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Mastering recalls: the hidden growth engine of your practice

Recalls aren’t just admin tasks. They are a strategic engine for growth, retention, and care. Done well, recalls reduce cancellations, stabilise revenue, and build long-term relationships. Done poorly, they silently drain your time, income and team morale.

🧍‍♂️ 40%

of the UK population do not go to the dentist regularly

📉 42%

of patients are lost annually by the average practice

💷 £150

is the average cost of acquiring a new patient

🏆 Success spotlight: Queen Street Dental

  • 🖥️ 30+ online bookings per month, saving 2.8 hours of phone time
  • 📄 328 digital forms submitted in 6 months = 54+ hours saved on admin
  • 📈 +35% increase in recall effectiveness since January 2024
  • ⏱️ 20% uplift in chair time utilisation across 3 practitioners
  • ✅ Failed to attend (FTA) rate consistently below 1%
Read the full story →

🚨 Every missed recall date is lost revenue.

Patients without recall dates won’t be contacted. This silent issue affects thousands of UK practices, often unnoticed until it’s too late. One missing field could cost your practice hundreds over time.

📊 New: Track your recall effectiveness

Use the new 'Recall Effectiveness' report to see at a glance how many of your recalls convert into booked and completed appointments. Apply filters, spot trends in your performance and identify next steps you could take to improve. Successful recall conversions will keep patients coming back, improving your practice revenue, reducing white space and avoiding the need for manual admin.

Screenshot of the Recall Effectiveness dashboard in Dentally Read the full guide →

📋 8 rules for effective recalls

These best practices come from real-world results across the UK, Australia and Canada. Not theory — just what works.

📅 Pre-book first
Recalls are a backup. Patients who pre-book are 50% more likely to attend.
📱 Collect contact info
No email or mobile? No automation. Ask every time.
🗓️ Log recall dates
No date, no recall. Make sure every patient has one recorded.
📤 Send daily, not monthly
Daily recalls reduce admin, bottlenecks, and improve consistency.
📬 Use multiple channels
SMS, email, letters, calls — no single method reaches everyone.
⚡ One-tap booking
Don’t lose patients to long forms. Make it easy and instant.
📊 Track key metrics
  • Effectiveness (% who booked)
  • Pre-booking rate
  • Coverage (who was contacted)
💸 Reduce churn
It costs £150+ to win a new patient. Retention is cheaper — and smarter.

💬 Language matters

Practices using Elevate improved recall rates with better subject lines. “You’re due” became “We’d love to see you again.”

🚀 Ready to elevate your recall strategy?

Meet your Customer Success Manager. They’ll walk through your recall setup, benchmark performance, and help you take the next step.

🤝 Meet your Customer Success Manager
Patient Illustration

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