Dental on Google.Set up to be chosen.
Categories, services, attributes, photos and a year of posts for dental practices. Category names checked against public copies of Google's list on Oct 31, 2026; confirm them in your profile's category picker.
The short answer
Updated
A dental practice should have one Business Profile for the practice with Dentist as its primary category, and separate profiles only for public-facing dentists, named with the dentist's name alone. Add specialty categories only where those specialists work there. Show accessibility attributes, keep insurance and hours current, and never post or reply with anything that identifies a patient.
Your categories.Primary first.
The primary category tells Google what you mainly are. Secondary ones add the other work you do.
Primary
Dentist
It's the core category for general practices. Specialists such as an Orthodontist can use their own specialty as primary on their own practitioner profile.
Cosmetic dentist
Use it when you offer cosmetic work such as veneers or whitening as a real part of the practice.
Emergency dental service
Use it when you keep time for same-day emergencies.
Pediatric dentist
Use it when a pediatric dentist practises there.
Dental implants provider
Use it when you place implants in-house.
Teeth whitening service
Use it when whitening is offered as its own service.
Orthodontist
Use it when an orthodontist works at the practice.
Skip it if you only refer patients out.
Services to add.The way customers say them.
General
Dental exam, Teeth cleaning, Fillings, Root canal
Cosmetic
Teeth whitening, Veneers, Bonding
Restorative
Crowns, Bridges, Dental implants, Dentures
Attributes.Small ticks, real answers.
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Patients and clients who need step-free access check this before they book. Add the restroom and parking attributes too if they apply.
- Insurance networks
- Google's Business Profile API has a field for insurance networks a location accepts. Keep yours current wherever it shows, and match your website.
- Owner identity
- Google offers attributes such as Veteran-owned, Women-owned and Black-owned. Add only those that are true; they help customers who look for them.
8 photos first.Real jobs, real people.
- 01The practice exterior with signage, so patients recognise it
- 02The reception area
- 03A treatment room, clean and empty
- 04The team, with each person's agreement
- 05Each dentist's portrait for their practitioner profile
- 06Accessible entrance and parking
- 07Equipment that patients ask about, such as a scanner
- 08The street view showing where to park
A year of posts.One a week, by season.
Example posts to adapt. Write them from your own jobs and photos.
- January
- New year benefitsExample: Insurance benefits reset this month for many plans. Call to check what your plan covers this year.
- February
- Children's dental healthExample: Tips for brushing with young children, from our team. Make it a two-minute game.
- March
- Meet the teamExample: Meet [first name], who has been looking after patients at our front desk for [years].
- April
- Sports guardsExample: Spring sports start soon. Why a fitted mouthguard is worth it, and how to book a fitting.
- May
- Practice newsExample: We've added early morning appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- June
- Summer schedulesExample: Book back-to-school checkups now, before the August rush.
- July
- EmergenciesExample: Knocked-out tooth? Keep it moist in milk and call us straight away. Here's what to do.
- August
- Back to schoolExample: Back-to-school checkups this month. Here's what a children's visit includes.
- September
- AccessibilityExample: Our entrance and restroom are step-free, with parking near the door.
- October
- HalloweenExample: Sweets happen. Have them with meals and drink water after, and teeth handle it better.
- November
- Use it or lose itExample: Some insurance benefits don't roll over. Check what's left before the year ends.
- December
- Holiday hoursExample: Our holiday hours are now on this profile. For emergencies while we're closed, call [emergency line].
What gets profiles suspended.Avoid these.
- Adding keywords, towns or taglines to your business name. Google says it can lead to suspension.Google's guideline
- Giving one dentist several profiles for different specialties. Google says a practitioner shouldn't have multiple profiles.Google's guideline
- Practitioner profiles for support staff. Google says only public-facing practitioners should have their own.Google's guideline
- Posting or replying with anything that identifies a patient or their care.Google's guideline
- Creating a new profile for the same business, including after a suspension. Appeal instead; Google allows one appeal.Google's guideline
Questions people ask.Short answers.
Should each dentist have their own profile?
Public-facing dentists can, named with the dentist's name only. The practice keeps its own profile too. Support staff shouldn't have one.
What if I'm the only dentist at my practice?
Google says a solo practitioner at a branded practice should use one profile named in the format [brand]: [practitioner name].
Can we reply to reviews on our profile?
Yes, but keep replies general. Never confirm someone is a patient or mention treatment; HHS has fined practices for disclosing patient information in review replies.
Sources
- Google: Guidelines for representing your business · checked Oct 31, 2026
- Google Business Profile Help: Edit your Business Profile · checked Oct 31, 2026
- Google Business Profile Help: Tips for business-specific photos · checked Oct 31, 2026
- Google Business Profile Help: Create and manage posts · checked Oct 31, 2026
By Shakhawat Ullah Badhon, Founder, Damex Digital. Published Oct 31, 2026, updated Oct 31, 2026.