SEO Keywords for Dentists: The Ultimate Guide to Rank Higher

In 2025, a killer website alone won’t bring patients through your dental clinic’s doors, you need free SEO keywords for dentists to get noticed by Google and, more importantly, by potential patients.

Let’s break it down from the basics to the advanced strategies that will help your dental practice rank higher, get more traffic, and ultimately bring in more patients to your dental practice.

However, it is wise to hire a dental SEO expert to save your time and focus more on improving your practice.

Customized keyword strategy for Dentists

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Customized keyword strategy for Dentists

Types of Keywords Dentists Should Target

Before we dive into keyword research strategies, let’s break down the different types of keywords that can help you in improving local SEO for dentists.

1. Short-Tail Keywords

Examples: “dentist,” “teeth cleaning,” “root canal”
High search volume but highly competitive.

2. Long-Tail Keywords

Examples: “best pediatric dentist in California,” “Affordable braces for adults,” “how to fix a chipped tooth”, and “how to choose a Dental SEO company”
Lower search volume but higher intent, which means they convert better.

3. Local Keywords

Examples: “dentist near me,” “emergency dental care in Boston,” “best orthodontist near me”
These are critical for ranking in local searches, especially with Google My Business.

4. Service-Based Keywords

Examples: “cosmetic dentistry SEO,” “dental implants cost,” “invisible braces for teens”
Helps target patients looking for specific treatments.

5. Question-Based Keywords

Examples: “How much do braces cost?” “Is teeth whitening safe?” “How to buy a dental practice”.
These work great for blog posts and FAQ sections to drive organic traffic.

6. Primary Keywords

These are the main focus keywords for a page or blog post.
Examples: “family dentist SEO,” “dental implants,”“dental business plan”, Orthodontic marketing ideas

7. Secondary Keywords

Related terms that support the primary keyword and add context.
Examples: “best dentist for implants,””braces for adults” etc

Keyword Research Strategies for Dentists

Now that you know what types of keywords to target, let’s get into the actual keyword research process to find the most searched dental keywords.

1. Use Google Auto-Suggest & People Also Ask

Start typing a dental-related query into Google, and it will suggest what people are searching for. The “People Also Ask” section provides additional keyword ideas.

2. Check Google Keyword Planner

A free tool from Google Ads that provides keyword ideas, search volume, and competition levels. Prioritize keywords with high search volume and medium-to-low competition.

3. Analyze Competitor Keywords

Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Ubersuggest to check what keywords your competitors are ranking for. If they are ranking for certain terms, it’s a good indicator that you should target them too.

4. Leverage Local SEO Tools

Use the following tools to find good keywords for a dentist

Google My Business: Optimize your listing with local keywords.
Moz Local: Find local keywords that can improve your visibility.
BrightLocal: Helps with local search rankings and citations.

5. Use AnswerThePublic for Question-Based Keywords

If you want to create blog content that ranks, AnswerThePublic is a goldmine for question-based keywords that people are searching for.

Key Parameters to Consider When Doing Keyword Research

When selecting the right keywords, don’t just go for high-volume terms. Consider these essential metrics:

Keyword Difficulty (KD): Indicates how hard it is to rank for a keyword. Aim for medium-difficulty keywords if your site is relatively new.
Search Volume: The number of times a keyword is searched per month. Higher volume means more potential traffic but also more competition.
Search Intent: Understand whether a keyword indicates informational (research-based), navigational (finding a specific page), transactional (ready to purchase/book), or commercial investigation (comparison before a decision).
CPC (Cost Per Click): Helps gauge the commercial value of a keyword in paid search. Higher CPC indicates high competition and business value.
SERP Features: Look at whether the keyword triggers featured snippets, local packs, or knowledge panels, which can affect organic visibility.

