Is AI Being Overhyped? How Dental Practices Can Actually Use It Today
Release Date: 05/09/2025
Data Driven Dentistry
The Raving Patients Podcast
In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with Paul Chadwick, VP at PureLogic, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way dental practices operate — especially at the front desk. Paul breaks down how PureLogic leverages AI, analytics, and automation to improve patient communication, reduce missed calls, and enhance practice efficiency. Together, they discuss what “data-driven dentistry” really means, how AI can empower rather than replace staff, and what metrics matter most for growth. Whether you’re a solo practitioner, part of a DSO, or just curious about AI’s...
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Beyond the Chair: Protecting Smiles with Dental Warranties
The Raving Patients Podcast
What if every crown, implant, or veneer you placed didn’t just build smiles—but built wealth? In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with innovators Max Zanan and Adam Marburger of Dental Protection Group to reveal how dentists can turn warranties into a new revenue stream. They’re showing why protecting your patients’ dental work can also protect—and grow—your financial future. They explain how this simple yet powerful concept—borrowed from the automotive industry—offers dentists a way to increase patient trust, improve case acceptance, and build long-term wealth through...
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Dental Office Cybersecurity and HIPAA Compliance : How Not to Make a $50,000 Mistake
The Raving Patients Podcast
Cybersecurity breaches and ransomware attacks are no longer a “big company problem.” Dental offices are prime targets because patient data is gold on the dark web. In this episode, I’m joined once again by the expert who has been leading the charge in dental technology protection for over 20 years: Dr. Lorne Lavine, The Digital Dentist. If you’ve ever thought “it won’t happen to my practice,” this conversation will change your mind fast. Returning guest Dr. Lorne Lavine dives deep into what every dental practice must know about protecting their patient data, technology systems,...
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From Search to Smart: How AI Is Changing Patient Discovery
The Raving Patients Podcast
AI isn’t coming — it’s already here. From Google Gemini to ChatGPT, the way patients discover dentists online is evolving faster than most practices can keep up. In this episode, Dr. Len sits down with Adrian Lefler, CEO of My Social Practice, to unpack how AI is reshaping SEO, what “Generative Engine Optimization” really means, and how dentists can adapt before they’re left invisible online. Dr. Len Tau welcomes back long-time friend and industry expert Adrian Lefler to talk about one of the most important topics in modern dental marketing — AI-driven search. Adrian breaks down...
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The 3 Silent Profit Killers
The Raving Patients Podcast
Before you spend another dollar on marketing, tune in. Nail phone conversion, stop broken appointments, and lift team performance starting now. In this episode of The Raving Patients Podcast, Dr. Len Tau sits down with Alex Nottingham, founder and CEO of All-Star Dental Academy, to uncover the three silent profit killers that quietly erode practice revenue and team morale. A former top business coach for Tony Robbins and an attorney turned dental business strategist, Alex shares how he transformed his father’s struggling dental practice into a multi-million-dollar success — and how...
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The New SEO Playbook: Why Social Media is No Longer Optional
The Raving Patients Podcast
Your next new patient may never search Google. AI platforms like ChatGPT and Google AI are reshaping how people find dentists — and social media is now fueling those algorithms. If you’re still treating marketing like a bunch of separate buckets, you’re about to fall behind. In this episode, Dr. Len Tau and digital marketing powerhouse Dr. Anissa Broussard reveal why your SEO strategy must evolve — and how to stay visible as search radically changes. In this conversation, Dr. Len sits down with Dr. Anissa Broussard, co-founder of Digital Floss, to unpack The New SEO Playbook: Why...
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What Really Impact Rankings When It Comes To Google Reviews
The Raving Patients Podcast
Reviews are one of the most powerful levers for your dental practice’s visibility — but not always in the way most dentists think. In this episode, I sit down again with local SEO thought leader Colan Nielsen from Sterling Sky to cut through the noise about Google reviews, rankings, and how to actually get found by more patients. Colan and his team run ongoing SEO testing (so you don’t have to) and bring real data on what matters — and what’s just hype. We discuss what moves the needle on your Google Business Profile, how review quantity and recency affect map pack rankings, and why...
