If you’re running a dental clinic, visibility is everything. You might have the most advanced equipment, the friendliest team, and a spotless practice—but if patients can’t find you online, you’re missing opportunities.
That’s why one of the most overlooked yet crucial steps in dental digital marketing is submitting your site to Google. It’s a small move with big returns, especially for new websites, major content updates, or fresh SEO strategies.
Let’s unpack how dentists can submit a site to Google effectively, improve indexing, and ensure they’re showing up for local patients right when it matters.
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What It Means To Submit A Site To Google
When you submit your site to Google, you’re essentially telling the search engine: “Here’s my website, please have a look.” This speeds up how quickly Google can discover and index your pages.
Indexing is what makes your site eligible to appear in search results. Without it, your dental website might remain invisible for weeks or months. While Google can eventually find sites on its own, submission removes the guesswork and delay.
There are two primary ways to submit:
- Via Google Search Console – Upload a sitemap or submit individual URLs
- By linking from already indexed websites – Less control, slower, and less reliable
Using Google Search Console is the best route, and it’s free.
Why Dentists Should Care About Submitting Their Site
For dental practices, especially local ones, being discoverable on search engines isn’t optional. Most patients will search online before booking an appointment even if they’re just a few streets away.
Submitting your website to Google helps:
- Speed up how fast your pages appear in search results
- Ensure recent content updates are noticed
- Avoid issues with Google missing important service pages or blog posts
It’s particularly useful after a website redesign, new location launch, or service expansion. Submitting your site manually keeps your online footprint in Google’s sights.
Preparing Your Website Before Submission
Submitting too soon can backfire. An unfinished website might get indexed with missing pages, broken links, or placeholder content. Worse, those versions can hang around in Google’s index longer than you’d like.
Before you hit submit, make sure your site is genuinely ready for visitors. That means it should load quickly, function smoothly on mobile, and include useful, relevant content.
Start by writing clear service pages that explain exactly what you offer and where. If you’re a dentist in Parramatta who provides Invisalign, your content should reflect that in plain language and not just technical terms.
Your website should also include:
- A logical structure with a clear menu and internal links
- Fast-loading pages with compressed images
- Mobile-friendly formatting that passes Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test
- Unique metadata for each page (we’ll get to that in a moment)
If your website is still under construction or using filler text, hold off on submitting it. First impressions count, even for Google.
Making The Most Of Metadata
Metadata is the short summary that appears on Google search results. It includes your page’s title and description. Optimising this is critical because it’s the first thing potential patients see.
For example, if your homepage title says “Welcome” and the description reads “Just another WordPress site,” that’s a missed opportunity. Instead, aim for something like:
Title: Dentist In Macquarie Park | Family Dental & Invisalign
Meta Description: Friendly Local Dentist In Macquarie Park Offering Check-Ups, Cosmetic Dentistry & Invisalign. Book Online Today.
Well-written metadata tells both users and search engines what each page is about. It also improves click-through rates, which Google considers when ranking results.
Make sure each page on your site has:
- A descriptive title with relevant keywords
- A meta description that’s accurate, enticing, and under 160 characters
- Page URLs that are readable and include service or location keywords
This should all be sorted before you submit your site, to ensure Google indexes the best version possible.
Submitting Your Site Through Google Search Console
Google Search Console is the main tool for letting Google know about your site. Here’s how to do it:
- Create a Google Search Console account at https://search.google.com/search-console/
- Verify ownership of your website by adding a small snippet of code or uploading a file (your web developer can do this quickly)
- Submit your sitemap – usually located at yoursite.com/sitemap.xml
- Submit individual pages if needed, especially after updates
Google will then crawl your site and begin indexing the pages. This doesn’t happen instantly, but it happens much faster than if you wait for it to happen organically.
Common Myths About Site Submission
There’s no need to submit your site multiple times. Google will remember your website and continue to crawl it regularly as long as it sees fresh content and a healthy structure.
Another myth is that submission guarantees instant rankings. It doesn’t. Submitting a site gets you indexed faster, but your ranking will depend on content quality, competition, backlinks, and local SEO factors.
Lastly, some dentists worry that submitting a half-finished site won’t matter. Unfortunately, it does. Google indexes what it finds—even if it’s not ready—and those pages can take time to refresh.
Beyond Google: Other Platforms Worth Submitting To
While Google is the primary focus, dentists should also submit their sites to Bing using Bing Webmaster Tools. This can help you appear in searches made via Microsoft browsers, Yahoo, and some voice assistants.
There are also industry-specific directories that matter. Submitting your site to places like HotDoc, Healthshare, Whitecoat, and relevant local business listings can support your SEO and improve trust with potential patients.
Always keep your business name, address, and phone number consistent across platforms. This helps Google connect your website with your Google Business Profile.
Why Backlinks Still Matter
Backlinks—other websites linking to your dental site—still signal trust to Google. The more credible the source, the stronger the signal.
If a dental association, health directory, or even a reputable blog links to your content, it tells Google your site is worth noticing. This improves your chance of ranking well.
After submitting your site, keep building backlinks by:
- Writing helpful blog posts that others want to share
- Publishing guest articles on health websites
- Collaborating with local partners (like gyms or medical clinics)
- Getting listed on local news or community websites
Good backlinks can also help Google find your pages faster, especially if they’re new.
What To Avoid: Submitting A Site Too Early
Submitting your website while it’s still under construction can set you back. Google might index your site with placeholder text, broken links, or incomplete pages—none of which help your reputation.
Even once your site is technically live, take time to review it thoroughly. Make sure all content is relevant, accurate, and polished. Check how it looks on mobile, and fix any slow-loading pages.
If you’ve launched already and notice that Google has indexed unfinished versions of your site, you can request a reindex after fixing the content. This lets you recover, but it’s better to get it right the first time.
Keep Monitoring After Submission
Submitting your website to Google isn’t the end, it’s the beginning. To make the most of your online presence, you need to track how your site performs over time.
Google Search Console lets you see which pages are being indexed, what search terms patients use to find you, and any issues Google has with your site. Check in weekly or monthly to ensure everything’s running smoothly.
Use Google Analytics alongside it to monitor traffic, bounce rates, and conversions. If you see a page performing poorly, tweak the metadata, improve the content, or add internal links.
Over time, your site’s visibility will improve, but only if you keep it in top shape.
Ready To Submit Your Dental Site To Google?
If your dental clinic’s site is polished, informative, and built with patients in mind, it’s time to tell Google about it. Submitting your site gives you control over how quickly you get indexed and how your content appears in search results.
It’s a simple step, but one that forms the foundation of any good dental SEO strategy. Get your technical basics right, focus on useful content, and check your site’s performance regularly.
Google will take it from there, delivering your site to the patients who are already searching.
