Patients will judge you
Recently I visited a practice in a capital city.
I parked in a car park opposite and entered via the front door. As I did I couldn't help but notice that there were cob webs all around the door. And dust, and mess and the front windows weren't clean.
At the morning team meeting I said to them "You must all park at the back and come in via the back door." They wondered how I knew that.
Is the outside of your practice immaculate? If not, it's a BIG problem.
Patients have no way of knowing if you sterilise the instruments properly. So, they have to make assumptions by what they see around them. If your front door and windows are dirty then they will assume two things:
The dentist is sloppy and careless
The cleanliness standards of the practice are low.
Why do retailers spend such elaborate effort making sure the exterior of their store and the front window is enticing? Is it just because they have nothing else to do, or is it because it sets the tone for the customer experience?
At lease once a week I'd enter my office through the patient door and try to see everything with fresh eyes.