Dental appointment software: a practical no-show checklist
Use this checklist to review booking details, test reminders and make appointment changes easier to communicate. Compare missed visits over time to see what helps your practice.
Start with a consistent record of missed visits
Agree how your team records a missed appointment, a cancellation and a rescheduled visit. Count them separately over comparable periods so a change in booking volume does not distort the picture. Keep a simple count in the practice’s usual record or reporting process so the team can compare results.
Confirm the practical details when arranging a visit
Check the appointment date, time, location and contact details with the patient. Use clear service names and durations so reception and the practitioner understand the time reserved. Decide how your team communicates arrival instructions and changes. Use the practice’s established communication process for clinical instructions and treatment information.
Test reminders before relying on them
Review the notification settings and run a test using your own contact details. Check that the message reaches the intended address or number and contains the right appointment information. Plandok Free includes 100 email notifications per month, and Premium includes unlimited email notifications. SMS and WhatsApp notifications require Premium, with message charges billed separately from the subscription.
Make it clear how to tell the practice about a change
Tell patients how to contact reception if they cannot attend or need another time. Once a change is agreed, update the calendar so the original slot and the new appointment are accurate. Keep this communication consistent with your practice’s cancellation process.
Offer suitable appointments through a tested booking link
Plandok’s booking page lets clients choose a service, staff member and available time. Decide which appointment types the practice wants to offer online and keep telephone bookings in the same calendar. Review any visit that needs assessment or a special scheduling arrangement through your normal reception process.
Compare results over similar periods
Compare the number of missed appointments with the number scheduled over similar periods, using the same definitions. Look at whether contact details were correct and whether people could easily report a change. Consider other changes in the practice at the same time. Keep the changes that help your team and continue measuring; attendance also depends on factors beyond the booking process.
Check what the scheduling plan covers
The Free plan includes one location, up to 3 staff members, unlimited appointments, clients and online bookings, and 100 email notifications per month. No credit card is needed to start. Use an appropriate clinical system alongside the calendar for dental charting, treatment plans and clinical images.
Choose your next step
Explore the relevant booking workflow or setup guide.
See how service durations, practitioner schedules and online bookings fit together.
Compare appointment notificationsReview email allowances and separately charged SMS and WhatsApp messages.
Prepare your first booking calendarCheck services, working hours and existing appointments before sharing your booking link.
Will reminders eliminate missed dental appointments?
No system can guarantee attendance. Reminders can help people check their appointment details, but the practice should review its own results and keep a clear way for patients to report changes.
Are SMS reminders included in the Free plan?
Free includes 100 email notifications per month. SMS and WhatsApp notifications require Premium, with message charges billed separately from the subscription.
Does a booking calendar replace dental practice records?
No. The workflow described here is for appointments and contact details. Use an appropriate clinical system for dental charts, treatment records and clinical images.
Try a clearer dental appointment calendar
The Free plan includes one location, up to 3 staff members, unlimited appointments, clients and online bookings, and 100 email notifications per month. No credit card is needed to start.