Best SEO Keywords for Dentists (2025 Edition)

Here is a curated list of high-ranking Dental SEO keywords:

General Dental Keyword List (Long Tail Keywords)

#	Keyword	Difficulty	Volume
1	what is a general dentist	7	150
2	how much does a general dentist make	6	150
3	can a general dentist do implants	0	100
4	can a general dentist do scaling and root planing	1	100
5	can general dentist do implants	1	100
6	what does a general dentist do	1	80
7	how long does it take to become a general dentist	8	80
8	can a general dentist remove wisdom teeth	1	80
9	can a general dentist do root canals and crowns	0	80
10	how to become a general dentist	3	70
11	can a general dentist do a root canal	2	60
12	difference between general dentist and orthodontist	17	50
13	can a general dentist perform an extraction	0	50
14	what is general dentist	2	50
15	whats a general dentist	6	50
16	can general dentist do root canal	1	50
17	can general dentist remove wisdom teeth	2	40
18	can general dentist do braces	2	40
19	difference between orthodontist and general dentist	17	40
20	how much does a general dentist make a year	6	40
21	what can a general dentist do	2	40
22	general dental council jobs	22	1600
23	how long does it take to be a general dentist	7	30
24	what does general dentist do	2	30
25	how much do general dentist make a year	6	30
27	can general dentist do wisdom teeth extraction	1	30
28	what do general dentist do	1	30
29	what is a general dentist called	14	30
30	what is a general practitioner dentist	1	20
32	how much do general dentist make	7	20
35	how many years to become a general dentist	4	20
36	can a general dentist do braces	1	20
37	how much general dentist make	3	20
40	how much does general dentist make	0	20

General Dental Keywords (Short Tail Keywords)

#	Keyword	Difficulty	Volume
41	general dentist	11	2800
42	general dentist salary	9	1700
43	general dentist jobs near me	1	500
44	general dentist jobs	0	350
45	general anesthesia dentist	3	350
46	general anesthesia dentist near me	0	150
47	what is a general dentist	7	150
48	average general dentist salary	16	150
49	general dentist average salary	3	150
50	salary for general dentist	1	150
51	general dental office	21	260
52	prosthodontist salary vs general dentist	1	150
53	pediatric dentist salary vs general dentist	1	100
54	can a general dentist do implants	0	100
55	general dentist job near me	0	100
56	dental general anesthesia	12	210
57	general dentist meaning	10	100
58	general dentist vs orthodontist	16	100
59	orthodontist vs general dentist	19	100
60	can general dentist do implants	1	100
61	general anaesthetic dentist	0	90
62	general dentist taxonomy code	0	90
63	pediatric dentist vs general dentist	0	90
64	what does a general dentist do	1	80
65	how long does it take to become a general dentist	8	80
66	can a general dentist remove wisdom teeth	1	80
67	can a general dentist do root canals and crowns	0	80
68	dentist general practice	11	80
69	how to become a general dentist	3	70
70	general dentist resume	7	70
71	general dentist job description	15	70
72	general dentist job	0	70
73	general practitioner dentist	1	60
74	general anesthetic dentist	0	60
75	general dentist salary california	1	60
76	dentist general anesthesia	0	60
77	endodontic ce courses for general dentist	8	60
78	general dentist procedures	11	60
79	can a general dentist do a root canal	2	60
80	orthodontic courses for general dentist	16	50
81	difference between general dentist and orthodontist	17	50
82	general dentist salary nyc	0	50
83	can a general dentist perform an extraction	0	50
84	what is general dentist	2	50
85	whats a general dentist	6	50
86	general dentist schooling	9	50
87	can general dentist do root canal	1	50
88	general dentist vs dentist	3	50
89	general dentist sydney	11	50
90	general dental council careers	18	140

Cosmetic Dentistry Long Tail Keywords

#	Keyword	Difficulty	Volume
91	how much does cosmetic dentistry cost	3	100
92	is cosmetic dentistry covered by insurance	2	80
93	is cosmetic dentistry grants legit	0	80
94	does insurance cover cosmetic dentistry	0	70
95	how much is cosmetic dentistry	3	60
96	how much for cosmetic dentistry	2	30
97	does blue cross blue shield cover cosmetic dentistry	7	30
98	is cosmetic dentistry a specialty	2	30
99	what insurance covers cosmetic dentistry	4	30
100	does delta dental cover cosmetic dentistry	6	30
101	can you use fsa for cosmetic dentistry	5	20
102	cosmetic dentistry long beach can	10	20
103	how to pay for cosmetic dentistry	1	20
104	does medicaid cover cosmetic dentistry	3	10
105	is cosmetic dentistry expensive	1	10
106	can i use my hsa for cosmetic dentistry	0	10
107	can cosmetic dentistry fix crooked teeth	0	10

