Sixty-five dental practices across the United Kingdom say they have not missed a single patient call since introducing AI receptionists in May, according to results released Sept. 17 by Wildix and RoboReception.
The companies say their joint 24/7 “Wilma AI” system has answered more than 50,000 calls to date, capturing nearly $1.2 million (about £700,000) in new patient value and freeing up more than 2,000 staff hours for patient care. Projections estimate $3.5 million (about £2 million) in added value in the first year and $15.8 million (about £9 million) over the system’s lifetime.
Related: Dental AI: It won’t take your job, but it might help someone take your patients
RoboReception, founded by practising dentists, partnered with Wildix, a global UCaaS provider, to integrate AI into dental front-desk operations. The system combines Wildix’s AI-driven communications platform with RoboReception’s clinician-designed workflows. Unlike plug-and-play tools, the model allows practices to decide when AI engages, when staff step in, and how records are updated, with seamless escalation to a live agent.
“We were never taught business at dental school, only how to serve patients,” said Dr. Grant McAree, co-founder of RoboReception. “Yet every missed call meant a patient lost and pressure piling on our teams. I’ve lived that moment, drill in hand, while the phone rang unanswered.”
Related: Why your dental practice needs an AI receptionist (and what your marketing company won’t tell you)
Booking rates jump, cancellations drop
Before the rollout, missed calls were estimated at about 35 per cent. Since May, 96 per cent of calls have been fully resolved by AI and four per cent escalated to staff. Practices reported booking rates rising from 18 per cent to 70 per cent, with more than 500 new patients booked each month. Late cancellations dropped 75 per cent.
Expansion is underway to more than 500 practices worldwide, including in Ireland and Australia.
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