AI by industry · Dental practices
Dental recall and treatment plan follow-up with AI
Dental follow-up has two jobs: bringing back patients overdue for recare, and checking in on treatment that was presented but never scheduled. AI can draft short, kind messages for each and time them well. Staff approve the wording, and patient privacy rules apply to anything that is sent.
Talk through your practice with the person who builds it
A free 30-minute call. You leave knowing which part of your dental practice to hand to AI first, what we would build, and roughly how long it takes.
Recall without sounding like a bill
A reminder that simply says you are due is easy to ignore. One that mentions the last visit and offers two actual times is easier to act on.
Keep the message free of detailed health information, in case someone else sees the phone.
Ask the patient how they like to be reached. A short text suits one person and an email suits another.
Treatment plans that went quiet
A patient may leave nodding at a plan and then do nothing. Cost, fear and timing are common reasons. A soft check-in that invites questions, and offers a call with the treatment coordinator, respects the patient.
Respect preferences
Some patients prefer email, others a text, others a call. Record the preference and follow it. Honor opt-outs right away.
Picture this
Examples of what it can look like. Illustrations, not clients.
A patient has not been in for eighteen months. A short message from the practice, without clinical detail, offers two morning times.
A patient was told they might need a filling and hesitated. A week later, a message from the coordinator offers to explain the options.
A patient with a crown consult asked to wait until after the holidays. A reminder is set for January, and the coordinator sees why before reaching out.
The rules that apply, in their own words
“A covered entity or business associate may not use or disclose protected health information, except as permitted or required by this subpart”
“header information that is materially false or materially misleading.”
Sources
- 15 U.S.C. § 7704 (CAN-SPAM Act): Rules for commercial email: honest headers, opt-out, address.
- 45 CFR § 164.502 (HIPAA Privacy Rule): When patient information may be used or shared, including by vendors.
- NIST AI Risk Management Framework: The U.S. standards body’s framework for using AI responsibly.
- 15 U.S.C. § 45 (FTC Act, Section 5): The federal ban on unfair or deceptive business practices, ads included.
Talk through your practice with the person who builds it
A free 30-minute call. You leave knowing which part of your dental practice to hand to AI first, what we would build, and roughly how long it takes.
Questions
What can I put in a text?
Keep it minimal and general. Avoid diagnoses or treatment details in messages, and follow your privacy officer’s rules.
Will AI call patients?
It can, but many practices prefer messages with a person for sensitive topics.
How often should recall messages go out?
That depends on your practice. Two or three, spaced out, with a clear way to opt out, is a reasonable starting point.
More jobs AI can take on
What Westward builds for this
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