Practices with existing websites first to try new Your Dentist service

Dental practices with existing websites have been the first in line to adopt the new website packages being offered by Your Dentist.

One of the new packages, launched in the last edition of Australasian Dental Practice, offers practices their own website for a setup fee of only $1000.

"We were very surprised at the number of practices who had already setup their own website or paid someone to do it that called us wanting the new Stage 3 Your Dentist website," said Joseph Allbeury, publisher of Your Dentist.

"One of the problems that Stage 3 solves is that practices can update their own information in minutes using any web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape. You don't need complex software – you already have everything you need.

"The site comes with a practice news page, for example, so you can change that whenever you want – anytime there's some news in the practice. You just go to the special admin page, enter your ID and Password and type away. When you click Save, the changes are live on your website.

"Most web design companies are happy to setup your website, but it can be a hassle when you want changes made. Every change takes time - and we all know how valuable time is, especially in dentistry – so they are obliged to charge for it. This, in turn, makes you less likely to make changes which in many ways defeats the purpose of having a website.

"If you setup the website yourself, you can make changes anytime, but you have to know how to write HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and use various utilities and design programs for updates. Again, it is not a simple process and your time is your money."

Mr Allbeury said that practices were also quickly finding out that having a complex, bigger than Ben Hur website is also not always an asset.

"Websites have a definite place in dentistry. Some people's opinions may differ on this subject, but essentially they are there to deliver information to patients that will encourage them to take a greater interest in their oral health and interact with your practice.

"They should be working for your practice in a number of ways. They are not there to show your friends - they are a business tool that if done right, will add value rather than just being another expense."

The Your Dentist Stage 3 websites use state-of-the-art database templating to deliver websites specifically designed for dental practices. The technology allows a website to be established very quickly around an ideal format, that still allows personalisation to each individual practice.

"Another problem dentists face when setting up a website is that they don't know where to start, so they end up leaving it to someone from outside of dentistry to plan and this is where problems can arise. We work with dentists everyday and we publish a find-a-dentist website that gets around 3 million hits a year, so we have a good knowledge of what dental patients are looking for on the internet about dental practices.

"In essence, we have distilled all the variables into an 'ideal' dental practice website, which is what the Stage 3 option is all about. It contains everything that new and existing patients want to know about a dental practice. It can be personalised up to a point for each practice and you can change it yourself (though we are only a phone call away if you get stuck).

"Plus, we'll help your patients locate the site by giving it a priority listing in the find-a-dentist service. We have literally tried to think of everything and if there is something we have omitted, it is a simple matter of including it for everyone's benefit."

Mr Allbeury said that Stage 3 was just one of five Stages offered for dentists who want to start to develop a presence on the internet or enhance or improve their current level of participation.