Gone are the days when artificial intelligence was a scary, techie buzzword. In fact, AI is an everyday tool for much of modern health care, including dentistry. It’s changing a lot about how dental teams deliver care—from administrative functions to improvements in diagnostics.
While we as dental assistants are not typically included in the “innovations in dentistry” conversation, we are a very important part of the story. Every dental practice is held together by dental assistants. We perform clinical and administrative duties, assist the dentist, and keep patients comfortable. With the advent of AI, those roles for us are now being enhanced.
How AI will enhance assistants’ job
Radiography analysis: Enhancement tools like Pearl AI and Overjet can help identify caries, bone loss, and other pathology on radiographs. Acting as a second set of eyes for the dentist, these tools can help increase the accuracy of the diagnosis. Although diagnosis is not within the DA scope of practice, these tools can certainly help point out the obvious.
Treatment planning assistance: Some software can analyze digital scans and imaging to infer possible implant positions or suggest orthodontic aligners or other restorative options. Think about those 3D imaging software tools.
Workflow automation: AI-based systems can automate scheduling, insurance verification, and patient communications such as real time texting, reminder systems, and more.
Patient education: Interactive AI platforms can explain treatment options, not just in simple terms, but through visual means with videos and animation.
What this means for dental assistants is that these tools can help in the process of diagnosing and patient education in the clinical areas, and help with treatment planning, scheduling, and more in the administrative areas.
4 benefits of AI for dental assistants
1. Traditionally, dental assistants take x-rays and prepare them for the dentist's review. With AI-assisted imaging processes, assistants get real-time feedback about possible issues flagged on an x-ray without “diagnosing.” This not only enhances our technical skills but also allows us to provide further help to the dentist during treatment planning and case presentation.
2. Administrative assistants have a lot of tasks. Scheduling, patient confirmations, and getting insurance information are just a few. AI systems can lessen the load on appointment confirmations, preauthorization submissions, and initial patient intake. These automated systems help relieve the stress of these repetitive tasks and allow administrative assistants to focus on interacting with patients.
3. Patients sometimes need clarity about their treatment. AI can help create visuals or educational tools that serve as a clearer explanation of the treatment plan and assist in answering questions from patients. With this tool, assistants’ role is enhanced as we serve as guides to help patients better understand their care.
4. Assistants who know how to operate an enhanced AI radiograph system, use AI tools for things like real-time texting, and who integrate AI into treatment planning can enhance their value in the office as a top-notch dental assistant.
5 ways dental assistants can leverage AI
1. Radiograph support: Use AI-powered imaging systems like Pearl and Overjet to review proposed x-ray concerns and support the dentist during the diagnosis.
2. Patient education: Share AI-generated visuals and easy-to-understand explanations of treatment options to help patients better understand their care.
3. Appointment scheduling and patient follow up: Work with AI systems for automated reminders and communicate through text messaging to reduce no-shows and keep the daily flow running smoothly.
4. Productivity tools: Use AI-based tools that assist in digital charting or automate clinical notes, which in the long run can save time and reduce mistakes.
5. Insurance and billing backup: AI systems can automatically verify and enhance predeterminations and claims faster by attaching required images. This eliminates delaying submissions because of confusion about tooth numbers. These systems can also automatically verify benefit coverage.
How dental assistants can prepare to use AI
Get more overview of AI tools: Explore platforms such as Pearl, Overjet, or Dentem that are used in many practices today. Even peeking at demo videos can help familiarize you with this technology.
Request training: If your office rolls out AI software, be sure that you are included and present for the training for both clinical and administrative tasks.
Develop an inquisitive mindset: Keep reading dental journals, signing up for CE courses, and following all the industry updates about AI advances. I recently took a course and loved it!
Remain patient-centered: Remember, AI is a tool. What differentiates assistants are our human touches—empathy, comfort, and trust—all of which no software could ever replicate.
AI is not here to take away jobs; in my opinion, it’s here to make jobs easier and more efficient. For dental assistants, this means an amazing opportunity to expand and enhance our roles, sharpen our skills, and make an even more substantial impact on patient care.
Dental assistants who adapt to AI will keep moving ahead in our career, enhance the skills we already possess, and become leaders in the implementation of new technology and training others on our team.
As the dental industry progresses, one thing will remain unchanged, and that is the fact that the heart of dentistry is people. AI may interpret x-rays, send reminders, or suggest treatment plans, but it will never be able to hold a patient's hand, soothe their nerves, or put a smile on their face.
This is where dental assistants shine and with AI as an enhancement, we are poised to be even more valuable to help deliver great oral health care.
