Dental clients need to know that their needs are supported by the dentist as well as the dental office staff members, even if they need assistance after hours when they have a dental emergency.  If a patient experiences the need for emergency assistance from the dental office after hours, this is the most critical time for them and it poses an opportunity for your dental practice to demonstrate its professional and caring level of service. 

To that end, a dental practice should have a professional after hours service to ensure that patients are tended to promptly, and the patients are not lost to a competitor.  If a patient is seeking after hours emergency assistance, this is a stressful time for the patient.  This stress may be eased simply by having their emergency telephone call answered and returned promptly.  To provide professional dental care and a superior level of patient service, a professional after hours service is vital, and therefore a necessary expense. 

Patients will not tolerate limited or no access to the dentist in an emergency situation.  A professional after hours service provides the dental practice the insurance needed against disgruntled and upset patients during an emergency situation that occurs after hours.