Resources for dental offices
AI tools are already part of daily dental workflows. They read radiographs, highlight areas of concern, suggest billing codes, and help teams move faster without cutting corners. What used to feel experimental now saves time and supports better decision-making. The biggest impact is less manual work and more clinical focus. Patients get clearer explanations. Teams spend less time charting after hours. And your practice runs more smoothly without relying on overtime. Here are five real-world ways AI supports diagnosis, documentation, and care.
Jul 22, 2025
1. AI-Powered Radiograph Interpretation
Interpretation varies. Fatigue, experience, and even screen settings can change how two providers read the same bitewing. AI eliminates that inconsistency and reviews every image with the same criteria every time.
Trained on millions of annotated radiographs, modern tools detect caries with an average of 89% accuracy. That’s a 3-point improvement compared to the average human read, which hovers around 86%. Platforms like Overjet are FDA-cleared to detect decay, quantify bone loss, and overlay the findings on the original image. Patients see a red outline around decay or a color-coded bone level bar. And when the problem is visible, case acceptance improves naturally.
The benefits go beyond patient communication and include:
Earlier diagnoses lead to shorter, simpler treatments
Standardised notes improve continuity across providers
Automated narratives and CDT codes reduce insurance denials
These advantages make AI radiograph interpretation a valuable addition to any practice, but successful adoption requires proper setup and team coordination. The technology works best when integrated smoothly into existing workflows and supported by staff who understand both the capabilities and limitations of AI-assisted diagnosis.
Implementation steps:
Confirm that your sensors or CBCT scanner exports DICOM files compatible with FDA-cleared AI platforms
Schedule team training so assistants can fine-tune image capture and hygienists can practice using AI side-by-side with manual reads
Measure diagnostic yields before and after implementation by tracking detection rates over a 90-day period
Establish a simple workflow: upload the image, review the flagged findings, and walk patients through the results to spend less time explaining and more time treating
2. Early Periodontal and Oral Cancer Detection with Deep Learning
Nearly half of U.S. adults show signs of periodontitis, yet it often goes undetected on routine radiographs. Similarly, oral cancer often goes undetected, with less than 30% of oral cancers detected early. The mortality rate for oral cancer is around 50%, and the primary cause for this high mortality is the high percentage of oral cancers diagnosed in advanced stages (stages III and IV).
AI systems can change that by analyzing high-resolution intra-oral images and fluorescence for early signs of periodontitis and dysplasia, flagging subtle changes that might otherwise go undetected. This gives you a clear, visual marker to share with patients, making early interventions more likely.
Beyond detection, AI tools can automatically calculate clinical attachment loss, populate your notes with accurate data, and generate images formatted to meet insurance requirements. This reduces administrative time, improves the accuracy of your claims, and helps lower the chances of denials.
AI is constantly improving, but many models still rely on single-center data, so rare or edge-case lesions may not always be flagged. Regular calibration drills keep the system aligned with current clinical standards and maintain its accuracy.
Implementation steps:
Integrate an intra-oral camera or fluorescence device that streams images to a cloud-based portal
Schedule 30-minute quarterly calibration sessions where hygienists compare their readings with AI results to identify and address any discrepancies
Track the percentage of periodontal or mucosal findings identified at an early stage over time to measure improvements
Earlier detection leads to more treatment options and better patient outcomes, improving both clinical care and practice efficiency.
3. Smart Endodontics: Locating Canals and Predicting Root-Canal Success
Missed canals, broken files, and extended chair time often stem from one issue: limited visibility. AI-powered CBCT tools help solve this by identifying canal structures, especially tricky ones like calcified MB2s, with high levels of accuracy.
These systems use high-resolution CBCT scans to detect and map canals, offering a clearer path before you start treatment. Some platforms go further with early-stage features for segmenting dentin, pulp, and periapical structures, although full automation is still evolving.
The software can analyze historical outcomes to flag high-risk cases. It may predict post-op pain, retreatment likelihood, or the need for enhanced irrigation, helping you adjust your approach before you touch the file. The clinical impact is real:
Fewer exploratory radiographs
Shorter appointments
Lower retreatment rates
Stronger case acceptance with visual proof
Cleaner insurance submissions with annotated CBCT slices
These benefits make implementation worthwhile, but success depends on proper system integration and team training. The key is ensuring your existing CBCT technology is compatible and that your staff can effectively use the AI-generated insights alongside their clinical expertise.
