How Dental Clinics Can Reduce DNAs With Smart Payment Links

Every dental clinic knows the sinking feeling of seeing a perfectly planned diary fall apart because patients simply do not show up. Hygienist slots vanish. Long treatments leave empty gaps. And the day that was meant to run smoothly suddenly looks patchy. DNAs (Did Not Attend) are more than an inconvenience. They quietly erode revenue and capacity. NHS England estimates that around 5% of all primary care appointments are missed each year, more than 15 million lost slots across the system. This shows the scale of the “did not attend” problem.

The good news is that reducing DNAs does not require overhauling clinical systems or rewriting process manuals. One of the simplest and most effective solutions is behavioural: patients are more likely to show up when they are financially committed. Smart payment links make that commitment effortless.

Why DNAs still happen in modern dental clinics

Most patients are not intentionally skipping appointments. Life gets busy, plans change, reminders get ignored and some bookings simply never feel firm enough to prioritise. When scheduling a slot involves zero cost and very little friction, it is easy for patients to treat the appointment as flexible rather than fixed.

Reminder texts help but they cannot solve the core issue. Without a meaningful anchor, the appointment remains optional in the patient’s mind.

How smart payment links change patient behaviour

A small deposit or partial payment instantly shifts how patients value their appointment. Even a modest amount gives the booking weight. Behaviour specialists often refer to this as commitment bias. Once someone has made a small financial commitment, their likelihood of attending increases significantly.

Smart payment links strengthen this behaviour without adding any pressure. A payment link is sent. The patient opens it. They approve the payment directly through their mobile banking app using face or fingerprint authentication. No card details, forgotten PINs or extra steps.

It is quick for them and reassuring for your reception team.

Practical ways clinics use payment links to reduce no-shows

Payment links easily fit into the existing workflow of any UK dental clinic. You can:

• Collect small deposits when booking over the phone or at reception
  
  
• Use partial payments for high-value treatments such as Invisalign or implants
  
  
• Track fully paid and partially paid appointments in seconds
  
  
• Send one-click reminders when a balance is due
  
  
• Reduce manual admin that normally follows DNAs

Patients feel more in control and staff feel less stretched. It is a simple upgrade that keeps your diary more predictable.

Atoa and Pay by Bank: A gentle but powerful enhancement

Atoa is a UK payment solution platform that uses open banking technology to let people pay directly from their banking app. Clinics do not need to change their practice management system, and reception teams do not need new training. Everything stays familiar. The only difference is that collecting a deposit becomes instant, seamless and secure.

What strengthens this even further is Atoa’s built-in partial payments feature. Clinics can take a small deposit upfront and allow patients to settle the remaining balance later using the same link. Payments can be made remotely through SMS or email, which means patients no longer need to stand at the desk or return to the clinic just to pay. Treatment plans that used to involve phone chases or multiple invoices now move forward without delay.

On the clinic side, tracking is effortless. Payments update in seconds and show whether a balance is fully or partially paid. Automatic reminders can be sent with one click, cutting down the admin that typically comes with staged treatments or missed payments. Funds arrive quickly, fees stay predictable, and because the checkout flow feels natural to patients, adoption is consistently high.

A more reliable appointment book starts with a single link

Dental clinics do not need more reminders or stricter policies. They need a smarter way to encourage attendance. Smart payment links and small deposits create that anchor. They give patients a reason to commit and give clinics a diary they can trust.If your practice is ready to reduce DNAs, improve cash flow and offer a payment experience that feels modern and effortless, Atoa can help. Book a demo to see how Pay by Bank payment links can fit into your clinic and help you run your business smoothly.