The dental recall card: ideas, wording and examples for your practice

Recall is one of the most effective tools a dental practice has: patients who come in regularly for check-ups and hygiene appointments stay loyal to the practice. Even so, many reminders get lost – the email lands in spam, the text message is swiped away, the slip from reception ends up who knows where. A well-made dental recall card gives the next appointment a fixed place: in the wallet, on the bathroom mirror, on the fridge.

What a dental recall card has to do

A recall card has exactly one job: to make sure patients book or attend their next appointment. To do that, it needs three things:

• A clear date or time frame. “Your next hygiene appointment: in March” works better than “Please remember your check-up”.
• An easy way to book. Phone number, online booking or a QR code – ideally everything your practice offers.
• A reason to keep the card. A card that only carries information is quickly forgotten. A card with a use stays.

Layout: front and back

A clear split has proven itself:

Front – the brand. Logo, practice name and your practice colours, set generously. The front makes sure the card is instantly recognised as “the card from my dentist”.

Back – the appointment. A field for date and time (filled in at reception), followed by phone number, website and a QR code that leads straight to online booking. If you would rather not use fill-in fields, a fixed line works too, such as “Time for your check-up? Just scan and pick a slot.”

Recall card wording that works

Whether you address patients formally or more casually depends on the tone of your practice. What matters is that the wording stays friendly, specific and short. A few examples:

• “Your next hygiene appointment: ____”
• “See you in six months. Book online now: [QR code]”
• “Time for your check-up – we look forward to seeing you.”
• “For in between: floss on the go. For your next visit: book via the QR code.”
• For children and families: “Great brushing! See you next time on ____”

Tip: keep the back calm. One sentence, one date, one way to book. Everything else belongs on your website.

Why a dental recall card with floss works better

A classic paper card has no use of its own – it is read and then forgotten. A recall card with built-in dental floss is different: the Floss Card in business card format (85 × 55 mm, just 1.6 mm thin) contains around 10 metres of waxed dental floss and fits into a wallet. Every time patients use it, they see your practice name – and the way to their next appointment.

The message fits, too: anyone who receives dental floss from their dental practice understands without a word that this is about prevention. The card is a reminder not only of the appointment, but also of what recall is really about – daily care between visits.

Putting recall cards into practice day to day

1. Hand one out after every hygiene visit. The card is the natural end to the session: “Here is your floss for on the go, and your next appointment is on the back.”
2. Write the appointment in at reception. A writable field on the back turns the card into a personal reminder.
3. Link it to your digital recall. The card doesn’t replace text messages and emails, it complements them. The QR code leads to the same booking page.
4. Start with new patients. Anyone who receives a card on their first visit has your practice to hand from day one.

What does a recall card with dental floss cost?

Floss Cards are available from 500 pieces, printed full-bleed in CMYK on both sides. The unit price falls as the quantity rises (as of October 2026, excluding VAT): €1.20 for 500 pieces, €0.97 for 1,000 pieces, €0.76 from 10,000 pieces, plus a one-off €65 for print preparation. You can see the exact price for your quantity in the card designer.

Conclusion

A good dental recall card is clear, short and has a reason to be kept. With built-in dental floss, it gets exactly that reason – and every time it is used, it reminds patients of your practice and their next appointment.

Want to see what your recall card looks like? In the card designer you design the front and back yourself – or send us your logo via no designer needed and we design the card for you. A free sample lets you hold the card in your hand. You can read more about the product itself in our article on the dental floss business card.