When dental practices explore an AI receptionist, the first question is usually about price.
But in reality, the most expensive part of phone handling isn’t the technology – it’s the calls that never get answered.
Missed calls are one of the biggest invisible costs in dentistry, and most practices underestimate their impact because they don’t appear clearly in reports.
Why missed calls are so easy to ignore
When a call goes unanswered, nothing obvious breaks. There’s no alert, no error message, and no patient record created. The caller simply hangs up and calls the next practice on Google.
From the practice’s perspective, it feels like nothing happened. From the patient’s perspective, they were turned away.
This disconnect is why missed calls quietly drain revenue without being noticed.
What a missed call is really worth
Not every missed call would have become a booking – but many would. New patient enquiries, private treatment discussions, hygiene appointments, and emergency calls all start the same way: with a phone call.
Even conservatively, missing just two to three calls per day can add up to dozens of lost opportunities per month. Over a year, that can represent tens of thousands of pounds in unrealised revenue — often far more than the cost of any reception solution.
Why staffing alone doesn’t fix the problem
Most practices don’t miss calls because their team isn’t trying hard enough. They miss calls because:
- Receptionists are with patients at the desk
- Phones ring during peak times
- Calls come in during lunch, evenings, or holidays
- Staff are stretched across multiple roles
Adding more staff is expensive, difficult to recruit for, and not always sustainable.
Where AI Reception changes the equation
AI reception isn’t about replacing people. It’s about capturing what’s currently lost.
An AI receptionist answers every call instantly, gathers key information, sends booking links where appropriate, and ensures no enquiry disappears. It works alongside your team, not instead of them.
When practices look at AI through this lens, the cost question changes. It’s no longer “How much does AI cost?” but “How much are missed calls already costing us?”
The better question to ask
Before comparing AI pricing, the smarter starting point is understanding your current call reality:
- How many calls are missed?
- When do they happen?
- What is the likely value of those enquiries?
Once that’s clear, the financial case often becomes obvious.
We can help you with this calculation so you can see the value of answering those calls that are currently missed. Get in touch for a no obligation chat.
Check out this recent article about how much revenue RoboReception AI could stop you missing.