Prosthodontics and implantology are complex dental procedures that require multiple appointments and follow-ups. DenTech tools like dental Practice Management Software and AI receptionists, built with insights from dental teams, can help address these challenges and improve patient outcomes in a customised way. 

Keywords: dental AI, AI in prosthodontics, AI in dental implants, AI receptionists, practice management systems, prosthodontist appointments, implant appointments  

The Unspoken Troubles in Prosthodontics and Implantology—an Introduction 

Prosthodontics and implantology are inherently gradual, progressive, and phased dental procedures. Despite the advent of single-sitting dentistry, immediate implants, or same-day crowns, this branch of dental science needs a minimum of two or more appointments and follow-ups for those practising the specialities and related stakeholders. The dental team, lab technicians, and patients need to communicate effectively to get through these appointments. Managing these touchpoints effectively can sometimes feel like a logistical puzzle.  

Any hiccups in the planning, coordination, and execution of these appointments can impact patient outcomes, clinical reputation, and overhead costs.  

This has been a bigger concern today than ever before owing to the rise in patient burden, poor appointment availability, and hectic work schedules for all.  

Yobi, an AI company related to sales, customer service, and marketing, reported that nearly 1 in 3 phone calls to dental practices go unanswered, potentially costing dentists upwards of $100,000 annually by neglecting patient inquiries!  

From missed appointments and delays in lab turnaround times to unforeseen complications during treatment—these challenges can disrupt even the best clinicians.  

With that in mind, today we will discuss how the DenTech space can help prosthodontists and implantologists be future-ready with tools like dental Practice Management Software (PMS) and AI receptionists. Whether you are a clinician or a dental tech professional providing non-clinical solutions, knowing what’s latest in the market can help solve the uncharted complexities in prosthodontics and implantology. 

Dental Practice Management Solutions  

According to a report, the global Dental Practice Management Software market size was assessed at USD 594.39 million in 2022, with a projected CAGR of 9.78%. It is expected to hit  USD 1040.45 million by 2031.  

North America (the United States, Canada, and Mexico) and Europe (Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Russia, and Turkey) continue to dominate the Dental Practice Management Software Market. The APAC region, with China at the forefront, is also expected to experience substantial growth in the next decade, fueled by factors such as population expansion and rising disposable incomes. 

Key players in the industry like Mogo, Henry Schein, iDentalSoft, Carestream Health, ACE Dental, DentiMax, Dentrix, Curve Dental, Tab32, MacPractic, Planet DDS, Datacon Dental Systems, EZ 2000, ADSTRA Systems, Dentisoft Technologies, and more have revolutionized the accessibility and affordability in the field.  

As a prosthodontist and implantologist, I took a deep dive to understand PMS products in the market that could help prosthodontists and implantologists. Here’s something I found: 

• Mogo, with a good price structure and all-inclusive features in the Basic plan, is a decent choice for small individual practices with specialities.  

• Adit can integrate with Open Dental, Carestream, and CareDent, and can be exquisite for patient engagement as necessary in rehabilitative and smile design procedures.  

• Tab32 on the other hand, is good for speciality practices; has an extensive knowledge base with videos and learning management systems.   

The Use of PMS in Prosthodontics and Implantology 

Investing in a PMS for your prosthetic and implant practice can directly boost outcomes. Here’s how: 

Management of patient records: 

It offers a centralised space to secure and easily access patient records, streamline treatment planning, and enable quick retrieval of medical history, imaging, and progress notes. 

Appointment scheduling, cancelling, and rescheduling: 

As a highly lab-dependent dental speciality that is influenced by the subjective esthetic evaluation of both the patients and the dentist, there is a lot of back and forth in prosthetics and implantology. Efficient appointment management reduces overlaps and missed slots, giving you the flexibility to handle cancellations or modifications while keeping your process orderly. 

Co-ordination with the dental lab: 

The software ensures zero-monitor communication with dental labs, ensuring accurate transfers of prescriptions, timelines, and updates, reducing errors and improving treatment outcomes. 

Inventory management: 

As a rehabilitative branch of dentistry, prosthetics and implantology are ruled by dental materials. PMS help track stock levels, expiry dates, and reordering needs for prosthetics, implants, and consumables to avoid disruptions during procedures. 