Cosmetic Dentistry Short Tail Keywords

#	Keyword	Keyword Difficulty	Search Volume
108	cosmetic dentistry near me	2	4.5K
109	cosmetic dentistry services	0	1.9K
110	cosmetic dentistry cost	3	800
111	miami center for cosmetic and implant dentistry	0	700
112	cosmetic dentistry grants	24	700
113	affordable cosmetic dentistry	0	600
114	affordable cosmetic dentistry near me	4	450
115	cosmetic dentistry las vegas	28	400
117	cosmetic dentistry of napa: dr. sasha rozenberg	0	400
118	dentistry cosmetic near me	6	350
119	cosmetic dentistry grant program	22	350
120	cosmetic dentistry hagerstown md	11	350
121	coastal cosmetic family dentistry	2	300
122	fair lakes family and cosmetic dentistry	2	300
123	woodmere cosmetic and family dentistry	9	300
124	cosmetic dentistry philadelphia	25	250
125	cancun cosmetic dentistry	13	250
126	coastal cosmetic dentistry	8	250
127	cosmetic dentistry before and after	0	200
128	noble smile family and cosmetic dentistry reviews	0	200
129	cosmetic dentistry costs	3	200
130	cosmetic dentistry boston	9	200
131	sacramento cosmetic dentistry	24	200
132	advanced cosmetic and family dentistry	0	200
133	alpers family and cosmetic dentistry	0	200
134	best cosmetic dentistry near me	2	200
135	family implant and cosmetic dentistry reviews	1	200
136	pasadena cosmetic dentistry	14	200
137	centreville family and cosmetic dentistry	4	200
138	cosmetic dentistry phoenix	22	200
139	song cosmetic dentistry	12	200
140	cosmetic dentistry scottsdale	24	200
141	general and cosmetic dentistry	23	200
142	chapel hill family and cosmetic dentistry	23	200
143	cosmetic dentistry grant	23	150
144	natural and cosmetic dentistry	11	150
145	pound ridge cosmetic dentistry	0	150
146	cosmetic dentistry owings mills	7	150
147	gentle care cosmetic and family dentistry	22	150
148	cosmetic dentistry milwaukee	0	150
149	family and cosmetic dentistry near me	22	150
150	palmetto family and cosmetic dentistry	19	150
151	peninsula center of cosmetic dentistry	0	150
152	family and cosmetic gentle dentistry	21	150
153	cosmetic and general dentistry	19	150
154	pomerado cosmetic dentistry	1	150
155	cosmetic dentistry marketing	0	150
156	best smile cosmetic dentistry	2	150
157	cosmetic dentistry tampa	28	150
158	cosmetic dentistry seattle wa	29	150

