I used to get so mad when people dared to break appointments.

“How disrespectful! People these days just don’t act right and society is going to hell in a hand basket”… or so I believed and so I was told by my professors and peers.

I took no-shows personally and would have my staff wear people out to try and get them to show up for all the good it did.

But then I grew up and realized that it was NOT ABOUT ME.

People have busy lives and people with kids are really busy! They mean well and want to show up as they promised but sometimes life just gets in the way. Explain why it is best to keep appointments, send reminders the day before and compliment people who do a great job of holding up their end of the deal but otherwise don’t sweat it, doctor. Of course we need to see patients reasonably regularly and if a patient disappears for too long then that is bad for them and bad for their teeth but we can be much more laid back about no-shows as a profession in my experience. Besides, what are you really going to do to force people to act as you believe they should? You’ll probably just make them mad! It’s just teeth so relax and remove this from your pile of things to get upset about. Everyone will be happier if you do!