At the 2025 ADSO Summit in San Diego, TrueLark kicked off the event with a breakfast discussion and a provocative question: Will AI eliminate the dental front office?
The resounding takeaway from the discussion: AI isn’t here to replace your front office team—it’s here to redefine and empower it.
Hosted by Eric Weeden, Head of Sales at TrueLark, the breakfast panel featured Amy Manzo, Senior Director of Operations at MB2 Dental, and Myles McAllister, COO of SGA Dental Partners. Together, they explored how AI is transforming front desk operations from a reactive cost center into a proactive growth engine.
Amy shared how MB2 Dental has rolled out TrueLark’s AI patient communications platform across 45 of its 780 locations. Initially drawn to the technology for missed call coverage, Amy quickly saw how it evolved into something more powerful. From after-hours appointment booking to AI-powered confirmation calls, TrueLark helped MB2 increase patient access and improve efficiency—without adding headcount.
“AI isn’t here to take anyone’s job,” Amy said. “It’s here to take tasks off their plate—so teams can focus on real patient connections.” She emphasized that AI booking now accounts for over 37% of new patients across her supported regions, driven by patient demand for flexibility, speed, and convenience.
Myles echoed that sentiment, describing SGA’s journey from skepticism to full-scale adoption. Starting with just six pilot offices, SGA expanded TrueLark after seeing measurable results: fewer missed calls, higher conversion rates, and improved operational agility. He noted that over 42% of SGA’s inbound calls are new patient opportunities, many of which come in after hours.
The panel didn’t shy away from internal challenges—change management, staff anxiety, and training—but they reinforced that the key to success is clear communication, transparency, and showing the “why” behind the AI investment.
“We’re not eliminating the front office,” Eric summarized. “We’re eliminating the fragmentation, the inefficiencies, and the missed opportunities that have traditionally held it back.”
Attendees also got a preview of what’s next: expanded agentic AI, which shifts from reactive support to proactive orchestration—such as reactivating treatment plans, confirming appointments via voice, and routing inquiries based on intent across web, SMS, and chat.
The future of the front office isn’t disappearing—it’s evolving. And with the right AI foundation, DSOs are turning it into a strategic advantage.
To learn more about how MB2 Dental and SGA Dental Partners are winning with AI, watch the full recording here: https://bit.ly/41RdhBb
