Yep, Another One: Google’s March 2025 Update
Google has officially rolled out its March 2025 Core Update—and if your dental practice depends on search traffic (spoiler alert: it does), this update matters. These core updates are Google’s way of fine-tuning which websites show up in search results, and they can shake up rankings across the board—including for dentists.
If you’ve noticed a dip (or a spike!) in your website traffic lately, it might not be your imagination. This latest update is part of Google’s ongoing mission to surface the most helpful, trustworthy content—and if your dental website isn’t keeping up, it could be slipping down.
Let’s break down what changed, what it means for your practice, and what you can do right now to stay on top of search results in your area.
What’s in the March 2025 Core Update?
The March 2025 update is part of Google’s larger effort to reward genuinely helpful content and demote pages that feel low-quality, repetitive, or designed just to game the algorithm. According to Google, this update includes multiple system updates, including improvements to how Google evaluates content quality across the web.
In plain English? Google is getting better at spotting fluff and favoring websites that actually serve the user—whether that’s a patient looking for a dentist nearby or someone researching treatment options like Invisalign or dental implants.
A few standout themes from this update:
- Original, people-first content is being rewarded. AI-generated or thin, generic content is more likely to take a hit.
- Trust signals matter more than ever. That includes things like clear contact info, patient reviews, and showcasing your credentials.
- User experience still counts—site speed, mobile-friendliness, and how easy it is to navigate your site are all in the mix.
So if your dental website is just a digital brochure from 2015, it’s time for a serious glow-up.
How The March 2025 Update Affects Dental Websites
If you’re a dentist with a website (and if you’re not… we need to talk), the March 2025 update could be quietly reshaping how patients find—or don’t find—you online.
Here’s how it might be impacting your practice:
Generic content is losing ground.
If your website pages are packed with vague phrases like “we care about your smile” but don’t actually answer patient questions or explain your services clearly, Google may be pushing your site further down the search results.
Local SEO just got more competitive.
With Google leaning harder into helpfulness, practices that showcase real patient reviews, community involvement, and location-specific content will likely rise above cookie-cutter websites. Local SEO should be a focus for dentists.
Old, slow, and unsecure websites are at risk.
If your site loads slowly, isn’t mobile-friendly, or looks like it hasn’t been updated since the days of dial-up, that user experience could hurt your rankings now more than ever.
AI-written content isn’t the enemy—unless it’s lazy.
Google clarified that automation isn’t automatically bad—but content still needs to be accurate, original, and genuinely helpful. So if you’ve been cranking out blog posts with zero human touch, now’s the time to add that extra polish (or let a marketing pro help).
In short: the practices that are seeing better rankings right now are the ones treating their dental websites like living, breathing marketing tools—not set-it-and-forget-it directories.
What Dentists Should Do Right Now
Whether your rankings dipped, held steady, or improved, now’s the perfect time to double down on what Google—and your patients—actually want. Here’s how to stay ahead of the game:
Check Your Search Performance
Fire up Google Search Console and look at how your traffic and rankings have changed since early March. Are certain pages dropping? Are others gaining? This can help you spot which content needs a refresh—or which pages deserve more love.
Refresh Your Website Content
Update your dental website’s service pages, blog posts, and home page with specific, people-first content. Answer real questions your patients are Googling—like “How long does Invisalign take?” or “What’s the difference between a crown and a veneer?” Don’t be afraid to get detailed, local, and personal.
Focus on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trust)
Google is looking for real-deal expertise. Add bios with your credentials, showcase patient testimonials, highlight awards, and make it easy for users to see you’re a legit provider with real-world experience.
Improve Your Site’s User Experience
Make sure your site is fast, secure (HTTPS), mobile-friendly, and easy to navigate. Bonus points for online scheduling, click-to-call buttons, and clear service navigation. If it frustrates patients, it frustrates Google too.
Don’t Sleep on Reviews and Local Content
Local SEO is still huge. Make sure your Google Business Profile is optimized and that you’re consistently getting new reviews. Add localized content to your site—mention your city, nearby landmarks, or community events you’re involved in.
Final Thoughts: Stay Sharp, Stay Visible
Google’s March 2025 core update is a clear signal: helpful, high-quality content and a strong user experience are non-negotiable. For dentists, that means your website isn’t just a digital business card—it’s a trust-building machine, a patient-converting engine, and your top employee working 24/7.
If your rankings took a hit, don’t panic. This is your opportunity to improve, connect more authentically with patients, and rise above the cookie-cutter competition. And if you’re already seeing gains? Keep the momentum going by continuing to invest in smart content, local SEO, and a clean, modern web presence.
Because at the end of the day, Google wants what your patients want: a dental practice they can trust, connect with, and actually find online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my dental website traffic drop in March 2025?
If your website traffic dipped in March 2025, it could be due to Google’s latest core algorithm update. This update focused on rewarding websites with helpful, original content and a strong user experience. Dental sites that rely on generic copy, slow load times, or outdated SEO tactics may have seen a drop in rankings. Reviewing your content quality, page performance, and local SEO strategy can help you bounce back.
How do I improve my dental SEO after the March 2025 Google update?
Start by updating your dental website with detailed, patient-focused content that answers real questions—especially about services, costs, and treatments. Make sure your site is mobile-friendly, fast, and easy to navigate. Google also values trust signals, so include credentials, patient reviews, and up-to-date contact info. Refreshing your Google Business Profile and encouraging reviews will also help with local search visibility.
What kind of content does Google want on dental websites in 2025?
In 2025, Google is prioritizing websites that offer helpful, experience-based, trustworthy content. For dental practices, that means service pages with clear explanations, blog posts that answer patient questions, and content that demonstrates your expertise (like before-and-after cases, dentist bios, and testimonials). AI-generated content without substance is more likely to get pushed down in search results.
About the Author: Megan Nielsen is an SEO strategist and the Grand Overlord of copywriting at My Social Practice. My Social Practice is a dental marketing company that offers a full suite of dental marketing services to thousands of dental practices throughout the United States and Canada.
