A caller from the community health fair phones in: "Someone said I should come get screened — is that something you do?" It's the kind of call that should turn into a new appointment in two minutes, but it lands during your busiest window. The front desk is mid-checkout, the second line is ringing, and the screening caller gets a voicemail. By the time anyone calls back, they've moved on. Screening calls bring first-time patients to your door — losing them at the phone is the most expensive kind of miss.
DentalReception AI answers every one of those calls in under two rings and books the visit live, 24/7 — writing the appointment directly into your schedule in Dentrix, Open Dental, Eaglesoft, Curve Dental, or CareStack while the caller is still on the line.
Informational only — not clinical, coding, or billing advice; confirm CDT definitions and coverage independently. This page describes call handling only. The AI captures and routes; it does not diagnose, assign codes, or quote coverage.
What a D0190 call usually sounds like
D0190 is widely published as the CDT code for screening of a patient. We state it only at that conservative level and make no clinical claim about when a screening is appropriate — confirm the official CDT definition and any payer rules with your clinical and billing teams.
On the phone, callers never mention a code. They say a school, employer, or health event "told them to get checked," that they "want to see if they need a dentist," or that they're "new and want a first look." The AI receptionist recognizes that as new-patient screening intent and treats it as a booking request — capturing the appointment, not interpreting the procedure.
What the AI can safely capture and schedule
For a routine screening request, the agent handles the booking without a human:
- Identifies whether the caller is new or established and creates or matches the record. See new patient calls.
- Offers and books an open slot in the correct column, live during the call. See appointment scheduling.
- Captures contact and insurance details so the front desk opens a clean record. See insurance verification.
- Writes a clear summary to the record so your team sees exactly what was scheduled and why.
What must be routed to clinical staff
The line is simple: the AI captures and schedules, it never advises. These go to your team, not the agent:
- Clinical questions — what a screening will find, whether a symptom is serious, or any pain that sounds like more than an intake visit.
- Coverage and cost specifics — whether a plan covers a screening, frequency limits, or out-of-pocket amounts. The agent collects details and relays rather than quoting an answer.
- Code or billing requests — anyone asking what will be billed is routed to staff.
Anything outside a clean screening booking becomes a task or transfer for the front desk.
Context passed into your PMS
Because the booking writes back in real time, your team opens each screening visit ready to go:
| Captured on the call | Written to the PMS |
|---|---|
| New vs. established patient | Record created or matched |
| Screening / first-visit intent | Appointment booked in correct column |
| Contact and insurance details | Attached to record for verification |
| Questions needing a human | Task flagged for front desk |
| Full call summary | Notes on the appointment |
Works alongside your intake workflow — see new patient exam calls and the confirmed integrations.
Frequently asked questions
Does the AI decide whether a screening is medically needed?
No. The agent never decides if a screening is appropriate or interprets a caller's symptoms. It recognizes that the caller wants to come in to be seen, books the visit, and writes a summary for your team. Any clinical judgment stays with your providers. If the caller describes pain, swelling, or anything urgent, the agent stops treating it as a routine booking and routes the call to your team with full context.
Can it tell a caller whether a screening is covered?
It collects and relays, it does not quote. The agent captures the caller's carrier and member details and can answer the general coverage questions you configure. Anything specific — whether a screening is a covered benefit, frequency limits, or out-of-pocket cost — is routed to your team rather than guessed, so coverage statements come only from the people you authorize to make them.
Does the AI assign the D0190 code to the appointment?
No. The agent captures the screening request and books the visit; it does not assign, confirm, or bill any CDT code. Code selection stays with your clinical and billing staff at the point of care. The reference to D0190 here is informational only — confirm the official CDT definition independently. The AI's job is to recognize screening intent, book the appointment in the right column, and hand your team a clear summary.
Does the booking actually land in our schedule?
Yes. For Dentrix, Open Dental, Eaglesoft, Curve Dental, and CareStack, the appointment writes back into your live schedule in real time while the caller is on the line — no re-keying. For other systems, DentalReception AI connects via API or works alongside your existing tools. Every call still produces a summary and any needed task for the front desk.