20 Dental Office Greetings
Dental Office Voicemail Greeting Examples
A good dental office voicemail greeting names the practice, gives your hours, tells patients what to leave so you can call back, and says what to do in a dental emergency. Ask only for what you need to return the call, never for details about their treatment. A simple template: "Thank you for calling [Practice Name]. We're open [days] from [hours]. Please leave your name, date of birth, and phone number, and we'll call you back. If you have a dental emergency, call [emergency number]." Pick a script below, fill in your details, and generate it as an MP3 or 8kHz WAV.
During Office Hours
For when the front desk is busy with patients or on another line.
Standard dental office
Thank you for calling [Practice Name]. Our office is open [days] from [hours]. To schedule or change an appointment, leave your name, date of birth, and phone number. If you have a dental emergency, please call [emergency number].
Front desk is with a patient
Thank you for calling [Practice Name]. Our team is helping other patients right now. Please leave your name, phone number, and the best time to reach you, and we'll call you back within the hour.
Warm and friendly
Hi, and thanks for calling [Practice Name], where we're all about healthy smiles. We're sorry we missed you. Leave your name and number, and someone from our team will call you back shortly.
Points to online booking
Thank you for calling [Practice Name]. You can book or change an appointment any time at [website]. Or leave your name, date of birth, and phone number, and we'll call you back during office hours.
After-Hours and Weekends
Tell patients when you reopen and where to go if it can't wait.
Standard after-hours
You've reached [Practice Name]. Our office is closed. We're open [days] from [hours]. Please leave your name, date of birth, and phone number, and we'll return your call the next business day.
With an on-call dentist
Thank you for calling [Practice Name]. Our office is now closed. If you have a dental emergency, such as severe pain, swelling, or a knocked-out tooth, please call Dr. [Last Name] at [phone number]. For anything else, leave a message and we'll call you back when we open at [time].
No on-call service
You've reached [Practice Name]. We're closed and will reopen [day] at [time]. If you have uncontrolled bleeding, trouble breathing, or swelling that affects your breathing, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Otherwise, leave a message and we'll call you back.
Weekend closure
Thanks for calling [Practice Name]. We're closed for the weekend and will be back Monday at [time]. Leave your name and number, and we'll call you back first thing. For a dental emergency, call [emergency number].
Appointments, New Patients, and Insurance
For the calls that make up most of a dental office's voicemail.
Welcoming new patients
Thank you for calling [Practice Name]. We're welcoming new patients! Please leave your name, phone number, and the best time to call, and we'll get you scheduled. You can also request an appointment at [website].
Insurance questions
Thank you for calling [Practice Name]. If you're calling about insurance or billing, please leave your name, date of birth, and phone number, and our billing coordinator will call you back within one business day.
Cancellations and rescheduling
Thanks for calling [Practice Name]. To cancel or reschedule, please leave your name, date of birth, and the date of your appointment. We ask for at least [24 hours] of notice so we can offer the time to another patient.
Short phone menu
Thank you for calling [Practice Name]. To schedule an appointment, press 1. For billing and insurance, press 2. If this is a dental emergency, press 3. To leave a general message, stay on the line.
Pediatric and Specialty Practices
Tone and details that fit the practice and the people who call it.
Pediatric dentist
Hi, and thanks for calling [Practice Name], where kids love going to the dentist. We can't take your call right now. Please leave your name, your child's name, and your phone number, and we'll call you back soon.
Orthodontist
Thank you for calling [Practice Name] Orthodontics. Please leave your name, the patient's name, and a phone number. If a bracket or wire is causing pain, leave a message saying so and we'll call you back as soon as possible.
Oral surgeon
Thank you for calling [Practice Name] Oral Surgery. If you've had surgery with us and have heavy bleeding or a fever, call our after-hours line at [phone number]. For appointments and referrals, leave your name, date of birth, and phone number.
Cosmetic dentistry
Thank you for calling [Practice Name]. If you'd like to book a consultation for whitening, veneers, or Invisalign, leave your name and number, and our patient coordinator will call you back today.
Holidays and Closures
Swap these in before a closure and back afterward.
Holiday closure
Happy holidays from [Practice Name]. Our office is closed from [date] through [date] and reopens on [date]. For a dental emergency, call [emergency number]. Otherwise, leave a message and we'll call you back when we return.
Team training day
Thank you for calling [Practice Name]. Our office is closed today, [date], for team training. We'll reopen tomorrow at [time]. Please leave a message, and for a dental emergency call [emergency number].
Dentist away, office open
Thank you for calling [Practice Name]. Dr. [Last Name] is away until [date], and Dr. [Last Name] is seeing patients in the meantime. Leave your name and number, and we'll call you back to schedule.
Weather closure
Thank you for calling [Practice Name]. Due to the weather, our office is closed today. We'll call everyone with an appointment to reschedule. For a dental emergency, call [emergency number].
Writing
Tips for writing a voicemail greeting
- 01
Ask for just enough to call back
Name, date of birth, and phone number let your team find the chart and return the call. Don't ask patients to describe symptoms or treatment on voicemail; that's private health information, and HIPAA expects you to collect only what you need.
- 02
Make the emergency step unmissable
Say what counts as an emergency (severe pain, swelling, a knocked-out tooth) and give the number slowly, twice if it's long. For anything life-threatening, tell callers to dial 911.
- 03
Say your hours in the greeting
Most after-hours callers just want to know when you open. Saying it up front saves you a stack of callbacks the next morning.
- 04
Keep the menu short
If you use a phone menu, give three options at most: scheduling, billing, emergencies. Patients in pain won't sit through six.
- 05
Use a calm, clear voice
Plenty of patients are nervous about the dentist. A warm, unhurried voice sets the tone before they ever reach the chair.
- 06
Update it when anything changes
New hours, a new dentist, or a holiday closure: change the greeting the same day. An AI voice makes this a one-minute job instead of a re-recording.
Ready
Create your voicemail greeting
Replace anything in [brackets] with your details before generating.
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On RingCentral, Zoom, 3CX, or Teams? Upload the file directly.
How to upload a custom voicemail greeting →
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Frequently asked questions
What should a dental office voicemail greeting say?
Your practice name, your office hours, what to leave (name, date of birth, and phone number), when you'll call back, and what to do in a dental emergency. Keep it under 30 seconds.
Should a dental voicemail ask for the patient's date of birth?
It helps your team find the right chart, especially when two patients share a name. Ask for name, date of birth, and phone number, and stop there. Don't ask callers to describe symptoms or treatment in the message.
Is it HIPAA compliant to leave a voicemail greeting like this?
The greeting itself contains no patient information, so it isn't a HIPAA issue. What matters is what you ask callers to leave and who can hear the messages. Ask only for what you need to call back, and keep voicemail access limited to your team. This isn't legal advice; check with your compliance advisor.
What should an after-hours dental greeting say about emergencies?
Give an on-call number if you have one, and say what counts as a dental emergency. If you don't offer on-call care, tell callers with severe bleeding, trouble breathing, or facial swelling to call 911 or go to an emergency room.
Can I use an AI voice for my dental office?
Yes. Patients care that the message is clear and tells them what to do. An AI voice sounds the same every time, and you can update your hours or closure dates in a minute without re-recording.
How do I put the greeting on our office phone system?
Download the MP3, or the 8kHz WAV if your phone system needs it, and upload it in your provider's voicemail or auto attendant settings. Our guide on how to upload a custom voicemail greeting covers RingCentral, Grasshopper, 3CX, Zoom Phone, and Microsoft Teams.