Billing and insurance: 

Simplifies billing processes automates invoicing, and can manage insurance claims, reducing the administrative load for the dental managers and receptionists.  

Reporting and analysis: 

Most PMS applications come with customised dashboards to track business KPIs—reports on practice performance, patient trends, and financial metrics to identify improvement areas and support informed decision-making. 

AI-Receptionists for Prosthodontists and Implantologists 

Though a fairly new concept that might take years to gain the trust of prosthodontists and implantologists, AI receptionists in a multi-appointment dental practice can be a game changer to begin with.  

Never miss a patient call: 

Patients undergoing dental rehabilitation may call the dental office multiple times for queries, reschedules, follow-ups, emergencies, etc. AI receptionists ensure every patient call is answered promptly, capturing inquiries or appointment requests even during off-hours or peak clinic times. 

Answer common queries with stock solutions without spending time: 

They efficiently address routine questions—such as pricing, procedure details, or clinic timings—saving time for staff and ensuring consistent responses. Sometimes even the basic answers to brushing routines after implants or what to eat for new denture wearers can be answered.  

Ensure text responses: 

They help deliver quick and accurate text replies for appointment confirmations, reminders, or patient queries, enhancing communication and reliability. 

Handles social media responses: 

AI manages social media inquiries, replying to messages and comments with pre-programmed, customizable and friendly responses, keeping your practice engaged and responsive online. 

Co-ordinates reminders and appointments: 

Together with/without PMS, they can send timely appointment reminders, schedule follow-ups, and manage changes seamlessly, reducing no-shows and maintaining a well-organized calendar. 

Some of the leading entities that have created quite a stir in the Dental Tech space are Arini AI, Rondah, Annie AI, Heygent Dental AI, Bolna, etc.  

They all aim to alleviate the surmounting responsibilities of the dental front desk in busy clinics and also ensure that the recently established practices leave no stone unturned in patient communication.  

Food for Thought 

Switching gears, here’s some trivia for you as a takeaway.  

Like with most DenTech products, Arini AI, powered by Y Combinator, is the brainchild of Jamjoom and Rustom, both computer science experts and engineers. In a particular report, the founders say that they stepped into the dental sector after seeing firsthand the challenges dental clinics face, especially the inefficiencies at the front desk. Their deep understanding of these operational bottlenecks drove them to find a solution.  

Take a nosedive into the matter, and you’ll understand how the nexus between the dental teams and the engineers is the universal foundation of any DenTech device or SaaS product. With that, I truly acknowledge the impactful work done by NamNR Pro in bridging the gaps between clinical and technical dentistry through the Global Dentists’ Pool. 

Contributions of NamNR Pro in Shaping Non-clinical AI Applications in Dental Specialities 

The Global Dentists’ Pool^TM by NamNR Pro is an opportunity for both dentists and dental AI and dental SaaS companies to collaborate more closely and build solutions to maximise the efficiency of the dental practice.  

For dental companies –  

With more than 100 dentists spread across 24 countries, this Pool supports dental companies by helping them.  

(1) validate their design ideas by running surveys in a large global cohort of practitioners and/or  

(2) hire premium dental advisors and MedComms experts to support various clinical, regulatory, marketing and sales projects.  

These are all dentists with specialized MedTech expertise in different domains. The core focus is to avoid hiring multiple ‘non-dental trained’ freelancers and consultants and hire premium dental advisors instead, who are the perfect single substitute for multiple human resources, in the form of one highly specialized advisor.  

For dentists surgeons –  

The Global Dentists’ Pool provides dentists, both general dentists and specialists, with opportunities to participate in dental projects without disrupting their clinical practice. The number of hours of engagement is flexible and dentists can upskill themselves by taking the “premium dental advisor program” which teaches how devices are made with medical device industry fundamentals.  

If you would like to engage with us to support your project or advance your dental career, then reach out to us at contactus@namnrpro.org.  

Disclaimer: 

This article was not sponsored by or created in collaboration with any of the companies mentioned. 

Meet the Author  

Dr Medha Gupta is an Implantologist, Medical Communication Expert & Global Dentists’ Pool member. She helps add brand value to medical/dental practitioners and HealthTech firms, by inscribing their thoughts in a language that speaks their key audience. As a content writer and reviewer in the health domain, her expertise adds trust to healthcare brands.