AI in the dental industry: Friend or foe? Here's what we know

Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere—from smart assistants on our phones to self-driving cars. And now it's making waves in the dental industry. Is it a welcome resource, or should dental professionals be wary—or both?

As AI infiltrates industries across the board, everyone is wondering, “Will AI help me do my job? Or will AI simply take my job?” Great questions, and we found answers for those close to us at DCS: The dental industry. 

According to the American Dental Association (ADA) Standards Committee White Paper:

“Forbes stated in 2018 that the most important AI (artificial intelligence) and AuI (augmented intelligence) areas for healthcare would be administrative workflows, image analysis, robotic surgery, virtual assistants, and clinical decision support… —but what does it mean for dentistry?”

Fast forward to today, and that prediction is starting to materialize in dental practices across the country. But as more AI tools emerge with promises to streamline billing and even support treatment planning, many dental professionals are asking the big-picture question:

Is AI a friend or foe to dentistry?

Of course, AI can help increase efficiency, specifically when applied to repetitive administrative tasks. And while AI’s assistance is welcome, there’s always the fear—and the threat—that it will replace real people in jobs. Let’s explore both of those ideas. 

Key takeaways on AI in the dental industry: 

• AI is already transforming dental practices by streamlining administrative tasks, improving patient communication, and accelerating revenue collection.
• While AI can boost efficiency, dental teams must stay mindful of risks like data privacy, job displacement, and over-reliance on tech.
• Thoughtful implementation of AI paired with human expertise is key to successfully navigating the future of dentistry.

The rise of AI in the dental industry

AI has been a specialty tool for years, and now it’s showing up across more dental practices.

From insurance verification to scheduling to patient billing, AI is steadily becoming a part of daily operations at dental practices of all shapes and sizes. Both solo practices and DSOs are adopting AI-powered tools to gain efficiency, improve patient care, and optimize revenue cycles.

How is AI being used for dental billing? Here is a real-world example from the ADA Standards Committee White Paper:

“A new capability now in development performs AI validation of claim packages at the dental office prior to submission. Here, AI identifies whether all required documents have been included and whether the contents of the attachments include all necessary information… Given this, AI can then determine whether the radiographic content appropriately supports the claim or remedial steps are required before submission.”

So, is AI helpful? Yes, it can be! But like any tool, how much it helps or hurts depends on how it’s used.

4 ways AI helps the dental industry

First, let’s explore smart ways to use artificial intelligence to support your dental practice. 

1. Streamlined administrative tasks

Busy front offices are often buried under tedious, time-consuming tasks like claims work and follow-up scheduling calls. AI tools can handle appointment scheduling, insurance verification, dental billing, and even direct patient communications, which frees up staff to focus on higher-value tasks.

The ADA explains: 

“Artificial/augmented intelligence-driven virtual assistants are being employed to streamline administrative tasks in dental practices. These assistants can handle appointment scheduling, patient communication, and billing processes to reduce administrative burdens and enhance overall practice efficiency.”

And what are those higher-value tasks your team will be freed to focus on? 

Growth-oriented efforts like marketing your dental practice, upgrading processes, and forming lasting patient relationships. And speaking of patients…

2. Enhanced patient experiences

AI improves communication with patients by sending personalized follow-ups and reminders via text or email. It even allows patients to reschedule through chat-based platforms or pay online with just a few clicks.

For example, a dental patient collections platform can automate all of those patient billing tasks from the first statement to the write-back, including automated payment reminders and easy online payments. 

This leads to fewer missed appointments, better retention, and a smoother overall patient experience—with little to no direct effort from your team.

3. Revenue growth through efficiency

Thanks to fewer patient billing errors, easy scheduling, and consistent insurance verification, AI helps practices get paid quicker and more consistently.

Reduced patient balance follow-up and streamlined billing workflows contribute to healthier cash flow. Not to mention, this extra efficiency helps combat the ongoing staffing shortage by reducing the need to hire more people to complete your endless flow of dental billing tasks.

