Attracting orthodontic patients via the Internet: A 20-year evolution

• General dentists continue to be a good source of new orthodontic patients.
• Many patients today select a specialist based on information found on the Internet.
• Successful orthodontists will make it easy for patients to find their Web sites.

A generation ago, attracting new patients to an orthodontic practice was often done simply by cultivating a few good referral sources. General dentists, including some who might have provided orthodontic treatment out of necessity, were generally glad to have a trusted specialist they could recommend to their patients. Although general dentists remain an important source of new patients today, many consumers now turn to the Internet for help selecting their own specialists. As orthodontists face more competition from various sources, successful clinicians will make it easy for search engines—and patients—to find their Web sites on the Internet.