Dental organizations are piloting AI across ambient documentation, diagnostic imaging, treatment planning and revenue cycle management. Many tools perform well in demonstrations, but translating that promise into enterprise-wide impact remains difficult.
During a featured session sponsored by Dandy at Becker’s Healthcare Future of Dentistry Roundtable on Sept. 14, Jason Genta, DDS, MBA, vice president of clinical operations at Smile Brands discussed what it takes to move AI beyond the pilot, redesigns workflows and build clinician trust at scale.
Below are four takeaways from their discussion.
1. More than technical support
Dr. Genta said products that reach his desk generally function as advertised. What separates the tools that stick is whether a vendor understands dental operations and can help his lean clinical team introduce the product across hundreds of offices, some with three operatories and others with 20.
“I’m not always choosing the product that has the most features and the most bells and whistles,” he said. “A lot of times, I’m picking a partner that can help me roll it out.”
That requires more than technical support. Dr. Genta looks for partners with clinical expertise who understand that workflows, staffing and resources can vary significantly from one dental office to another.
2. The testing framework
Smile Brands evaluates technology through what Dr. Genta called its “win, win, win” model: Is it better for patients, better for providers and better for the business?
A project that clears all three tests can quickly move to the front of the organization’s priority list. When a pilot benefits patients and clinicians but does not generate a sufficient return, Dr. Genta said Smile Brands may expand the pilot to gather more evidence or work with the vendor to determine whether pricing is preventing the project from scaling.
“If we can check all those boxes, it doesn’t matter how many priorities we have, that will get to the front of the line,” he said.
3. Evaluating efficiency
Voice-enabled periodontal charting can save a hygienist about five minutes per appointment, Dr. Genta estimated. But that efficiency produces little value unless the rollout defines what should happen during the recovered time, such as completing an intraoral wellness scan or providing same-day treatment.
He described one of the company’s most productive dentists who initially declined an intraoral scanner because he already knew how to use the several minutes required for a traditional impression. Rather than press the technology, Dr. Genta connected him with a highly productive, fully digital colleague for an hour-long conversation about how the scanner fit into her workflow.
“If we’re not being really pragmatic with that efficiency, then it’s not going to do anything,” Dr. Genta said. “When you’re training, train what to do with that extra time.”
4. Adoption accelerates innovation
Dr. Genta relies on a diverse pilot committee that includes higher- and lower-revenue offices as well as clinicians with different scopes of practice. When a pilot succeeds, those dentists become key opinion leaders who explain the technology to their colleagues and help lead the broader rollout.
Financial incentives may produce an initial increase in adoption, but Dr. Genta said the effect rarely lasts. Recognition, conference invitations and speaking opportunities can be more effective because they give clinicians a platform to share their expertise.
“I never want projects to come from me,” he said. “I want the projects to come from the doctors who are in the trenches seeing patients every day.”
Dr. Genta said organizations must determine during the pilot how they will measure long-term success. Reaching every office does not mean a technology has been adopted, particularly as employee turnover, leadership changes and local workflow differences affect utilization.
“These projects, they’re not technology projects,” he said. “They are workflow projects.”
At the Becker's 5th Annual Future of Dentistry Roundtable, taking place September 14-15 in Chicago, dental leaders and executives will gain insights into emerging technologies, practice growth strategies and the evolving landscape of dental care delivery, with a focus on innovation, patient experience and operational excellence. Apply for complimentary registration now.
