Dental Marketing Limitations Across the Globe

Dentists Handcuffed by Dental Practice Marketing Restrictions

The restrictions placed on dental marketing and advertising are far stricter than most consumers realize. Dentists often feel that they're not able to reach new patients because of dental boards and advertising councils.

Just a few decades ago, American dentists would be called before their state dental boards if they sent out a new patient mailer. But direct mail marketing is even tougher elsewhere… In Ireland, dentists are finally permitted to do some marketing, but they're not to use their address. "The dentist should ensure that his or her name, profession and practice address are not published simultaneously," even when conducting interviews or writing letter to the editor.

In the UK, a private dental surgery was ordered by the Advertising Standards Authority to stop referring to dentist John Stowall as "doctor."Dr. Jonathan Fielden of the British Medical Association opposes dentists using the title of doctor. “Certain titles can sometimes mislead patients into thinking people are medically qualified when they are not,” he said, to the offense of dentists everywhere.

Read more about Britain or Ireland