Read more: 95% of dentists battle the healthcare workforce shortage: What’s their game plan?

4. Data-driven decision-making

AI can analyze patient data to identify patterns and trends, giving practices valuable insights for staffing, treatment planning, and marketing for more profitable production. These predictive analytics can help leaders make smarter business decisions—and in some cases, even anticipate patient needs.

With AI taking on repetitive tasks, smaller teams can function at higher levels. And remember, improving business operations through AI is not about replacing people—the goal is to let technology handle the grunt work so your team can focus on what matters most: patient care.

4 places AI could hurt in the dental industry

We’re not here to sell you on AI, we’re only here to report on it. So to build a balanced view, let’s dive into the downsides of this technology in the dental space.

1. Over-reliance on technology

There’s a risk that team members may come to depend on AI to produce the perfect results expected by payers and patients. AI should be viewed as a support tool, not a replacement for training, education, and professional expertise. You should always double-check its work.

2. Quality control challenges

We’re at a point where AI isn’t perfect. Models are still being worked on, evaluated, and updated, so their recommendations can be inaccurate and inconsistent. Again, human oversight is still essential when relying on AI to manage revenue and clinical processes.

3. Data privacy and HIPAA compliance

AI systems require access to patient data, which raises significant concerns about privacy and compliance. Teams will need to ensure proper safeguards and adherence to HIPAA regulations before entering, uploading, or providing access to patient data for any AI software.

4. Ethical and human considerations

AI doesn’t understand patient autonomy or emotion, and this applies to managing a patient bill or treatment presentation. 

The National Library of Medicine explains:

“Patient autonomy, informed consent, ethics, and morality are the crucial human characteristics that could be difficult to integrate into AI. Medical health care data are the most sensitive and secret documents. However, AI is merely a tool developed within electronic systems. It is not a person that cannot ascribe patient autonomy, personal identity, and wellness.”

It’s worth stating that the relationships you and your team form with your patients can never be replaced by AI.

What dental business leaders and their dental teams should keep in mind

As AI becomes more common, dental business leaders and their teams should focus on adopting AI after careful consideration so it can be utilized in ways that help them work smarter:

• AI should support, not replace, the human element. Patients still value personal care and connection. AI should create more time for those moments and enhance them, not eliminate them.
• Vetting is crucial. Choose vendors that specialize in the dental industry and can demonstrate full compliance with healthcare standards.
• Train your team to use AI confidently. Don’t just add new tools to your workflows. Educate your staff on how to use them effectively so technology is their ally and not an obstacle.
• Use AI insights to empower human decision-making. Let AI help guide your choices, but always layer in personal experience and professional judgment. Your real-world experience is invaluable.

Remember that AI isn’t perfect yet, but it can still help you reduce the number of repetitive tasks your team has to complete every day—and what it lacks in accuracy, it may make up for in speed and consistency. 

Read more: Dental office automation: What it will do for you and why your team is still crucial

What’s next for AI in the dental industry? Time will tell—and we’re on the pulse

To recap:

• AI is here to stay, and its influence on everyday dental operations is growing fast for practices of all sizes.
• The best-run dental practices are blending automation with human oversight to stay efficient while being patient-focused.
• DCS uses AI strategically to support dental practices, never to replace the people who run them.

AI is not a passing trend. It’s a powerful force that’s shaping how dentistry is practiced, managed, and delivered. The tools are only getting smarter, and it’s up to dental leaders to apply them with care, compliance, and intention.

At DCS, we believe in using AI where it does best: the routine and repetitive tasks of dental billing. That means automating things like patient reminders and insurance verification, but  complex claims issues or working directly with your team for onboarding and support are best handled by a human.

Learn how DCS can help you implement smart and strategic AI for your dental billing: Book a free 30-minute consultation with DCS today.