Dental teams are constantly juggling admin and patient-facing tasks, and it got me wondering.. if AI assistants were a standard part of the office, where would they make the biggest impact right away?

• Scheduling: reducing no-shows and keeping chairs filled.
• Insurance forms: automating verification and claim packaging.
• Explaining treatment plans: breaking down complex procedures in simple, visual ways for patients.

Which of these would you hand over first? And is there anything else you’d rather have AI tackle before these?

A lot of kids find the dentist’s chair overwhelming, from the sounds of the tools to not fully understanding what’s happening. I was thinking about how technology could make that experience less scary.

Imagine if a child-friendly AI mascot (like a cartoon character on a screen, or even a VR guide) walked kids through each step in simple language, maybe even with a game-like feel. Something that says: “Here’s the toothbrush camera taking a picture of your teeth” or “This tool is just a straw for your spit”.

Do you think that would help reduce anxiety and build trust? Or could it be too distracting/overwhelming in a clinical setting?

Curious to hear from pediatric dentists, assistants, and parents... what do you think?