# AI Receptionist + Dentally Integration: Automate Your Irish Dental Practice's Phone
Target keyword: AI receptionist Dentally integration Ireland Secondary keywords: AI phone answering Dentally, dental practice management AI integration, automated booking Dentally Ireland Word count: ~1,700 Published: Draft — 2026-02-16
TL;DR: If your Irish dental practice runs on Dentally, you're sitting on an integration goldmine. An AI receptionist that connects directly to your practice management system can book appointments, check availability, confirm patient details, and handle recalls — all without your front desk lifting the phone. Here's exactly how it works and why Irish practices using Dentally should be first in line.
Why Does Your Practice Management Integration Matter So Much?
Most AI phone systems operate in a vacuum. They answer the call, take a message, and email it to someone. That's a glorified answering machine.
A properly integrated AI receptionist is fundamentally different. When connected to your practice management system — in this case, Dentally — the AI can actually do things:
- See real-time appointment availability
- Book, reschedule, or cancel appointments
- Pull up patient records by name or date of birth
- Confirm upcoming appointments (reducing no-shows by up to 35%)
- Trigger recall sequences for overdue patients
- Check which dentist handles which treatments
This is the difference between "I'll pass on a message" and "I've booked you in with Dr. Murphy at 2:30 on Thursday — you'll get a confirmation text now."
How Does the AI Receptionist Connect to Dentally?
Dentally is a cloud-based dental practice management platform popular across Ireland and the UK. Its modern architecture makes it integration-friendly — unlike legacy systems that require on-premise servers and custom middleware.
The integration typically works via Dentally's API:
- Authentication: Secure, encrypted connection between VoiceFleet and your Dentally account
- Real-time sync: The AI sees your live appointment book, not a cached copy
- Two-way communication: The AI reads availability AND writes new bookings
- Patient matching: Caller identified by phone number, DOB, or name against Dentally's patient database
What the AI Can Access (With Your Permission)
| Dentally Feature | AI Capability | |-----------------|---------------| | Appointment book | View availability, book new appointments | | Patient records | Look up by name/DOB, confirm contact details | | Treatment types | Match caller needs to correct appointment type & duration | | Practitioner schedules | Book with the right dentist or hygienist | | Recalls | Identify overdue patients, offer booking | | Waiting list | Add patients to cancellation/waiting lists |
What the AI Cannot Do (By Design)
- View clinical notes or medical history
- Access financial records or payment information
- Make clinical decisions about treatment
- Override practitioner availability blocks
This boundary is crucial for GDPR compliance and patient trust.
What Does a Typical Call Look Like?
Scenario 1: New Patient Booking
Caller: "Hi, I'd like to book a check-up. I'm a new patient."
AI Agent: "Of course! I'd be happy to help you book a new patient examination. Could I take your name and date of birth?"
[Caller provides details — AI checks Dentally for existing records, finds none, prepares to create new patient]
AI Agent: "I can see we have availability this Thursday at 10am or Friday at 3:30pm with Dr. O'Brien. Which would suit you better?"
[Caller chooses — AI books directly into Dentally, sends SMS confirmation]
Total time: 90 seconds. Zero staff involvement.
Scenario 2: Existing Patient Rescheduling
Caller: "I need to move my appointment next Tuesday."
AI Agent: "No problem. Can I confirm your name and date of birth?"
[AI matches caller to Dentally patient record]
AI Agent: "I can see your appointment with Dr. Murphy on Tuesday at 11am. Would you like to reschedule to later in the week? I have Wednesday at 9:30am or Thursday at 4pm available."
[Caller picks new time — AI reschedules in Dentally, old slot freed up, confirmation sent]
Scenario 3: Emergency Call
Caller: "I've broken a tooth and I'm in a lot of pain."
AI Agent: "I'm sorry to hear that. Let me find the earliest emergency slot for you. I can see we have an emergency appointment available today at 2:15pm with Dr. Kelly. Shall I book that for you?"
[If no same-day availability, AI escalates to the practice's emergency protocol]
How Does This Reduce No-Shows for Irish Practices?
No-shows are the silent profit killer in Irish dentistry. The average practice loses €30,000-€50,000 annually to patients who don't turn up (Irish Dental Association estimates).
An AI receptionist integrated with Dentally tackles no-shows in three ways:
- Automated confirmation calls: 48 hours before the appointment, the AI rings the patient to confirm. If they can't make it, it reschedules on the spot and fills the slot from the waiting list.
- Instant rebooking: When a cancellation comes in, the AI immediately contacts patients on the waiting list to fill the gap — something a busy receptionist rarely has time to do.
- Recall outreach: Patients overdue for check-ups get a friendly call from the AI, with immediate booking capability. No more "we'll send a letter" that gets ignored.
A Dublin practice with 3 dentists and 2 hygienists generating an average of 8 no-shows per week at €120 average appointment value loses €49,920/year. Cutting that by even 50% through AI-powered confirmations saves nearly €25,000 — dwarfing the cost of the technology.
What About Other Practice Management Systems?
While this article focuses on Dentally, the same integration principles apply to other systems used in Irish practices:
- SOE (EXACT): The most widely used system in Irish dental practices. Integration available via API.
- Carestream (R4/CS R4+): Common in larger practices and HSE clinics.
- iSmile: Growing presence in Irish corporate dental groups.
- Aerona: Cloud-based alternative gaining traction.
VoiceFleet is building integrations for the Irish dental market specifically, starting with the most common systems. Contact us to discuss your setup.
What Do Dublin and Cork Practices Say?
Irish dental practices face unique challenges:
- Staff shortages: Finding experienced dental receptionists in Dublin is increasingly difficult, with salaries rising 15-20% since 2023
- Multi-location groups: Practices with locations in Dublin, Cork, and Galway need consistent phone handling across sites
- HSE vs. private mix: Many practices handle both HSE (DTSS/DTBS) and private patients, requiring different booking flows
- Evening and weekend demand: Patients increasingly expect to book outside 9-5, but staffing weekends is expensive
An AI receptionist handles all of these — consistently, across locations, 24/7, at a fraction of the cost of additional reception staff.
Your Dentally system already has everything the AI needs. Let's connect them. Book a 15-minute demo and we'll show you the integration live with your actual appointment book.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Dentally integration take to set up?
Typically 24-48 hours. We connect via Dentally's cloud API, configure your appointment types, practitioner schedules, and booking rules, then test thoroughly before going live.
Is my patient data safe with an AI receptionist?
Yes. The AI accesses only the minimum data needed (availability, patient name, contact details). It never sees clinical notes, X-rays, or financial records. All data is encrypted and stored within the EU, fully GDPR compliant.
Can the AI handle Irish Dental Council requirements?
The AI doesn't provide clinical advice — it books appointments and handles admin. It identifies itself as a virtual assistant and can transfer to a human at any point. This keeps it well within regulatory boundaries.
What happens if the AI can't handle a call?
Any call the AI can't resolve — complex clinical questions, complaints, insurance queries — is transferred to your team with a full summary of what was discussed. Your staff pick up exactly where the AI left off.
How much does it cost compared to hiring another receptionist?
A full-time dental receptionist in Dublin costs €28,000-€35,000/year plus PRSI and benefits. VoiceFleet's AI receptionist with Dentally integration starts at a fraction of that, handles unlimited simultaneous calls, and works 24/7. See pricing.
Related: Why Missed Calls Cost Irish Dental Practices Thousands | AI Receptionist vs Human Receptionist: Irish Cost Comparison | Dental Deposit Collection: How AI Reduces No-Shows
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