Orthodontists Long Tail Keywords

#	Keyword	Keyword Difficulty	Search Volume
159	how to become an orthodontist	6	1.5K
160	how much does an orthodontist make	15	1.2K
161	how much does a orthodontist make	10	1.0K
162	how long does it take to become an orthodontist	0	800
163	how much do orthodontist make	7	500
164	difference between dentist and orthodontist	10	500
165	how long is orthodontist school	5	400
166	how to become an orthodontist assistant	6	350
167	difference between orthodontist and dentist	12	350
168	how many years to become an orthodontist	3	350
169	how many years of school to be an orthodontist	1	300
170	how long does it take to become a orthodontist	3	300
171	do orthodontist file your teeth after braces	0	300
172	how much do orthodontist assistants make	4	250
173	how to become a orthodontist	6	250
174	how long does it take to be an orthodontist	1	250
175	how to become orthodontist	6	200
176	what is the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist	12	200
177	how much does orthodontist make	15	200
178	what does an orthodontist make	8	200
179	how much do orthodontist make a year	12	200
180	how much does it cost to change orthodontist	0	200
181	how many years to become an orthodontist assistant	0	200
182	what’s the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist	10	200
183	can I get a new retainer from a different orthodontist	1	200
184	do orthodontist shave teeth after braces	0	200
185	how long is dental school for orthodontist	8	150
186	how many years of college to be an orthodontist	2	150
187	how many years to be an orthodontist	3	150
188	how long does it take to be a orthodontist	1	150
189	why do orthodontist put top braces on first	0	150
190	how long to become an orthodontist	2	150
191	what happens at your first orthodontist appointment	2	150
192	how to be an orthodontist	5	150
193	how many years does it take to become an orthodontist	2	150
194	how long do you have to go to school to be an orthodontist	2	150
195	how many years of college to be a orthodontist	2	150
196	how much does an orthodontist make an hour	2	150
197	what degree do you need to be an orthodontist	2	150
198	how much does an orthodontist make a year	15	150
199	how many years of school to be a orthodontist	4	150
200	what’s the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist	12	150
201	orthodontist who accept medicaid near me	7	100
202	how long to become orthodontist	4	100
203	what degree do you need to be a orthodontist	2	100
204	how much does it cost to become an orthodontist	8	100
205	how long does it take to become an orthodontist assistant	4	100
206	what is the best major for orthodontist	0	100
207	when should a child first see an orthodontist	9	100
208	how much school to be an orthodontist	0	100

Orthodontists Short Tail Keywords

#	Keyword	Keyword Difficulty	Search Volume
209	orthodontist salary	7	11K
210	best orthodontist near me	5	4.7K
211	best orthodontist	7	2.8K
212	orthodontist vs dentist	19	2.4K
213	orthodontist assistant	1	1.5K
214	pediatric orthodontist near me	19	1.4K
215	orthodontist schooling	8	1.2K
216	orthodontist assistant salary	2	1.2K
217	emergency orthodontist near me	3	1.2K
218	orthodontist jobs	0	1.1K
219	dentist vs orthodontist	12	900
220	affordable orthodontist near me	6	900
221	orthodontist assistant school	6	900
222	pediatric orthodontist	8	800
223	cheap orthodontist near me	2	800
224	orthodontist for kids	2	800
225	orthodontist school	20	800
226	orthodontist braces near me	0	800
227	top rated orthodontist near me	12	700
228	average orthodontist salary	9	700
229	orthodontist office	2	600
230	orthodontist that accept medicaid	11	600
231	orthodontist near me for braces	14	600
232	orthodontist job description	4	600
233	orthodontist appointment	4	600
234	emergency orthodontist	0	600
235	orthodontist prices	12	600
236	adult orthodontist	0	600
237	orthodontist wax	17	500
238	orthodontist pay	12	500
239	how much do orthodontist make	7	500
240	affordable orthodontist	1	500
241	difference between dentist and orthodontist	10	500
242	orthodontist reviews	1	500
243	orthodontist that accept medicaid near me	15	450
244	orthodontist for teens	0	450
245	orthodontist for children	5	400
246	orthodontist that take medicaid	6	400
247	how long is orthodontist school	5	400
248	orthodontist average salary	13	400
249	how to become an orthodontist assistant	6	350
250	endodontist vs orthodontist	0	350
251	top orthodontist	10	350
252	difference between orthodontist and dentist	12	350
253	medicaid orthodontist	7	350

