# How to create a Dentist Website There are approximately 12,000 dental practices in the UK. And most patients will **search online** before committing to an appointment with a dentist in their city. A dental surgery **without a website** often goes unnoticed. But why is a **dental practice website** so i**mportant**? Besides increasing your chances of being found online by potential patients, a web page can also highlight your specialist competencies and create trust between you and your patients. A dentist website provides useful information for potential patients. This also makes it an important **component of your clinic’s marketing strategy**. --- ### Tip Here’s how other industries are creating their online presences: - Create a coaching website - [Create photographer website](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/website-creation/build-photography-website/) - [Create doctor website](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/website-creation/create-medical-website/) - [Create restaurant website](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/website-creation/build-a-restaurant-website/) - [Create mechanic website](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/website-creation/tradesman-website/) - [Create real-estate website](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/website-creation/build-a-real-estate-website/) - [Create accountant website](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/website-creation/create-accountant-website/) - [Create a hairdresser website](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/website-creation/create-a-hairdresser-website/) --- Using existing technologies, it’s easy as 1-2-3 to create a dental surgery website. Since practice owners tend to have limited time available, the design of their website is often left with external service providers and web developers. However, the owner of the practice **remains responsible for the content on the homepage**. Our guide provides important tips on how to create a dental website. We provide the **step-by-step instructions** to help you create a successful website for your practice. ## A dental office website has several advantages For most people, the **dentist practice** is rarely a happy place. A majority of people dread going to the dentist. That’s why it’s all the more important that patients feel welcome, enter a **relaxing atmosphere,** and can easily access all the **information they require**. Trust is a major component, especially for new patients. For trust to be established, it’s not just the qualification of the dentist and their staff that needs to convince. The entire office ambience should evoke confidence. And this should be obvious from a **dentist’s website**. So, make sure you present yourself and your staff as helpful and competent points of contact. There are plenty of new patients who recently moved home and are now looking for a new dental practice to join. This is your chance to score through a professional online presence. A comprehensive dentist website can also alert patients to **additional dental services**, such as professional teeth cleaning, implants, or treatments that are offered under analgesia. This indicates a wide range of services and can provide additional income. A good dental practice website means that patients can easily **get in contact** **and schedule appointments** via your homepage. ## Coronavirus explainer: dental clinic websites are even more important during times of crisis COVID-19 has turned everything upside down. New rules are being implemented on an ongoing basis and differ regionally. This creates **insecurity among patients**. That’s why, it’s all the more important to keep your patients in the know. Use your homepage to clarify current access rules and regulations in your practice. In addition, you probably want to **minimise the number of patients waiting** in the practice at any given time. A website can be helpful here: Provide information about various communication options or implement a booking system. Patients can use this to book available appointments online. At IONOS, we’re passionate about being a dependable partner for your business during the Coronavirus pandemic. Find out everything about our diverse range of support services on the following [information page](https://www.ionos.co.uk/adapttoevolve "#hostingyoursuccess | IONOS"). ## Different ways to create a dental website Creating a dentist website is not very difficult – at least not in terms of the technical aspects required. With the right tools, you don’t need to know the basics of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or PHP to get started. The following tips are intended to make it easier for you to decide on how to create your dental practice homepage. A **website builder** such as [MyWebsite](https://www.ionos.co.uk/websites/website-builder "Homepage Builder » Create your website") provides different templates that can be easily adapted to suit your needs. Templates may be limited to the options available but make up for it with the addition of photos and illustrations, which are usually included in the various packages. Even beginners with basic knowledge of the Internet can create a website using a **content management system (CMS)** like WordPress. The advantage of CMS is that the content of your dental practice website can be easily managed by staff as long as they have access to the platform. --- ### Tip If you prefer WordPress as your CMS, you can get [Hosting for WordPress](https://www.ionos.co.uk/hosting/wordpress-hosting "Hosting for WordPress from IONOS") from IONOS. --- **Programming** a dentist website from scratch may allow for more flexibility, but is the most time-consuming solution. Hiring a **web design or programming service** is a more comfortable option to create a dental office website, but costs are considerably higher.
Website builder CMS Individual programming Web design service
Advantages Realise existing ideas and designs using templates. No prior technical know-how required. Easy content management and text editing. No prior know-how and customisable design. Maximum freedom to design according to your needs and desired web page functionalities. Least amount of effort, SEO is considered.
