Reading time: 3 minutes

What do dentists actually think about AI, and what do they want from it? I spent a year asking them, every week.

Between what AI builders assume and what practitioners actually need, there's a gap. A big one.

Here's what you absolutely need to know.

This year, I've had weekly conversations with dentists about AI. What works. What doesn't. What they actually need versus what tech people think they need.

I shared the first three lessons on LinkedIn this week (if you missed it, here it is).

Here's a quick recap before we get to the good stuff:

1. AI should be invisible. Dentists don't want to become AI experts. They want to be great dentists. If your tool needs explaining, you've already failed. The technology should disappear. Only the result matters.

2. Don't replace competence. Amplify it. These are skilled professionals. They don't need help on easy cases. They want support on complex ones, or simply less friction in their day. The goal is never to replace their skill. It's to make it go further.

3. Dentistry is a business. And nobody taught them that. Dental school doesn't teach you to run a practice. But explaining why a treatment matters, that's part of the job. AI that helps dentists communicate value (without feeling salesy) is worth its weight in gold.

Now, the two I saved for you.

This one might be uncomfortable to read. But I think it's important.

Here's the truth: AI is getting better. Fast. Not just at admin tasks, at clinical ones too. Detecting pathologies on X-rays. Suggesting treatment plans. Identifying risks humans might miss.

Today, a great dentist is someone with great clinical skills. Years of training. Pattern recognition built from thousands of patients.

But what happens when AI can match that?

I don't think dentists disappear. Far from it. But I think the role changes.

In a world where AI handles more of the clinical heavy lifting, patients will choose their dentist for different reasons. Not just "how good are your hands" but "do I trust you?" Not just "can you spot the problem" but "can you help me understand it?"

The dentist becomes a curator. Someone who knows which tools to use, when to use them, and how to translate what the AI sees into something the patient can trust and act on.

Think about it: would you trust a random AI telling you that you need a 3,000$ treatment? Probably not. But a dentist you know, who uses AI as a second pair of eyes, who explains what it found and why it matters, that's different.

The human doesn't become less important. The human becomes the reason the AI is trustworthy.

This means new skills matter. Communication. Relationship-building. The ability to make complex things simple. Empathy.

Some dentists already have these. Others will need to develop them. But one thing is clear: the job description is evolving. And the ones who see it coming will thrive.

Every dentist I've talked to is passionate about dentistry.

Not about scheduling. Not about billing. Not about writing up notes at 9pm after a full day of patients.

They love the craft. The precision. The problem-solving. The moment when a patient smiles at the result.

That's what they signed up for. The rest? Necessary, but draining.

This is where AI should live.

Not in the operatory replacing clinical judgment. Not making decisions the dentist wants to make. But in the background, quietly handling the things that steal time and energy.

Appointment reminders. Follow-ups. Insurance paperwork. Patient communication between visits. The endless admin that turns a craft into a grind.

The best part? They don't even need to know it's AI. Remember point 1, invisible technology. If the system sends a perfect follow-up message and the dentist never had to think about it, that's a win. No "AI-powered" badge needed.

What I've learned is this: dentists don't want AI to touch what they love. They want AI to protect it. To give them more time for the work that matters.

Build for that, and you'll have their attention.

When building AI for dentists (or any professionals, really), we should start with this question:

What do they love doing, and what do they wish they didn't have to do?

Amplify the first. Eliminate the second. And make sure they never have to think about how it works.

That's it. That's the formula.

If AI could handle your treatment planning, patient communication, or even clinical decision-making, would you welcome it or resist it?

Would it free you to focus on what you love? Improve care for your patients? Or would it introduce risks you're not comfortable with?

And the bigger question: do you see AI as a tool that amplifies your expertise, or a threat to what makes your role irreplaceable?

I'd love to hear your thoughts !

What did you think of this issue? We'd love to hear your thoughts – and don't hesitate to tell us what you'd like to see next!

Super P.S.: If you'd like to subscribe to the MedIA newsletter or share it with a friend or colleague, it's right here.

thanks ;)

Salim from DentAI