Dental practice owners and DSO executives continue to flock toward artificial intelligence to enhance patient care and operational efficiency, making the technology one of the largest disruptors in the industry.
Here is what five dental industry professionals have recently shared about how AI is reshaping dentistry:
Dalton Albertin. Marketing and Business Development Manager at LADD Dental Group (Kokomo, Ind.): We also utilize AI for insurance verification and eligibility, allowing us to reduce administrative delays and provide patients with clearer, more accurate information before treatment begins. By automating time-consuming back-office tasks, our team can spend less time on paperwork and more time focused on patient care. At the same time, we understand that dentistry is deeply personal. Patients don’t just want technology — they want trust, relationships and a team that knows them. That’s why AI at our dental group is used to support, not replace, the human connection. Technology helps us be more efficient and precise, while our people deliver the compassion, communication, and personalized care that truly define the patient experience.
Natalia Chalmers, DDS, PhD. Chief Dental Officer and Head of Clinical Innovation at Overjet: AI is changing the trajectory of everything we do across the board. In dentistry, we now have a source of truth on whether a patient has dental problems or not, which is phenomenal. Some of the tensions that have existed in dentistry are between the patients and the providers over things like, Is there disease? Do we agree that there is disease? Is this overtreatment or undertreatment? This mistrust is solved today with AI because we are no longer debating if there is disease or not, we’re debating how to treat it.
The other piece that AI is helping with is actually between the provider and the payer, and you would not necessarily think that. At the heart of prior authorization denials is the disagreement between dentists and the insurance companies. Today, with claims backed up by radiographic analysis and findings, providers and payers don’t have to argue if there are diseases anymore, leading to fewer denials.
Barry Lyon, DDS. Director of Provider Recruiting and Onboarding at Dental Care Alliance (Sarasota, Fla.): In pediatric dentistry, where early detection is especially important, AI can help clinicians identify decay before it progresses into more invasive treatment. It is also used to predict jaw growth and tooth alignment, allowing pediatric dentists and orthodontists to plan early treatment that prevents severe malocclusions from developing.
AI is also becoming valuable in preventive care and risk prediction. Pediatric practices generate large amounts of data tied to recall intervals, fluoride exposure, caries history, dietary habits and socioeconomic trends. AI systems can analyze these variables to identify which children are most likely to develop future decay or fail recall appointments. This allows practices to personalize preventive protocols and intervene earlier with higher-risk patients.
Sonalika Rungta, DMD. Founder of Thompson (Conn.) Smiles: We use AI for x-ray diagnostics with Pearl AI, which helps us build trust with our patients and ensures consistency in our X-ray diagnoses. There is no doubt in our patients’ minds, and they are more likely to accept the treatment plan.
We are also exploring an AI 24-hour receptionist to better serve our patients. The AI receptionist will answer calls, fill the schedule and improve customer service. We will not lose revenue during the hours our office is closed.
Annie Sawyer. Director at 3D Dentists: From an operations and management standpoint, AI is reducing administrative friction across scheduling, insurance verification, claims review and revenue cycle management. Practices deploying AI-assisted workflows are seeing 20–40% reductions in administrative labor, fewer claim denials and faster reimbursement timelines. The combined effect is improved margins, stronger cash flow and the ability to scale without proportional increases in headcount.
In patient automation, AI-driven communication systems are improving access, responsiveness and schedule utilization. Automated reminders, confirmations, recall outreach and digital intake are reducing no-show rates by 15–30% and reactivating overdue patients — particularly in hygiene. These gains translate directly into incremental revenue while simultaneously reducing front-office call volume and staffing pressure.
AI is also delivering value in education and training by shortening onboarding time and improving workforce consistency. Role-based, on-demand training supported by AI reduces ramp-up costs for new hires and limits productivity loss from turnover. Over time, better-trained teams contribute to improved case acceptance, operational consistency and staff retention — each a material driver of long-term financial performance.
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.