Disadvantages Restricted to templates provided Data bank knowledge, themes and plug-ins are necessary. Requires a little more effort than a website builder. More laborious, requires extensive technical know-how; depending on programming skills may encounter errors. Difficult to adapt once finalised. Continued website support through external services can be costly over time.
Costs Depending on project size from £75 to £250 a year E.g. unlimited Hosting for WordPress available from £6/month £0 when programming yourself and using free web space. Cost will depend on hosting provider solution. Around £750/year. Exact price depends on project.
Difficulty Low Moderate Very high Very low
## Contents of a dental practice website Not only dentists, but medical professionals in general, need to consider a few special features when creating their website to ensure they’re not in conflict with **professional provisions**. Therefore, a dental website should include the following elements: - Homepage - About the team and practice - Office hours/appointments - Information on services and technical equipment - Information for scared patients - Mandatory information ### Welcome to our dental practice The homepage is an opportunity to greet (potential) patients. A friendly **‘Welcome’ or ‘Hello’** leaves a good impression. But the imagery you choose is just as important as your colour scheme. Summarise the **core competencies** or your dental practice in a few words. You could add photos that show off healthy teeth beneath a beautiful smile. Once you’ve piqued the interest of visitors with your website, they’re more likely to check out the rest of it. Make it easy for your patients to find the most important information including **current opening times** or special **opening times for acute cases**. If your phone availability differs from your office’s opening times, you should add a relevant note on your homepage. The same applies if your practice is open for emergencies during certain times. A telephone button makes it easy for smartphone users to call immediately using their smartphone devices without having to save a phone number first. Importantly, the UK General Dental Council does not allow dentists to **advertise** false or misleading information. Making claims that falsely promise the success of a procedure or certain medications is not allowed. It’s worth consulting a lawyer if you’re unsure about which claims you can make. ### The team and your practice One of your website’s sub-pages should inform about who’s responsible for what in your clinic. Ideally, you should include a photograph of your practice team. Many clinic staff wear clothing in dedicated colours, and these can also carry your practice logo. Similarly, staff should be easy to identify by patients. --- ### Note Before you post photos of your staff, make sure you **get their consent** in writing. This could save you from legal issues down the line. --- The **practice equipment** should also be pictured. Show off what your clinic looks like, but make sure you leave a professional impression. Other information you can include in the website’s ‘About’ section are **open job posts**. ### Office hours, contact, and more. The **office hours** are a must on your dental office website. But there are a few additional features that **provide added value** for your patients. This could be in the form of a calendar showing **available appointments** and the opportunity to book appointments online. A few service providers for digital practice management offer subscription-based **appointment tools** that can be easily integrated in the design of your dental clinic website. In case your office provides **emergency or night-time services**, let your patients know. It’s best to integrate a so-called **‘call to action’ button** so patients can call your dental office immediately. Among the contact options, include information about how patients can reach you, including parking access. You can integrate digital maps like Google Maps. Make sure **any contact form** also has a note on **privacy and data protection**. Last but not least, if you have a holiday replacement you can mention it here. ### What are the qualifications and available technologies at your dental clinic? Explain available **treatment options** and **the technologies you use** so patients know what they can expect. At this point, you can show off the equipment used in your practice – but make sure you explain any dental terminology in simple terms. Avoid the use of **medical terms without offering an explanation**, as this can hamper confidence among potential patients. Use this sub-page to show off certifications and any specialist courses you may have taken that speak to your competencies on your dentist website. It can be useful to include a glossary: **Dental surgery A to Z**. If you’d like to keep your patients informed on news or share your professional thoughts more regularly, you may want to start a blog. ### For scared patients It’s no secret that a **visit to the dentist** can be **scary**. If you provide services with the option of anaesthesia, let your patients know. You can also include a few sentences about **dental care for children** in this section. ### Mandatory and legal information Another important part of your website development process is to ensure that you create a dental website that complies with legal regulations. The [British Dental Association](https://bda.org/advice/Pages/Expert-solutions-templates.aspx "British Dental Association") provides plenty of checklists and information on what you need to look out for. Otherwise, you could face legal proceedings and high fines. It’s also best to include full information about the owner of the practice (name and surname) and full address and contact details. Telephone numbers and email addresses must also be provided. You are fully responsible for the content on your website, so make sure it complies with privacy and user data regulations. Consult a lawyer if in doubt. Lastly, you should include a disclaimer on how you’re using **cookies** across your website. Many online website builders provide solutions to integrate these explainers. ## How