Most missed dental appointments can be prevented with a good reminder sequence. Practices don't forget to send reminders; writing good ones just takes time nobody has.
Here are 18 templates by type and channel. Copy them, fill in the brackets, and send.
Appointment Confirmation
Sent right after booking, as a reference patients can find later.
SMS:
Hi [Patient Name], your dental appointment at [Practice Name] is confirmed for [Date] at [Time]. Reply C to confirm or call [Phone] to reschedule.
[Practice Name]: Appointment confirmed. [Date] at [Time] with Dr. [Provider]. Add us to your contacts so you don't miss future reminders: [Phone].
Email:
Subject: Your appointment at [Practice Name] is confirmed
Hi [Patient Name],
Your appointment is confirmed for [Date] at [Time] with Dr. [Provider] at [Practice Name].
Location: [Address]
Please complete your intake forms online before your visit: [Intake Link]
Need to reschedule? Call us at [Phone] or reply to this email at least 24 hours before your visit.
See you soon, [Practice Name]
Including a digital intake form link with the confirmation means less paperwork in the chair on the day.
1-Week Reminder
Early enough to reschedule, late enough to feel real.
SMS:
Reminder: You have an appointment at [Practice Name] on [Date] at [Time]. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule. [Phone]
Hi [Patient Name], just a heads-up that your cleaning with Dr. [Provider] is coming up on [Date] at [Time]. Questions? Call [Phone].
Email:
Subject: Your dental appointment is one week away
Hi [Patient Name],
Your appointment at [Practice Name] is scheduled for [Date] at [Time].
If your insurance has changed, please update it before your visit by calling [Phone].
If you need to cancel or reschedule, please let us know at least 48 hours in advance so we can offer the slot to another patient.
Best, [Practice Name]
24-Hour Reminder
The most important message in the sequence. Keep it short.
SMS:
[Practice Name]: Reminder for tomorrow, [Date] at [Time] with Dr. [Provider]. Reply C to confirm. Need to reschedule? Call [Phone].
Hi [Patient Name], your dental appointment is tomorrow at [Time]. Please remember to bring your insurance card and photo ID. See you then!
Don't forget: [Practice Name] tomorrow at [Time]. Please arrive 10 min early. Parking available on [Street]. [Phone]
Email:
Subject: See you tomorrow at [Time]
Hi [Patient Name],
Your appointment at [Practice Name] is tomorrow, [Date], at [Time] with Dr. [Provider].
What to bring:
- Photo ID
- Insurance card
- List of current medications
Our office is located at [Address]. [Parking/transit instructions.]
If you can no longer make it, please call [Phone] as soon as possible.
Thanks, [Practice Name]
Same-Day Reminder
A final nudge: two hours before a morning appointment, or that morning for an afternoon one.
SMS:
[Practice Name]: Your appointment is today at [Time] with Dr. [Provider]. We're looking forward to seeing you! [Address]
Hi [Patient Name], friendly reminder you're scheduled at [Time] today. Running late? Give us a call at [Phone].
No-Show Follow-Up
Reach out within 24 hours. Warm, not punitive: the goal is rebooking.
SMS:
Hi [Patient Name], we missed you at your appointment today. We'd love to get you rescheduled. Call [Phone] or reply with a time that works for you.
[Practice Name]: We noticed you couldn't make your appointment on [Date]. No worries! Call [Phone] to rebook at a time that's more convenient.
Email:
Subject: We missed you today
Hi [Patient Name],
We noticed you weren't able to make your appointment on [Date]. Schedules change, and we'd like to help you find a new time.
Regular visits catch small issues before they become bigger (and more expensive) ones. Call us at [Phone] or book online: [Booking Link]
We hope to see you soon.
Best, [Practice Name]
More on this in how to reduce no-shows in dental practices.
Recall Reminders
For patients due for their next cleaning or checkup, before they drift away.
SMS:
Hi [Patient Name], it's been 6 months since your last visit to [Practice Name]. Time for your next cleaning! Call [Phone] or book online: [Link]
[Practice Name]: You're due for a dental checkup. Don't let a small issue become a big one. Schedule today: [Phone]
Email:
Subject: You're due for your next dental visit
Hi [Patient Name],
Our records show it's been about 6 months since your last visit. Regular checkups help catch issues early.
We have availability in the coming weeks. Call [Phone] or book online: [Booking Link]
Your smile will thank you.
Best, [Practice Name]
Tips for Better Results
Send during the day. Avoid evenings and weekends unless patients opted in to off-hours messages.
Use the patient's name. Every template above includes it for a reason.
Give one clear action. "Reply C to confirm" beats "Let us know if you need to reschedule."
Use a sequence. Confirmation, 1-week, and 24-hour reminders together work far better than one message.
Stay compliant. Get SMS opt-in first, include opt-out instructions, and keep content to logistics.
Stop Sending These by Hand
Copy-pasting for every appointment doesn't scale. With Formisoft's appointment scheduling, the forms attached to a visit go out when the patient books, an intake reminder goes out 48 hours before if they aren't done, and an appointment reminder follows 24 hours before by email and SMS. The dashboard shows who is ready for their visit today and tomorrow, and one tap reminds anyone who isn't.
For dental practices, keep the no-show and recall templates above for the messages your team sends by hand.
Get every patient ready before they walk in.
- Forms, consents, and signatures before the visit
- Your paper forms converted by AI
- BAA included