Dental Practice Appointment Scheduling Guidelines

Appointment Duration Templates

Routine Procedures

• Routine Examination/Cleaning: 60 minutes
• Basic Filling (1-2 surfaces): 45 minutes
• X-rays (Full Set): 30 minutes
• Emergency Examination: 30 minutes

Complex Procedures

• Crown Preparation: 90 minutes
• Root Canal Treatment: 90-120 minutes
• Multiple Fillings: 90 minutes
• Deep Cleaning/Scaling: 90 minutes (per quadrant)

Scheduling Best Practices

Time Block Management

1. Reserve early morning slots for complex procedures
2. Keep 2-3 emergency slots daily (10:30 AM and 2:30 PM recommended)
3. Group similar procedures together when possible
4. Schedule new patients during slower periods for thorough evaluation

Buffer Times

• Add 10-minute buffers between appointments
• Include 15-minute buffers after complex procedures
• Schedule 30-minute lunch break minimum

Patient Categories

Priority Scheduling:

• Emergency cases
• Elderly patients
• Children (after school hours)
• Special needs patients

Confirmation Protocol

• 48-hour advance confirmation
• Same-day reminder texts
• Follow-up booking for routine maintenance

Cancellation Management

1. Maintain a same-day cancellation list
2. Document all cancellations
3. Implement 24-hour cancellation policy
4. Track frequent cancellations

Schedule Optimization

• Monitor chair utilization rates
• Track procedure completion times
• Adjust templates quarterly based on data
• Review scheduling efficiency monthly