advertising.”
At the same time, digital marketing continues to gain traction, accounting for 17% of reported success. Google Ads and social media are increasingly effective for practices that stay consistent and target the right audience. While traditional channels like direct mail and email campaigns still have a role, digital visibility has become essential for maintaining growth and competitiveness.
Key takeaway:
Exceptional care and service still create the strongest growth engine, but digital presence now amplifies credibility and reach.
Marketing Budgets: Modest Investments, Strategic Focus
Dental marketing budgets remain conservative but focused. The survey found that:
- 38.8% spend $1–$1,000 per month
- 19.4% spend $1,000–$2,500 per month
- 17.8% spend $2,500–$5,000 per month
- 13.2% spend $0, relying entirely on organic referrals
- 11% invest more than $5,000 per month
Most practices are carefully allocating funds toward tools and channels that deliver measurable results rather than spreading their budget thin.
As one dentist explained:
“Invest in quality marketing — not necessarily more marketing. Every dollar should serve a clear purpose.”
Key takeaway:
Even small budgets can deliver strong results when marketing spend aligns with data, goals, and patient experience.
Marketing Performance: Moderate Satisfaction, Clear Opportunities
When asked to rate satisfaction with their marketing results, respondents gave an average score of 6.98 out of 10. This suggests that while most practices see positive results, there is still untapped potential, particularly in tracking ROI, creating consistent content, and optimizing online reputation.
One participant noted:
“You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Track your efforts so you know what’s actually working.”
The data shows that practices seeking greater confidence in their marketing should focus on improving analytics and maintaining consistency across campaigns and content.
Key takeaway:
Measuring performance and refining strategies over time helps dental teams achieve more predictable and rewarding results.
Top Marketing Goals for 2025: Acquisition and Retention Take the Lead
Surveyed practices identified their top marketing priorities for 2025 as a mix of growth and loyalty-building:
|
Marketing Goal |
% of Respondents |
Insight |
|
Attract new patients |
65% |
New patient acquisition remains the leading focus. |
|
Retain and reactivate existing patients |
55.8% |
Retention and recall programs are key to long-term growth. |
|
Build brand awareness |
9.3% |
Awareness supports credibility and local recognition. |
|
Drive specific service sales |
3.9% |
Less of a priority than overall patient volume. |
Many dental professionals emphasized the value of staying connected to their communities — both in person and online.
As one respondent shared:
“Get involved in your community and stay visible. Patients trust the practices they see participating and giving back.”
Key takeaway:
Sustained growth in 2025 comes from balancing new patient acquisition with strong retention and community engagement.
Conclusion: Experience, Consistency, and Trust Define 2025 Success
Across every response, one message stood out clearly: the best marketing is delivering great dentistry and consistent patient experiences.
As one respondent summarized:
“What you promote should match what patients experience. Consistency builds trust, and trust builds your reputation.”
Dental marketing in 2025 is evolving, but the principles remain timeless, genuine care, honest communication, and reliability continue to drive the strongest referrals and online visibility.
Key takeaway:
Practices that align exceptional care with clear, consistent marketing are the ones seeing the greatest success and stability in 2025.
About the 2025 Dental Marketing Survey
This report summarizes responses from 129 dental professionals representing a range of practice types and sizes. The survey explored marketing channel performance, investment levels, satisfaction, and strategic goals to identify trends shaping dental marketing in 2025.