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Storytelling with Dental Marketing
The Raving Patients Podcast
Patients today don’t just choose a dentist based on price or location—they choose the story you tell. In this episode of the Raving Patients Podcast, I sit down with Ian De Jongh of Pain Free Dental Marketing to explore how storytelling has become the new backbone of dental marketing. We cover why reviews are “the Bitcoin of dental marketing,” how to attract the right patients instead of every patient, and the simple shifts you can make in your practice to stand out in a crowded market. If you’ve ever wondered how to move beyond generic messaging and truly connect with patients, this...
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RCM Unlocked
The Raving Patients Podcast
On this episode of the Raving Patients Podcast, I sit down with nationally recognized revenue cycle expert Cissy Mangrum of RevTech Partners and Maximize RCM Consulting. With nearly three decades of leadership experience in both healthcare and dental, Cissy has helped countless practices streamline their operations, reduce denials, and improve their bottom line. Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) isn’t just about billing—it touches every part of your practice, from credentialing to front office workflows to clinical documentation. In this conversation, we break down why most problems occur...
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The CEO Mindset: Systematizing Your Practice for Freedom and Growth
The Raving Patients Podcast
If your practice runs only when you’re watching every corner, you don’t have a business—you have a job with extra stress. In this episode, I sit down with Kiera Dent of Dental A-Team to break down the CEO mindset so you can step out of micromanagement, build a self-managing team, and get your time—and sanity—back. I’ve lived both sides: the dentist who does everything and the CEO who trusts systems and people. Kiera and I dig into the exact levers that turn chaos into consistency: vision, numbers, and simple systems your team can actually follow. We also talk honestly about...
info_outlineIf you're feeling overwhelmed trying to balance patient care while navigating all the buzz about AI in dentistry, you're not alone. But today's episode will help clear the confusion and show you how to use AI to your advantage—starting now.
To break it down, I’ve invited Conner Ludlow, founder of Annie, an AI platform that builds virtual front desk assistants for dental practices. With a background as a software engineer and tech leader, Conner knows exactly where AI is truly helpful—and where the hype gets a little too loud.
In this episode, we explore the real-world uses of AI for dentists today (without needing expensive software), what "AI hallucinations" mean for your practice, and how tools like Annie can stretch your operational dollars without replacing your team. It's a must-listen if you want practical strategies to make technology work for you—not against you.
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AI is a tool, not a silver bullet: It can boost efficiency but still needs human oversight to represent your practice properly.
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Real-world wins with AI: Practices can save time with AI-generated blogs, better market research, and virtual front desk agents like Annie.
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Customization is key: The most successful use of AI in a dental office feels personalized—not robotic—thanks to intentional setup and continuous fine-tuning.
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Soundbites
"Our goal is not to replace humans, but to help offices stretch their operational dollars and make sure that they have backup and help to never miss opportunities and make sure that they're capturing all of their revenue potential."– Conner Ludlow
"AI is really just a new tool that can help practices and business owners and everybody be more effective in their job."– Conner Ludlow
"We tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect of the technology in the long run."— Conner Ludlow
"Annie is not here to replace a full-time employee—it's a helper. When you bring it into your office, make sure your front desk team knows it’s there to make their job easier, not replace them. It’s about simplifying their work, not taking it away."-Dr. Len Tau
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Keywords:
dental AI, dental marketing, front desk automation, dental practice growth, artificial intelligence in dentistry, dental staffing solutions, AI for dentists, AI overhype, Annie AI, dental office management, chatbot dentistry, ChatGPT dental uses
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Key Takeaways
01:40 Introduction to AI in Dentistry
04:04 Understanding AI: Hype vs. Reality
07:03 Practical Applications of AI in Dental Practices
09:13 The Role of AI in Marketing and Content Creation
13:20 AI's Limitations and Challenges
17:04 The Future of AI in Dentistry
23:50 Annie: The AI Assistant for Dental Practices
31:06 Conclusion and Call to Action
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Connect with Conner
Want to learn more about how Annie can help your dental practice thrive with AI?
✅ Visit helloannie.com to schedule a demo.
✅ Mention you heard about Annie on the Raving Patients Podcast to get an exclusive discount — half off your setup fee plus savings on your monthly dues!
✅ Explore Annie’s AI tools and see how you can streamline your front desk without replacing your valuable team.
Follow Conner and Annie for the latest updates:
🔹 Website: https://helloannie.com/
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Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com.
This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here.
This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists. Find out more here.
Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!