“Bernard Casse, PhD, offers a glimpse into the dental office of the future, incorporating AI. This includes areas like operations and management, but also dives into clinical decisions and treatment planning. As one of the innovators in the current AI climate, part of this vision is currently a reality with his company, Trust AI (www.trustdentistry.ai). With other companies working feverishly to get to the marketplace, this article should serve as a primer for this exciting future.”
— Paul Feuerstein, DMD
The Last Human-Only Dental Practice
Written by: Bernard Casse, PhD
By 2027, Dr. Robert Sullivan’s dental practice will be a museum piece. He’ll still use paper charts. His receptionist will manually verify insurance. He’ll spend two hours each evening writing clinical notes. Down the street, his competitor treats three times as many patients with half the staff and superior clinical outcomes. This isn’t wild speculation. The technology making Sullivan obsolete is already deployed in thousands of practices today.
Dr. Sarah Chen just diagnosed a case that would have taken three specialists and two weeks to identify. It took her AI partner 12 seconds. The patient had been experiencing vague jaw discomfort for months. Previous dentists suspected TMJ. The AI analyzed her radiographs, cross-referenced her medical history, noticed she’d recently started a bisphosphonate medication, and flagged early-stage medication-related osteonecrosis. This is happening today, in ordinary dental practices across America.
The Perfect Storm
We’re witnessing the collision of three technological forces that will fundamentally reshape dentistry. First, large language models have crossed the threshold from impressive demos to clinical-grade accuracy. These systems now process dental imagery, patient histories, and treatment protocols with precision that matches specialist consultation.
Second, voice AI has evolved beyond simple commands to become truly conversational. Dentists can now speak naturally to their systems while working, eliminating the friction of keyboards and menus.
Third, every piece of dental equipment manufactured today ships with AI integration built in. Your next intraoral scanner won’t just capture images; it will think about what it sees.
The Cascade Effect
The transformation starts before patients even walk through the door. When Jennifer Martinez calls about tooth pain, she doesn’t reach a harried receptionist juggling three phone lines. She has a conversation with an AI that sounds indistinguishable from the best front desk coordinator you’ve ever encountered. The AI pulls her complete history while they talk, checks her insurance eligibility across 4,000 data points, and translates that byzantine coverage into three clear sentences she actually understands. It schedules her appointment based on the severity of her symptoms, the dentist’s real-time schedule, and even traffic patterns for her commute.
By the time Jennifer arrives, her entire case has been pre-analyzed. The AI has reviewed her previous radiographs, identified patterns in her treatment history, and prepared preliminary treatment options. During the examination, Dr. Chen speaks her observations aloud. The AI transcribes everything—but more importantly, it understands. When Dr. Chen mentions “mesial decay on number 30,” the system automatically documents it in the patient chart, adds the appropriate insurance codes, checks coverage limits, and prepares the treatment estimate. No typing. No searching through code books. No calling insurance companies.
The examination reveals Jennifer needs a root canal and crown. In the past, Dr. Chen would spend 30 minutes after the appointment creating a treatment plan, writing notes, and preparing insurance paperwork. Now she simply tells the AI what she observed and what she recommends. The system generates comprehensive clinical notes, creates visual treatment plans Jennifer can understand, and handles the entire insurance pre-authorization process. What once consumed hours now takes minutes.
The Human Paradox
Here’s what makes this revolution different from previous waves of dental technology: it makes dentistry more human, not less. Dr. Chen now spends 70% more time actually talking with patients because she’s freed from administrative quicksand. Young dentists fresh from school can access the collective knowledge of thousands of specialists instantly. That complex implant case that would have required three referrals? The AI guides them through it, providing real-time feedback on angles, depths, and bone density.
The economics are equally transformative. A typical dental practice currently spends 35% of revenue on administrative overhead. Front desk staff spend four hours daily on insurance verification. Associates waste two hours on documentation. The practice manager juggles 15 different software systems that don’t communicate. AI collapses all of this into a single intelligent system. Practices report reducing overhead by half while doubling patient capacity. One dentist with AI support can now deliver what previously required a team of ten.
But perhaps the most profound change is in clinical confidence. Every dentist has experienced that moment of uncertainty when looking at a radiograph. Is that shadow something concerning? Should I refer this out? The AI serves as an always-available colleague, trained on millions of cases, that can validate observations or catch things human eyes miss. It democratizes expertise, giving rural practitioners access to the same clinical intelligence as those in major metropolitan centers.
The Brutal Truth
The timeline for this transformation is measured in months, not years. By the end of 2025, an estimated 30% of practices will have adopted AI tools. By 2027, practices without AI will be functionally uncompetitive. Specialized dental AI models have emerged. Major dental equipment manufacturers are figuring out how to retrofit AI capabilities into existing product lines. Insurance companies, recognizing the potential for reduced claims errors, are beginning to require AI verification for certain procedures. The practices that adapt now will have insurmountable advantages. Those that wait will discover their competitors can diagnose faster, treatment plan better, and operate at costs they cannot match.
We’ve seen this movie before. When the iPhone launched, BlackBerry executives dismissed it as a toy. Kodak invented digital photography, then buried it to protect film sales. The dental practices that view AI as optional rather than existential are making the same miscalculation. The singularity has arrived. The only question is whether you’ll be disrupted—or do the disrupting.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Bernard Casse is currently the CEO of Trust AI, where he leads the development of an AI co-pilot for dentists that delivers specialist-level insights, enabling real-time clinical decision support. A visionary leader in AI, robotics, and emerging technologies, Dr. Casse brings over two decades of experience transforming cutting-edge research into commercial success while building world-class teams.
As the founder of RIOS Intelligent Machines and co-founder of Metawave Corporation, he has demonstrated exceptional skill in scaling AI and robotics technologies, securing over $100M in combined venture capital, commercial contracts, and government grants. His pivotal tenure at Xerox PARC and extensive experience with defense and energy sector projects showcase his unique ability to bridge the gap between laboratory innovation and market application. Dr. Casse’s credentials include a Ph.D. in Experimental Physics specializing in Metamaterials Engineering, over 40 peer-reviewed publications, multiple patents, and thought leadership contributions to Forbes on AI-powered robotics.
His track record of building ventures and strategic partnerships has established him as a leading voice in the commercialization of advanced technologies.
Driven by a passion for transforming healthcare through AI, Dr. Casse is committed to empowering dentists with tools that enhance patient outcomes and redefine clinical workflows.
FEATURED IMAGE CREDIT: Gravity6/gravity6.com.
