“Dental clinic reels” is one of the most searched phrases about dental marketing in the UAE. The assumption behind it is that a clinic must make Reels to be seen. Our count of Dubai clinics suggests a more balanced answer.
What we counted
We looked at the public Instagram posts of 13 Dubai dental clinic accounts over the 90 days to 13 October 2026. For each post type we measured likes and comments per 100 followers, so large and small accounts can be compared. The median clinic posted 1.17 times a week.
Single photos came out ahead: a median of 0.2 likes and comments per 100 followers, against 0.1 for Reels. The full method and numbers are in our journal post on Reels or photos for a dental clinic.
What it does and does not mean
It means a clinic’s followers respond well to clear photos with a useful caption. It does not measure reach, because public numbers do not show it. Reels are shown to people who do not follow the clinic, so a Reel with fewer likes per follower may still have brought new people to the profile.
So the sensible conclusion is a mix rather than a switch.
A mix that works
- Photos for the steady feed. The dentists, the rooms, practical details, answers to questions.
- One Reel a week for reach. A dentist answering one question to camera, under a minute, with captions.
Reels a dental clinic can make
- The dentist’s minute: how long implants usually last, what to do when a child chips a tooth.
- The sterilisation routine, shown step by step without patients.
- A walk from the entrance to the treatment room, so a nervous patient knows what to expect.
- What happens at a first visit, explained by the dentist.
Never film a procedure in progress or a patient without written consent. Every Reel naming the clinic goes to the Medical Director like any post.
Reuse
Post each Reel to YouTube Shorts as well, titled with the patient’s question. YouTube videos can appear in Google results, so a Short answering “how long do implants last” can be found for months.