Implementation steps:
Confirm that your CBCT system captures at a resolution of at least 200 µm and can export DICOM files compatible with an FDA-cleared AI platform
Train your assistants to review AI-generated canal maps alongside historical records to spot differences in detection
Track retreatment rates and the number of in-chair radiographs over the next 90 days to evaluate the system's impact
4. AI-Driven Orthodontic Treatment Planning and Remote Monitoring
Orthodontic AI transforms both how you plan cases and how you monitor progress throughout treatment. These tools address two of the most time-consuming aspects of orthodontic practice: the manual work of treatment planning and the frequent office visits required for progress monitoring. By automating complex calculations and enabling remote patient check-ins, AI allows your team to focus on clinical decision-making while maintaining—or even improving—treatment outcomes.
AI Treatment Planning
AI orthodontic platforms dramatically reduce manual planning time. Cephalometric landmarks can be traced in seconds, and once a scan is uploaded, the system:
Generates a virtual setup
Simulates tooth movement
Recommends bracket placement or aligner staging
These simulations help your team move faster and give patients a clear visual of their options before treatment starts, supporting stronger case acceptance. You get consistent treatment plans across providers, and your coordinator can spend more time on patient education instead of manual paperwork.
Implementation:
Confirm your intraoral scanner exports open STL files compatible with your chosen platform
Train your team on reviewing virtual setups and presenting options to patients
Establish workflows for case setup, review, and patient presentation
Remote Monitoring
Remote monitoring adds another layer of efficiency. With certain apps, like DentalMonitoring, patients capture weekly intraoral scans from home. The system automatically monitors:
Aligner fit issues
Unplanned tooth movement
Gingival changes
The system notifies your team only when follow-up is needed. Practices using remote check-ins can reduce in-office visits while maintaining clinical outcomes.
Implementation:
Set alert thresholds for your practice (like 0.25 mm of drift or poor aligner seating)
Train patients at the delivery appointment on how to take and upload scans from their phones
Establish protocols for responding to system alerts and scheduling interventions
With remote monitoring in place, patients stay engaged with fewer visits, real-time feedback, and a clear sense of progress throughout treatment.
5. Practice Operations Automation: Claims, Documentation, and Staffing
Manual claims processing takes time and often leads to coding errors, incomplete submissions, and preventable denials. AI transforms how your practice handles administrative tasks, moving from reactive problem-solving to proactive workflow management. Instead of spending hours each week on claims corrections and documentation cleanup, your team can focus on patient care while the system handles routine administrative work.
Here's how AI transforms practice operations:
Automates Clinical Documentation
Hygienists and assistants can review prefilled perio charts, clinical notes, and treatment summaries
Radiograph findings, procedure codes, and clinical notes are pre-populated based on visit data
Saves time on every chart while maintaining consistency across providers
Streamlines Insurance Workflows
System pulls completed clinical data and formats everything for submission in one step
Reduces back-and-forth with insurers through comprehensive, properly formatted claims
Automated audit trail shows who entered or approved each part—essential for contested claims
Optimizes Workforce Management
Predictive tools flag gaps in hygiene coverage based on upcoming production
Considers PTO schedules and provider availability
Alerts you to post open shifts on Teero days or weeks in advance, not the night before
Implementation Strategy
Before diving into a full practice rollout, it's crucial to establish baseline metrics and test the system's impact on your specific workflow. Many practices underestimate how much time they actually spend on administrative tasks until they measure it systematically. A controlled pilot approach lets you quantify the real benefits while identifying any integration challenges before they affect your entire operation.
To try it in your practice, start with a single operatory or provider:
Map your current workflow from exam to claim submission: who inputs what, when, and how long each step takes
Run a 30-day pilot using an automated claims tool
Compare key metrics: staff time spent on documentation, claim approval turnaround, and how often insurers request corrections or supporting records
You'll get clear insight into what's slowing your team down and where automation can give that time back.
Find the Right Staff to Keep Things Running Smoothly
AI tools only work if you have the right people behind them. Someone still has to position the sensor, explain the findings, and close the treatment plan. Without trained staff, imaging systems go unused, claims stall, and patients leave without clear next steps.
Teero connects you with hygienists who can fill the gaps in your staff, whether that’s short- or long-term. Need short-term coverage, part-time help, or a full-time hire across locations? Teero gives you access to qualified candidates who keep your workflows moving. Book a call to get started.