Manrina Rhode explains how to seamlessly move from a standard dental health check to discussing cosmetic treatments without running out of time or making patients feel pressured.
In this video, Dr Manrina shares her proven workflow for identifying cosmetic opportunities whilst maintaining professional boundaries and ensuring adequate consultation time.
The time management challenge
With only 30 minutes allocated for routine examinations – charting, BPE assessments, radiographs, and oral health discussions – there’s rarely time left for meaningful cosmetic conversations. Casually asking, ‘Are you happy with your smile?’ at the end of an appointment creates awkward situations when you lack time to properly address their response.
The solution: smart pre-appointment planning
Manrina recommends integrating a brief cosmetic questionnaire into your patient management software’s medical history section. Patients complete this before arriving, indicating interest in areas like tooth whitening, alignment concerns, or replacing silver fillings.
This allows you to quickly identify opportunities and acknowledge them at the start: ‘Thanks for completing the form. Let’s do your health check first, then we’ll discuss booking a separate cosmetic consultation to properly explore those options.’
The dedicated cosmetic consultation
This follow-up appointment transforms the experience entirely. It’s not about generating immediate revenue – it’s a loss leader that builds your cosmetic case portfolio. During this dedicated time, you can present Photoshop mockups, ClinCheck visualisations, and comprehensive treatment options without rushing. The atmosphere shifts from clinical necessity to exciting possibility.
Creating the right framework
Having structured pro formas for both initial screening and detailed cosmetic assessments ensures nothing gets overlooked whilst maintaining professional standards throughout the patient journey.
Ready to increase your cosmetic cases?
Interested in accessing these questionnaires, pro formas, and learning the complete cosmetic consultation workflow? Contact us about Manrina’s mentorship programme at Dental Courses London or email academy@drmr.co.uk to discover comprehensive support for growing your cosmetic dentistry skills.
This article is sponsored by DRMR Clinic.
