Artificial intelligence (AI) is popping up everywhere — but what does it actually mean for your dental office?

No, it’s not replacing your front desk or writing treatment plans (yet). What AI is doing for the healthcare industry is helping practices automate tasks, speed up insurance processes and reduce time spent on tedious administrative tasks. Think of AI as a support system. When used strategically, it can save time and provide collaborative value.

Here’s a practical look at what AI can — and can’t — do for dentists and dental teams right now.

What AI can do

Automate insurance processes

AI can instantly pull eligibility data, plan details and benefits information, saving front desks from hours of back-and-forth communications, portal logins and manual data entry. On the same track, AI can even be utilized as a writing tool for help drafting and editing insurance related letters like appeals or patient benefits explanations.

Automate patient communication

Anyone who has ever sat in a front desk or customer service role knows the daily pain of answering the same question several times or having lists of notes to manage. AI tools can take over some of that script-type feeling communication. AI-assisted schedule and appointment reminders, post-op care instructions or insurance-related alerts are great options to streamline daily front desk tasks. Chatbots can even be used to answer those standard, frequently asked questions. One of the most valued AI tools currently is centered around transcription. Helpful for busy people, businesses or front desks, AI transcription tools can convert voicemail into text and even pull out action items. Now employees and patients can spend less time on simple communication tasks!

Clinical and diagnostic support

As previously noted, AI won’t be in charge of medical procedures anytime soon (comforting to most!). However, FDA-approved tools do exist at a basic level for assistance in things like spotting red flags, abnormalities and chairside documentation. Think of this type of AI as a second pair of eyes, not a replacement for diagnosis or care.

Business and marketing support

We can’t talk AI support without tying it into the corporate side of any business. Many medical groups admit to falling short on marketing and entertainment value. Whether your team lacks the knowledge, resources or time, this area of business is often difficult to manage and maintain. AI tools like ChatGPT and Canva’s Magic Write offer various tools for writing, editing, brainstorming and designing. From social media content creation to email and print materials, those tools can help keep your brand present online and off, without requiring hours of strategizing and creating.

What AI can’t do

Even the smartest AI tools have their limits. While it’s smart to utilize the tool for time and resource-saving purposes, it still can’t be solely relied on for other important things like:

• Interpret contract fine print
• Negotiate better reimbursements and build relationships with reps and patients
• Make clinical judgements or diagnose without a dentist’s input
• Ensure compliance with your unique policies or local regulations

The bottom line: While this new era of AI is not about robots taking over the world and replacing your team, it IS about support and time-saving. Remember, before migrating AI tools into any part of your daily routine, check with your company on internal policies and make sure your plans to utilize AI align with those!