When during the dental treatment process should the testimonial release form actually be signed?
At the case-start appointment, alongside the rest of the paperwork that protects the treatment relationship. The patient already verbally agreed during the case presentation to provide a testimonial in exchange for the testimonial discount. The case-start visit converts the verbal agreement into a signed release that gives the practice the legal right to use the patient’s story, photographs, and video for future marketing materials when the treatment is complete and the patient is happy with the outcome. Signing the release at case start serves several purposes. It locks in the commitment while the patient is still in their initial positive frame about choosing treatment. It avoids the awkward post-treatment scramble where some patients become hesitant or unreachable. It produces a clean documentary record that the testimonial discount was paired with a real consent to use. Practices that wait until after treatment to ask for the release end up with thinner libraries of usable success stories than practices that secure the release at the case start. Build the release into the case-start paperwork stack.
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.