Periodontist Long Tail Keywords for SEO Optimization

#	Keyword	Keyword Difficulty	Search Volume
254	what is a periodontist	12	2.9K
255	what does a periodontist do	12	1.7K
256	what is periodontist	12	450
257	what do periodontist do	12	350
258	how much does a periodontist make	2	200
259	what is a periodontist do	12	200
260	what does periodontist do	12	200
261	periodontist does what	12	150
262	periodontist what do they do	12	150
263	what periodontist do	12	150
264	what’s a periodontist	11	150
265	who is better for dental implants oral surgeon or periodontist	0	150
266	whats a periodontist	12	150
267	what does a periodontist	12	100
268	what a periodontist do	12	100
269	what does a periodontist do for receding gums	1	100
270	periodontist what is	12	100
271	what is periodontist do	12	100
272	difference between endodontist and periodontist	0	100
273	periodontist what is it	11	100
274	how to become a periodontist	0	100
275	what is a periodontist dentist	12	80
276	when to see a periodontist	1	80
277	what does a periodontist specialize in	12	70
278	what does a periodontist do for bone loss	1	70
279	what a periodontist does	12	70
280	how long does it take to become a periodontist	0	70
281	do you need a referral to see a periodontist	0	60
282	difference between dentist and periodontist	1	60
283	does dental insurance cover periodontist	0	60
284	what does a periodontist do?	12	50
285	what’s periodontist	12	50
286	how much does a periodontist cost	0	50
287	what is a periodontist?	12	50
288	difference between periodontist and oral surgeon	0	40
289	what is a periodontist vs dentist	2	40
290	what does periodontist mean	12	40
291	what is the difference between an endodontist and a periodontist	0	40
292	do I need a referral to see a periodontist	0	40
293	how much does a periodontist consultation cost	1	40
294	who is a periodontist	12	40
295	does insurance cover periodontist	0	30
296	what’s the difference between an endodontist and a periodontist	0	30
297	difference between orthodontist and periodontist	0	30
298	how do you spell periodontist	0	30
299	how much do periodontist make	1	30
300	is a periodontist a surgeon	0	30
301	is periodontist covered by insurance	0	30
302	who is periodontist	12	30
303	can periodontist do general dentistry	2	30

Periodontist Short Tail Keywords

#	Keyword	Volume	Keyword Difficulty
304	dental implants periodontist	1000	14
305	periodontist 07446	880	11
306	periodontist vs endodontist	880	11
307	periodontist columbus ohio	720	11
308	endodontist vs periodontist	590	10
309	periodontist las vegas	480	12
310	periodontist dental implants	390	5
311	periodontist vs oral surgeon	390	0
312	endodontics vs periodontist	320	10
313	periodontist black mountain north carolina	320	2
314	periodontist in columbus	320	6
315	best periodontist for dental bridges	260	1
316	periodontist cost	260	5
317	periodontist laser treatment	260	11
318	periodontist omaha	260	8
319	periodontist vs orthodontist	260	5
320	dentist vs periodontist	210	14
321	pediatric periodontist	210	1
322	periodontist albany ny	210	3
323	periodontist baton rouge	210	13
324	periodontist colorado springs	210	9
325	periodontist medford oregon	210	0
326	what does a periodontist do for receding gums	210	6
327	difference between endodontist and periodontist	170	8
328	oral surgeon vs periodontist	170	0
329	periodontist ann arbor	170	10
330	periodontist boston	170	8
331	periodontist glendale	170	1
332	periodontist naperville il	170	11
333	periodontist naples fl	170	10
334	periodontist richmond va	170	3
335	periodontist spokane	170	5
336	periodontist tallahassee	170	12
337	prosthodontist vs periodontist	170	0
338	sacramento periodontist	170	14
339	charleston sc periodontist	140	3
340	does a periodontist do implants	140	0
341	greensboro periodontist	140	11
342	periodontist berkeley ca	140	9
343	periodontist deep cleaning cost	140	10
344	periodontist gainesville fl	140	1
345	periodontist katy tx	140	13
346	periodontist macon ga	140	0
347	periodontist memphis	140	0
348	periodontist memphis tn	140	6
349	periodontist naples	140	3
350	periodontist nashville	140	14
351	periodontist scottsdale az	140	11
352	periodontist staten island	140	8

Specialized Treatment Keywords

353. Dental implants cost

354. Root canal specialist

355. Wisdom tooth removal near me

356. Family dentist in Jacksonville

357. Best orthodontist in New York

358. Emergency dental care in Silver Spring

359. Kids dentist near me

Blog & Content Keywords

360. How to relieve tooth pain at home

361. What to eat after a tooth extraction

362. Best toothpaste for sensitive teeth

363. How to fix bad breath permanently

364. How much does dental SEO cost?

365. Keywords seo tips

How to optimize keywords for Search Engines? 9 Potential Tips

To truly stand out, go beyond basic keyword research. Use these advanced techniques to optimize your dental keywords effectively:

1. Create SEO-Optimized Blog Content

Write blog posts answering common dental-related queries.
Use long-tail and question-based keywords.
Aim for at least 1,000-1,500 words per post.

