How does asking for a "promise" during the wrap-up reduce the dental no-show rate? Because the word promise activates a different psychological commitment than a casual confirmation. The wrap-up script closes with a specific request: "There is one more thing. Will you promise to call me at this number if you cannot make it, so we can give the time to another patient?" The caller usually says yes. Having now made a verbal promise, they take the appointment more seriously than they would have under a generic confirmation. Most people honor a promise they explicitly made, especially when the request was [...]

How does asking for a "promise" during the wrap-up reduce the dental no-show rate? Because the word promise activates a different psychological commitment than a casual confirmation. The wrap-up script closes with a specific request: "There is one more thing. Will you promise to call me at this number if you cannot make it, so we can give the time to another patient?" The caller usually says yes. Having now made a verbal promise, they take the appointment more seriously than they would have under a generic confirmation. Most people honor a promise they explicitly made, especially when the request was [...]

How does asking for a "promise" during the wrap-up reduce the dental no-show rate? Because the word promise activates a different psychological commitment than a casual confirmation. The wrap-up script closes with a specific request: "There is one more thing. Will you promise to call me at this number if you cannot make it, so we can give the time to another patient?" The caller usually says yes. Having now made a verbal promise, they take the appointment more seriously than they would have under a generic confirmation. Most people honor a promise they explicitly made, especially when the request was [...]