to create a dental website step-by-step Use the following **step-by-step guide** to create your dentist website or provide relevant information for your web design service provider. There are a few things that only you can decide, including: - Domain name - Design - Content - When you want to go live, how to market and optimise your website going forward ### Choose a domain name The first and most important step to create a dental website is to search for a **fitting domain name**. This is your web address on the Internet. It’s worth taking your time when deciding on a domain name for your website. Ideally, you want your address to provide information on **what your business is about** as well as where your office is based. For example ‘dental-health-chelsea.co.uk’ or ‘dental-clinic-blackpool.co.uk’. The name of your domain is another important criterion for search engines. It should match typical search queries of potential guests. If you come up with a better **domain name** later down the line, you **could add it and redirect to your existing dental office website**. Once you’ve decided on a suitable domain, [register the domain immediately](https://www.ionos.co.uk/domains/domain-names "Buy and register your domain – IONOS"). This can be done with just a few clicks. Good to know: your first domain is often included as part of a web hosting package. An important technical feature you should look out for is **SSL encryption**. This is particularly the case when you’re using a contact form. Securely encrypted websites are easy to spot because the URLs contain ‘https’ as opposed to ‘http’. More information on the secure encryption of websites can be found in our dedicated article on [SSL certificates](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/website-creation/ssl-certificate/ "SSL certificate"). ### Which website design suits you? The design of your dentist website should be **friendly but informative**. Get inspired by the colours of your clinic and survey your staff and patients on what content they would like to see on your homepage. If a graphic designer created your logo, you could discuss basic design ideas and concepts to create your dental website. Additionally, there are a few things to consider in terms of user-friendliness, especially when it comes to mobile devices. At the end of the day, the right website design depends on **personal taste**. After all, you should like your practice website too. Need more tips on web design? Check out our dedicated articles on [user-centred design](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/web-development/user-centred-design/ "User-centred design") and [human-centred design](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/web-development/human-centred-design/ "Human-centred design"). As always, remember that **less is more**. The medical profession web page does not underlie the same legalities as that of other professions. A more reserved design scheme connects people to your objectivity and signals greater competence. You can find plenty of inspiration online, for example, by using our [ Examples of homepage templates](https://www.ionos.co.uk/websites/templates "Templates > Examples of homepage templates – IONOS"), or our [IONOS Website Design Service](https://www.ionos.co.uk/websites/custom-made-website "Website design service by IONOS Design Experts"). Irrespective of the method you choose to create your website, it’s important that the final result translates smoothly on mobile devices. [![Image: IONOS templates for beauty, wellness, health, and dentistry](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/2/8/csm_IONOS-templates-for-beauty-wellness-health-dentistry_b054321f41.webp "IONOS templates for beauty, wellness, health, and dentistry")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/IONOS-templates-for-beauty-wellness-health-dentistry.png) You can find a broad range of website templates on IONOS. Create your dental website in just a few clicks. / Source: https://www.ionos.com/websites/templates ### Manage content Once the technical basis for the website is established, you’ll need to fill the pages with **content**, that is, **texts, images, and perhaps even videos**. Photos and images must include copyright notices. It’s usually not allowed to show the brand name when depicting your technical equipment or publish photos that could be deemed disturbing, e.g. bloody operations. --- ### Tip IONOS provides plenty of **ideas** to get you started with your dentist website. Take a look at our [**design templates for your website**](https://www.ionos.co.uk/websites/templates "Templates » ready-made homepage templates – IONOS"). There’s plenty of room for personalisation when using templates, too. --- ### Note **Careful documentation** of your web project is an important security factor. If, for example, a person in charge of your website is not available, you can quickly consult your documents for help. Make sure that you store **access data** for web presences **securely**. --- ### Once online, market and optimise your website Once your website has gone live, focus on optimising it and maintaining a schedule for regular updates. A dental practice website is an ongoing project. Update and add new **images** regularly and discuss any new technical equipment. Ensure that links and pictures include ALT and TITLE **tags**, and add keywords of your industry to headlines. Importantly, to [get more people to visit your website](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/online-marketing/search-engine-marketing/promote-your-website/ "Promote your website"), print your **web address** on your **business cards**, on the **practice sign**, and even on your **work wear**. To bolster your web page’s regional presence, consult our dedicated article on [Local SEO](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/online-marketing/search-engine-marketing/local-seo-the-basics-and-tips/ "Local SEO: the basics and tips"). This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/website-creation/create-dental-website/](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/website-creation/create-dental-website/) for AI/LLM consumption.