2. Leverage Google My Business (GMB)

Add keywords to your GMB profile description.
Post updates and promotions with relevant keywords.
Encourage patient reviews with keywords like “great teeth cleaning experience.”

3. Use Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) Keywords

Enhance relevance and rankings by using semantically related keywords alongside your main ones.

Example: Instead of just using “teeth whitening,” include variations like “brighten teeth naturally” and “professional teeth bleaching.”

A general best practice for SEO keywords per page is to use one primary along with one to three secondary keywords per page.

4. Optimize for Featured Snippets

Increase your chances of ranking in Google’s featured snippets by structuring content effectively:

Use bullet points, numbered lists, and FAQs to answer common patient questions concisely.

5. Target Seasonal & Trending Keywords

Leverage industry trends to create timely content.

Example: “Teeth whitening in summer” or “Holiday smile makeovers.”
Use Google Trends to identify seasonal searches.

6. Improve Click-Through Rate (CTR)

Boost CTR by making your meta titles and descriptions compelling:

Use power words and numbers (e.g., “Top 10 Affordable Dental Implants in [City] – Cost & Reviews”).

7. Leverage Long-Form Content

Google favors comprehensive, high-quality content.

Create in-depth guides and ultimate lists on dental services to attract traffic and backlinks.

8. You should optimize a single page for multiple keywords

Utilize the same intent keywords on a single page. This way you can rank against multiple keywords and get traffic

9. Optimize for Voice Search

More people are using voice search on mobile and smart devices. Use conversational, question-based keywords like “Where can I find an emergency dentist near me?”

On-Page SEO for Content Optimization

Once you have the right keywords, optimizing your content effectively is the next step. Here’s how you can implement on-page SEO to improve rankings:

1. Optimize Meta Titles & Descriptions

Include primary keywords naturally.
Keep meta titles under 60 characters and descriptions under 160 characters.
Make them compelling to improve CTR (Click-Through Rate).

2. Use Keywords Strategically in the Content

Place primary keywords in the H1 title, first 100 words, and last paragraph.
Use H2 and H3 subheadings with related long-tail keywords.
Maintain a natural flow; avoid keyword stuffing.

3. Optimize Images

Use descriptive alt text with relevant keywords.
Compress images to improve page speed.
Utilize proper file naming conventions (e.g., teeth-whitening-before-after.jpg).

4. Improve URL Structure

Keep URLs short and descriptive (e.g., yourwebsite.com/dental-implants-cost instead of yourwebsite.com/p=1234).
Include relevant keywords where applicable.

5. Enhance Internal Linking

Link to related blog posts and service pages.
Use descriptive anchor text instead of generic phrases like “click here.”

6. Improve Readability & User Experience

Write in simple, easy-to-read language.
Use bullet points and short paragraphs to improve readability.
Ensure mobile-friendliness and fast loading times.

7. Optimize for Mobile & Speed

Google prioritizes mobile-friendly and fast-loading websites. Use Google PageSpeed Insights to check your site speed and make improvements.

Why Are SEO Keywords Important for Dentists?

Your potential patients aren’t just scrolling through directories anymore; they’re searching on Google for terms like “best dentist near me”, “teeth whitening services”, and “affordable dental implants.”

If your website isn’t optimized with the right keywords, your competitors will outrank you, and you’ll miss out on valuable leads.

Incorporating SEO keywords strategically ensures that search engines understand what your site is about and rank it higher for relevant searches.

Need help with your dental SEO strategy?

Let’s optimize your website for maximum visibility!

Book A Free Call Now

Final Thoughts

SEO is not a one-time task, it’s an ongoing strategy. Regularly update your SEO keywords for dentists, track your rankings, and refine your content based on Google Analytics and Search Console data.

Start by implementing the right dental keywords today, and watch your dental practice rise in search rankings, attract more patients, and grow exponentially.

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