Instagram & Social Media
Stories or feed: where does a dentist sell more?
Gabriel Gimenez · Published on September 19, 2026
The feed attracts the new patient, Stories close the sale. That is the short answer. In the practice I see talking with dentists at dentraw LAB, the feed works as the storefront: case carousels, before and afters and Reels the algorithm shows to people who do not know you yet. Stories work as the counter: that is where existing followers build trust, send a DM and book the consultation.
Dentists who post only to the feed grow slowly because they build no relationship. Dentists who post only Stories keep talking to the same audience forever, attracting nobody new. The dentist who sells more uses both with separate roles and measures what each one brings in.
Below I break down how to split the strategy, with the routine I recommend for cosmetic practices.
What is the role difference between feed and Stories?
Feed and Stories are two different products inside the same app. The feed is permanent, indexed by the recommendation algorithm and shown to non-followers. Stories vanish in 24 hours and are seen almost only by people who already follow you.
| Criterion | Feed | Stories |
|---|---|---|
| Reach to non-followers | High (Reels and Explore) | Almost zero |
| Lifespan | Permanent | 24 hours |
| Main role | Attract and prove authority | Build relationship and convert |
| Format that sells most | Clinical case carousel | Sequence ending in a DM prompt |
| Suggested frequency | 3 to 5 posts per week | 2 to 5 Stories per day |
Read the table this way: the feed answers "why should I trust this dentist?", Stories answer "is this for me?".
Why do Stories close more sales?
The decision to get veneers or a smile makeover rarely happens on first contact. The patient finds you through the feed, starts following you and spends weeks watching. That is the period where Stories do the work: behind the scenes, answered questions, the day to day of the practice showing there are real people there.
I learned this the most concrete way possible. When Carlos and I started dentraw LAB, I followed the profiles of dentists subscribing to the platform. One pattern kept repeating: the dentist posted a strong before and after carousel to the feed and got few DMs. The next day, when they showed the same case as a Stories sequence, with the smile simulation made in Preview and a "DM me if you want yours evaluated," the inbox filled up. Same case. What changed was the stage.
What should you post in each format?
The split I recommend, tested with partner dentists:
- Feed, clinical case carousel: cover with the result, slides explaining the starting point, the planning and the technical care. It is the format that earns the most saves and "how much does it cost?" DMs.
- Feed, short Reel: a trend adapted to dentistry or a before and after in motion, to reach people who do not follow you.
- Stories, case sequence: 3 to 5 frames showing the case in progress, ending with a question or a question box.
- Stories, behind the scenes: setting up the office, materials arriving, the team. It looks simple, but it is what humanizes the profile.
- Stories, poll and question box: "would you get this treatment?" and "send your veneer questions." Every reply is a warm lead.
One sentence sums it up: the feed wins the follower, Stories turn the follower into a patient.
How do you know which one sells more in your practice?
Without measurement, this debate becomes guesswork. The minimum tracking I suggest:
- Ask every new patient how they found you and write it down: feed post, Stories, referral, search.
- Review each format's metrics weekly: reach and new followers on the feed, replies and link clicks on Stories.
- Compare with the schedule: how many consultation DMs came in the week you posted a case sequence on Stories versus weeks without one.
- After 4 to 6 weeks, double down on the format that fills the schedule, not the one that gets the most likes.
At dentraw LAB, a large share of dentists uses the platform's content planning exactly to keep that cadence: the carousel comes out of Studio, the transformation video comes out of Live and the Stories sequence reuses the same material. The subscription unlocks constant use without counting credits, and pricing is detailed in the article about how much dentraw LAB costs.
Which mistakes make dentists sell less in both formats?
The three mistakes I see most in support and in conversations with subscribers:
- Treating the feed as a dead portfolio: only before and afters, no context. Patients want to understand the process, not just the result.
- Disappearing from Stories for days: go quiet and you lose the front of the Stories row, and with it the relationship you were building.
- Posting patient images without regulatory care: before and after sharing follows rules from dental ethics codes and professional boards, which change over time. Check the current rule and keep written patient consent before publishing.
FAQ
Stories or feed: which one converts more patients? They play different roles. The feed attracts new patients and builds authority; Stories build the relationship and close the decision with people who already follow you. Selling more requires both working together.
How many Stories should a dentist post per day? On market average, 2 to 5 Stories per day keep the profile active without tiring the audience. Consistency matters more than quantity: showing up every day beats disappearing and coming back with 15 Stories at once.
What should a dentist post on Stories? Office behind the scenes, answers to common questions, polls about treatments and case previews. The feed holds the educational carousels and the strongest before and afters, always following the current rules of your dental board.
Is posting before and after photos allowed for dentists? Sharing patient images follows specific rules in dental ethics codes and professional board regulations, which change over time. Before publishing, check the current rule and keep written patient consent.
Are Reels worth more than photos in the feed? On market average, Reels reach more new people, while photos and carousels earn more saves. For dentists, the clinical case carousel is usually the format that generates the most consultation requests in the DMs.
If you want to keep feed and Stories stocked without spending the night editing, start your free 3-day trial of dentraw LAB now and generate the carousel and video for your next case in minutes.
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Frequently asked questions
Stories or feed: which one converts more patients?
They play different roles. The feed attracts new patients and builds authority; Stories build the relationship and close the decision with people who already follow you. Selling more requires both working together.
How many Stories should a dentist post per day?
On market average, 2 to 5 Stories per day keep the profile active without tiring the audience. Consistency matters more than quantity: showing up every day beats disappearing and coming back with 15 Stories at once.
What should a dentist post on Stories?
Office behind the scenes, answers to common questions, polls about treatments and case previews. The feed holds the educational carousels and the strongest before and afters, always following the current rules of your dental board.
Is posting before and after photos allowed for dentists?
Sharing patient images follows specific rules in dental ethics codes and professional board regulations, which change over time. Before publishing, check the current rule and keep written patient consent.
Are Reels worth more than photos in the feed?
On market average, Reels reach more new people, while photos and carousels earn more saves. For dentists, the clinical case carousel is usually the format that generates the most consultation requests in the DMs.