# Oral Surgery Referral Conversion Playbook

## Why this exists
Referral volume is not the same as conversion quality. Once the patient leaves the referring office, fear, confusion, and delay can still break the path to consult and treatment.

## Referral Source Map
Separate referrals into lanes:
- general dentist
- orthodontist
- periodontist
- self-referral after prior diagnosis
- second-opinion or failed-treatment inquiry

Each lane usually needs different trust reinforcement and different next-step language.

## Surgical Intent Signals
Patients move faster when the practice can identify:
- urgency vs. elective timing
- pain/fear level
- sedation concern
- implant motivation
- prior failed treatment or complex history

Those signals should shape both the public answers and the first follow-up sequence.

## Post-Consult Follow-Up
Use a structured follow-up stack:
1. same-day consult summary
2. next-step confidence message within 24 hours
3. unresolved-question follow-up within 3 business days
4. treatment-delay rescue sequence for high-intent cases

Every follow-up should reduce one specific fear: pain, trust, cost, recovery, or confusion.

## Review Loop
Review monthly:
- referral source quality
- consult-to-treatment conversion
- stalled cases by fear type
- which proof blocks helped the most
- which sources need better referral handoff materials

## Operating Notes
- Referral trust transfers partially, not completely.
- The practice still has to earn the patient decision.
- Great oral-surgery conversion feels calm, precise, and professionally reassuring.