Episode #344
People + AI: The New Dental Team Advantage
What if AI isn't here to replace your dental team, but to help your best people do more? In this episode of Raving Patients, Dr. Len Tau sits down with Cory Pinegar, founder of REACH, to explore how dental practices can combine great human talent with AI to work more efficiently without losing the personal connection patients value. Staffing continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing dental practices, while AI is rapidly changing the way practices handle everything from patient communication to administrative work. Cory shares how virtual team members can take on important tasks such as insurance verification, recare, unscheduled treatment, and missed calls, giving in-office teams more time to focus on the patients in front of them. The conversation also dives into AI and why Cory believes the future isn't about choosing between people and technology. Instead, the real opportunity is using AI to amplify good people, improve their performance, and help practices get more done. Cory also shares how REACH uses AI for call coaching and insurance claims, what practices often get wrong when bringing on a virtual team member, and why culture, communication, and personality can be just as important as previous experience. Looking ahead, Cory and Dr. Len discuss what the dental practice of the future could look like and why, as automation becomes more common, the human connection may become one of the most valuable parts of the patient experience. What You'll Learn How virtual team members can support a modern dental practice Which tasks are a good fit for remote team members Where virtual staffing can have the biggest impact on practice revenue How AI and human team members can work together Why AI can be an amplifier rather than a replacement for people How AI is being used for call coaching and insurance claims Why culture and communication can be more important than previous experience when hiring What practices need to do to successfully onboard a virtual team member Common mistakes practices make when adopting AI and remote staffing What the dental practice of the future could look like Why the human connection with patients may become even more valuable as technology advances — Key Takeaways 01:56 People + AI: The New Dental Team Advantage 02:52 The Story Behind Cory Pinegar and REACH 07:05 What Is a Virtual Team Member? 09:25 Which Tasks Are Best Handled Remotely? 12:29 Where Virtual Staffing Can Drive Revenue 13:45 AI vs. Human Talent 16:41 What Makes REACH Different? 20:24 Hiring for Culture, Communication, and Fit 23:25 How AI Is Changing Dental Workflows 26:55 Combining Virtual Team Members With AI 28:10 Common Mistakes Practices Make 30:35 The Future of the Dental Practice 33:03 The Opportunity Behind People + AI 34:25 Connect With Cory and REACH
