Text message consent and your opt-in page
Patients should agree before you text them. NixDent gives you three ways to collect that agreement and records each one against your office.
Who can do this: Everyone on your team can see the SMS Messaging card. It’s information plus two links, so there is nothing to change on it. The consent form can be sent by anyone who can send forms.
Where your texting status is
Section titled “Where your texting status is”Go to Settings → Practice → Practice details and scroll to SMS Messaging, below Practice Setup and Practice Logo. There is one box for each office, with a Verification status. NixDent manages the verification for you.
- Verified means “SMS messaging is active for this location”.
- Action Required means something needs fixing. The note under the badge says what. Fix it, and tell NixDent.
- Other statuses mean verification is still in progress, or has been turned down. Contact NixDent.
Texting needs the Practice Setup card on the same page to be filled in first (legal business name, address and a primary contact).
Three ways to collect consent
Section titled “Three ways to collect consent”1. Your patient opt-in page
Section titled “1. Your patient opt-in page”When NixDent has turned it on, the card shows Patient Opt-In Page with a link. Click Preview to see it. Put this link on your website, in your front desk handouts or on a QR code at the desk.
The page shows your office’s name, address and phone. The patient enters their Full Name, Mobile Phone and optionally Email Address, then ticks either or both:
- Appointment & Office Communications (Transactional): reminders, confirmations, rescheduling notices, treatment follow-ups and post-procedure care instructions.
- Exclusive Offers & Promotions (Marketing): offers, new patient specials, seasonal deals and wellness tips. This is optional and separate.
The page tells patients they can reply STOP to opt out and HELP for help, that message and data rates may apply, and that consent is not a condition of receiving dental services. They click Submit Consent and see “Thank you! Your consent preferences have been recorded.”
If a patient has replied STOP and now wants texts again, ask them to text START, or to sign the Text Message (SMS) Consent form (below). See Texting rules and patient opt-outs.
2. The paper consent form
Section titled “2. The paper consent form”On the same card, click Download Paper Consent Form to get a PDF to print and keep in the patient’s file.
3. The Text Message (SMS) Consent form
Section titled “3. The Text Message (SMS) Consent form”In your forms list, Text Message (SMS) Consent is an intake form you can add (see Build and edit forms) and send like any other form. When the patient signs it with a mobile number and at least one of the two consent boxes ticked, NixDent records their consent for your office and turns texting back on for that number if the patient had earlier replied STOP.
If you make a copy of this form with Make a copy, the copy is not recorded as consent. Use the NixDent version.
What NixDent records
Section titled “What NixDent records”Each consent is saved with the patient’s name, phone number and email, the type of consent (transactional, marketing or both), how it was given and the time. You don’t need to keep your own list.
Common problems
Section titled “Common problems”The Patient Opt-In Page link isn’t shown. NixDent hasn’t turned it on for your office. Contact NixDent.
Status says Action Required. Read the note under the badge, fix what it asks (often a name or address that doesn’t match), and tell NixDent.
A patient says they were never asked. Look at their patient card’s Prefs and Comms tabs. Without recorded consent, send them the SMS Consent form or have them use your opt-in page.
What to do next
Section titled “What to do next”- Learn what STOP and START do in Texting rules and patient opt-outs.
- Turn on reminders in Automatic patient messages.