How long should the doctor’s portion of a dental case presentation actually run?
Twenty-five minutes or less, not counting the financial discussion. Beyond that, the patient’s attention degrades, decision fatigue sets in, and case acceptance drops measurably. Most case presentations balloon past 25 minutes because the doctor explains too much, includes too much clinical detail, and answers questions the patient did not ask. The fix is structure: a clear segment for the diagnosis, a clear segment for the options (three or fewer), and a clear segment for the recommendation. Each segment time-boxed. The doctor leaves the room at 25 minutes and the financial coordinator takes over the fee conversation. The discipline of the time limit forces the doctor to prepare and to cut what does not need to be said.
If the answers you are finding here resonate with you, my team and I work with a small group of clients each year. The next step is a complimentary Discovery Consultation and Practice Review with Dr. McAnally.