Why Your Google Ads Aren’t Working (Dental)

You launched your Google Ads campaign for your dental practice, set your budget, and expected new patient bookings to start coming in — but they did not. If you are not getting calls, appointment requests, or even clicks, it is a sign that something in your campaign is not working. Google Ads can be a powerful tool for dentists, but only when it is set up and managed correctly. Most underperforming campaigns fail for the same reasons.

You are targeting the wrong audience

If your ads are showing to people outside your service area or to those not actively looking for dental services, your budget will disappear quickly. For example, if you are a local dentist, there is no value in paying for clicks from users searching in another city.

Your keywords are off

Choosing the wrong keywords is one of the biggest reasons dental Google Ads fail. If you target broad terms like "dentist" without location modifiers, you will compete against national brands and waste money on irrelevant traffic. You need high-intent keywords such as "emergency dentist near me" or "teeth whitening in [Your City]."

Your ad copy does not stand out

Even if your targeting is correct, your ad needs to convince people to click. If your headlines and descriptions look like every other dental ad, you will get lost in the crowd. Strong copy highlights what makes your practice different — such as same-day appointments, sedation options, or cosmetic expertise.

Your landing page is not built to convert

Getting clicks is only part of the equation. If your landing page is slow, hard to navigate, or missing a clear call-to-action, potential patients will leave. A high-converting dental landing page should have your phone number front and center, online booking, patient testimonials, and clear service information.

How to fix your dental Google Ads

1. Refine your location targeting: Show ads only to people within your service area.
2. Use high-intent keywords: Focus on search terms that indicate a patient is ready to book.
3. Write patient-focused ad copy: Highlight benefits that matter most to your ideal patients.
4. Optimize your landing page: Make it mobile-friendly, fast, and easy to book an appointment.
5. Track and adjust: Use conversion tracking to see what is working and improve over time.

The bottom line

When set up properly, Google Ads can fill your dental appointment calendar with new patients every month. When set up poorly, they can drain your budget with little to no return. The key is to target the right audience, use the right keywords, write compelling ad copy, and send clicks to a page that converts.

Need help turning your dental Google Ads into consistent new patient bookings? Contact us today.