As a patient, would you have a problem leaving a non-refundable deposit to hold your dental appointment?

Because of the amounts of no-shows that we have dealt with over the past year, we have decided to require that patients put down a non-refundable deposit for their dental work. Usually it is for appointments that last over an hour. This is because by the time we realize a patient isn't going to show for their appointment, usually by 15 minutes after the appointment time, it is too late to give the appointment to someone else. Even if we don't have a patient in that appointment spot, the dentist still has to pay the utilities and the staff. Making patients pay a deposit of 1/3 of the cost of the appointment, usually ensures that they won't "no-show" for their appointment, as they don't want to forfit that non-refundable deposit, and will make certain they show up for their appointment. Of course, if an unavoidable emergency happened, we would take that into consideration.


Some patients are getting angry over this, and refuse to pay a deposit. Would you be understanding of this?

As a patient, would you have a problem leaving a non-refundable deposit to hold your dental appointment?
it's a good approach. we have the same problem in our office. we haven't done what you are doing yet but it should be done. You are taking up time that someone else could have had that needed to get in.
Reply:NO WAY! I would find another dentist.
Reply:I would understand. People need to realize that other people's time is as valuable as their own.
Reply:No, I wouldn't be understanding of that. How many of these patients' appts. are on time? How long are the patients having to wait past their appt time to be seen? Maybe your office is different, but I've never been to a dentist appt where I was seen at my appt time. Most of the time, I've had to wait at least 30 minutes past my time. I did my part by being there on time. What about my time? Doctors and dentists don't respect their patients time, so why should patients be overly concerned about their dr's or dentists time? Respect goes both ways.
Reply:No I don't think it is a bad idea..I had an appointment to get two wisdom teeth pulled and the person before me didn't show up and I still had to wait for like an hour because they had planned for doing different stuff..Say deposits are a good idea!!
Reply:I usually only have these kind of failures from patients that are phobic. I send them a letter that future "no shows" or cancellations less than 24 hours in advance will result in a fee that is the price of the appointment. My phobic patient's attendance has improved or they go somewhere else. There aren't too many dentists in my are with the patience to deal with phobic patients. I'm so busy, I don't notice the attrition

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