Google Reviews for Dental Clinics
Reviews shape which clinic a patient calls. Asking for them is allowed, but Google's policy, Canadian competition law and dental advertising rules all limit how you ask, who posts and what you do with reviews afterwards.
Can dentists ask patients for Google reviews?
Yes. Asking patients to review the clinic on Google is allowed. What is not allowed is paying or rewarding them for it, asking only the patients you expect to be happy, or having staff post reviews without disclosing who they are.
Dental regulators add a separate limit. Ontario, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador rule out testimonials in dental advertising. A patient choosing to post a review on Google is not your advertisement, but copying that review into an ad, a post or your homepage can turn it into one.
The clean approach is simple: ask every patient in the same neutral way, let reviews live on Google, and keep your own marketing to facts. Dental advertising rules by province sets out where testimonials are and are not allowed.
How should a dental clinic ask for reviews without breaking Google's rules?
Ask every patient, at the same point in the visit, with the same neutral words and a direct link. Google's policy on prohibited review content rules out incentives, review gating and conflict-of-interest reviews, so the request must not depend on how the patient felt about the visit.
| Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| "If you have a moment, we would value a Google review. Here is the link." | "Leave a 5-star review and get $10 off your next cleaning" |
| Sending the same text to every patient after every visit | Sending the link only to patients who said they were happy |
| A sign at reception with a QR code to the review form | A survey that sends happy patients to Google and unhappy ones to a private form |
| Replying to every review politely | Asking a patient to remove a critical review in exchange for a refund or credit |
| A reminder in the visit summary | Entering reviewers in a draw or contest |
A draw or contest for reviewers breaks Google's rules and, in Ontario and Nova Scotia, the ban on giveaways, contests and draws in dental advertising as well.
Can staff or family post reviews for the clinic?
Not without disclosing the connection, and Google's conflict-of-interest rules mean they should not review their own workplace at all. The Competition Bureau warned in 2024 that businesses can be liable for reviews posted by their employees when the connection is not disclosed.
- Tell the team in writing that they should not review the clinic or rate competitors.
- Include family members and contractors such as your marketing agency.
- Do not ask staff to answer reviews from personal accounts; reply from the clinic profile.
- If a staff review appears, ask the employee to remove it.
This is one of the cheapest rules to follow and one of the most embarrassing to break. A cluster of five-star reviews from people with the same surnames as your team is easy for patients and competitors to spot.
Can a dental clinic use patient reviews on its website or ads?
In Ontario, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, treat the answer as no: their rules ban testimonials in dental advertising, and a review placed on your site or in an ad becomes a testimonial. Elsewhere, general competition law still applies. The Competition Bureau says testimonials need prior written approval and must match what the person actually said.
| Province | Regulator | Testimonials in your ads |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | RCDSO | Banned, including statements only verifiable by personal feelings |
| Nova Scotia | NSRDDA | Banned |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | NLDB | Not acceptable |
| British Columbia | BCCOHP | Must be accurate and not mislead; check the standards |
| Alberta | CDSA | Must not be untruthful or misleading; check the statement |
A safe middle ground in every province is a plain link: "Read our reviews on Google". It points patients to independent reviews without you selecting, editing or quoting them.
Ask everyone, reward no one, quote nothing.
A steady, honest flow of reviews on Google is the goal. Moving those reviews into your ads or website is where clinics in the strictest provinces get into trouble.
How should a dental clinic respond to reviews?
Reply to every review, briefly and in general terms. Thank positive reviewers without mentioning treatment. For critical reviews, acknowledge the concern, invite the person to call the office manager and stop there. Never confirm that the reviewer is a patient or discuss their care in public.
| Weak reply | Stronger reply |
|---|---|
| "Sorry your root canal hurt, Mrs. Patel. Your chart shows you skipped the follow-up." | "Thank you for the feedback. We take every concern seriously. Please call our office manager at 555-0142 so we can talk privately." |
| "Thanks for choosing us for your implants!" | "Thank you for taking the time to share this. We appreciate it." |
| Arguing with the facts in public | One calm reply, then a private conversation |
Keep a short library of approved replies so whoever answers can do it quickly and safely. Social media comments need the same care; see social media for dental clinics.
What review routine works for a busy dental clinic?
Make the request part of checkout, not a campaign. A routine that runs every day produces a steadier flow of recent reviews than an occasional push, and it treats every patient the same, which is what Google's policy requires.
| When | Who | Task |
|---|---|---|
| Every visit | Front desk | Same neutral request by text or email with the review link |
| Daily | Office manager | Read new reviews; reply using approved wording |
| Weekly | Office manager | Escalate any review mentioning care to the dentist |
| Monthly | Owner dentist | Look for patterns: wait times, billing, phone access |
| Quarterly | Owner dentist | Fix the most common complaint and tell the team |
Reviews also feed the map pack; see Google Business Profile for dentists. A clinic's reputation is built mostly at the front desk, which is why the new patient experience matters as much as the request itself.
Frequently asked questions
Can dentists ask for Google reviews?
Yes. Ask every patient the same neutral way. Do not reward reviews, filter who you ask, or have staff review the clinic.
Can we offer a discount or gift for a review?
No. Google bans payment, discounts or free goods for reviews, and the strictest provinces also ban dental giveaways and incentives.
What is review gating?
Sending only satisfied patients to Google, or discouraging unhappy ones. Google's policy prohibits it.
Can our staff leave Google reviews for the clinic?
No. It is a conflict of interest under Google's policy, and undisclosed employee reviews can make the business liable under competition law.
Can we put Google reviews on our website?
Not in Ontario, Nova Scotia or Newfoundland and Labrador, where testimonials are banned in dental advertising. A plain link to your Google profile is safer everywhere.
How should we reply to a negative review?
Briefly, without confirming the person is a patient or discussing care. Invite them to call the office manager and continue privately.
Can we ask Google to remove a review?
You can report reviews that break Google's policy, such as spam or conflict of interest. Negative opinions alone are not grounds for removal.
When should we ask for a review?
On the day of the visit, by text or email with a direct link, as part of every checkout.
Sources & further reading
Regulator rules, platform policies and local data change. These sources let you check the facts on this page, last checked October 5, 2026.