TrueLark’s Head of Sales, Eric Weeden, was recently invited to join the Group Dentistry Now podcast—one of the most widely followed shows in the DSO space—to talk about what front office AI really means and how leading groups are implementing it today.
Eric was joined by Phil Toh, Co-Founder & President of The Smilist, a fast-growing DSO with more than 100 locations across seven states. Together, they unpacked how AI is transforming front office operations, where the real challenges lie (hint: it’s not the tech), and what DSOs should focus on when evaluating AI partners.
Watch the full episode here, or on Group Dentistry Now.
Key Takeaways from the Podcast
Front office AI is more than a chatbot: it’s a virtual team member that books appointments, engages missed calls, and manages real patient workflows across voice, text, and chat.
The biggest barrier isn’t technology, it’s change management: Staff need clarity, support, and a partner who understands dental operations, not just software.
Missed calls = missed revenue: TrueLark surfaced demand The Smilist didn’t even realize they were losing, leading to more appointments and better patient experiences.
AI must adapt to each location’s workflow: TrueLark’s purpose-built, configurable platform supports multi-location DSOs without requiring strict standardization.
Now is the time to adopt AI: Staffing shortages and patient expectations won’t wait—DSOs that embrace AI today gain a competitive advantage and capture value immediately.
