A data-driven quality score for every dental clinic
Example score — calculated from 11 base components plus 2 engagement bonuses
Ranking algorithm update
April 26, 2026
Two engaged clinics with maxed-out profiles used to tie for the top spot, even when one had a markedly stronger track record with patients. The refreshed formula puts real-world reputation, depth of patient feedback, recency of that feedback, and practice tenure ahead of "did they fill the form."
Where to put your attention
What carries less weight than before
The algorithm is designed to reward outcomes, not effort. Two clinics that both "fill the form" should not tie at the top — the one with stronger real-world signal should pull ahead.
The process
We aggregate data from multiple online sources, clinic profiles, and patient signals to build a comprehensive view of every dental practice.
Our scoring engine evaluates each clinic across 11 weighted components plus engagement bonuses, producing a normalized quality score on a 0-100 scale.
Clinics receive their Smyleee Rating and those above the qualification threshold enter the ranking pool for Top 10 lists.
Transparent scoring
Every Smyleee Rating is composed of 8 measurable components, each contributing a specific number of points to a maximum of 100.
Stricter scaling — strong real-world ratings move the needle most.
Depth of validation. Hundreds of reviews count more than a handful.
Long-tenured practices score higher. >20y maxes the slot.
Freshness matters. Recent reviews signal an active, current practice.
Well-structured prose that names the actual procedures offered.
Quality, not headcount. A solo verified dentist scores the same as a full team.
Smyleee's editorial review of the practice.
Phone, website, address, hours, languages, top specialties.
Plan-agnostic — every clinic competes on the same 5-service threshold.
Featured image plus a small gallery. Same threshold for every plan.
Meta title, meta description, schema type.
+2 engagement bonus when an owner claims the listing.
+5 engagement bonus when ownership is verified (widget on the live website).
Our commitment
No manual manipulation of rankings. Every score is computed automatically from verifiable data points, ensuring objectivity and consistency.
Every clinic can see a full breakdown of their score, understand exactly how each component is calculated, and identify areas for improvement.
Sponsored listings are clearly labeled and never affect a clinic's Smyleee Rating. Paid placements are separate from organic scoring.
Ranking eligibility
Only clinics that meet our quality threshold are eligible for inclusion in Smyleee’s curated Top 10 lists.
Below Threshold
Listed in directory but not eligible for Top 10 rankings
Above Threshold
Enters the ranking pool for curated Top 10 lists
Per-Page Ranking
Once a clinic qualifies, its position in each Top 10 list is determined by a combination of its Smyleee Rating, relevance to the specific service being ranked, and proximity to the location being featured.
Platform Integrity
Smyleee is a curated dental marketplace built on data integrity and patient trust — not a website directory for SEO purposes. We actively monitor and enforce the quality of every listing on our platform.
Every listing must represent a real, operational dental practice with verifiable contact information, physical address, and active patient services. Shell profiles created solely for backlinks are identified and permanently removed.
SEO agencies, marketing firms, and link-building services that create or claim listings on behalf of clinics without genuine patient service intent will have their accounts suspended and all associated listings removed without warning.
Our systems continuously verify listings against real-world data. Clinics that go inactive, show inconsistent information, or fail our periodic quality audits are flagged, downgraded, or removed from the platform entirely.
A message to SEO agencies and marketing firms
Smyleee has been operational since 2012. Our ranking algorithm evaluates clinics across multiple verified data points that cannot be gamed through profile creation alone. Creating a listing without a complete, verifiable practice profile will result in a Smyleee Rating of zero — providing no SEO value, no ranking eligibility, and no backlink authority. We use nofollow attributes on all outbound links until a clinic meets our quality threshold. Your time is better spent elsewhere.
For clinics
Claim your listing and complete your profile to maximize your Smyleee Rating. The more complete and accurate your profile, the higher your score.
