Are you moving into the world of AI in your practice?

AI has become that pervasive topic that everyone talks about, but let’s face it…if we don’t work in it, we really struggle to understand just what it can do. And we also have a hard time keeping up with how much it has advanced.

I know I have a lot to learn about its potential. And I have embarked on a journey to learn what is out there and what impact it can have on dentistry. I know some of my dental friends have done the same. But many have not—and that does not truly surprise me.

Dentists are no different than the general public in one fundamental aspect: some absolutely love the change (and chaos) that comes with a revolutionary technology like AI, but some are…how do we say it…perhaps a touch reticent.

I recall three years ago recording a video about the use of AI to help with caries detection. Some of the dentists thought the technology was “cool” but they did not need a machine to tell them when a patient has a cavity. They could read the x-rays just fine.

But here is the thing, many of your patients cannot. And this is their health journey. Just like you use an intra-oral camera to show patients what you see from the outside (you do use an intra-oral camera, right?), an enhanced AI x-ray is easier for a patient to follow.

They might even see the problem before you have said a word—just show them the image and let them absorb it. Then you can save the day with the solution.

Now if dentists were reluctant three years ago to consider this relatively simplistic function that AI could perform, how will they react to the “new and improved” AI products on the market? Products like chatbots that sound like you, not a machine. Technology that can track you patients’ oral health conditions and help develop treatment plans that are individually tailored to them. And by that, I mean not just tailored to the oral health condition of that patient, but which can rapidly process relevant information about their general health as well. Imagine how quickly you can find any contraindications on a patient taking multiple medications!

More and more businesses are recognizing that AI can help them personalize their service for their customers. It is a smart, super customer relationship management system. It can recognize customer trends and preferences and tailor business solutions to be more appealing to them.

AI can do the same in patient management. From helping you proactively schedule appointments for family members, recognizing patterns in patient behaviour you or your team might miss, ensuring ongoing patient communication takes place without anyone slipping through the cracks, to playing a role as your partner in treatment planning, AI’s capacities are growing.

So, the question is…when do you plan to take the leap and allow your practice to grow with this technology?