A patient calls because the dentist found "a bigger cavity in a back tooth" at their checkup and recommended getting it filled soon. They want an appointment, but first they're asking how long it takes, what the visit costs, and whether it's worse than the last filling they had. Your front desk is mid-task with a patient at the counter and the other line is already ringing. The caller — ready to schedule meaningful restorative work — rolls to voicemail, and a callback later often reaches someone who has put it off. Larger restorations are high-value visits, which makes a missed call especially costly.
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 patient 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 D2393 call usually sounds like
D2393 is widely published as the CDT code for a resin-based composite restoration of three surfaces on a posterior tooth — a three-surface tooth-colored back-tooth filling. We state it only at that conservative level; confirm the official CDT definition and any payer rules with your clinical and billing teams.
On the phone, patients never use a code or count surfaces. They say they "have a big cavity," "need a filling on a back tooth," "broke a molar," or "the dentist wants to fix one tooth." The AI receptionist recognizes that as a restorative booking request and captures the appointment — it does not interpret the diagnosis or decide how extensive the work is.
What the AI can safely capture and schedule
For a routine filling request, the agent handles the booking without a human:
- Confirms the patient and pulls their record so the visit lands on the correct chart and provider.
- Offers and books an open restorative slot in the right column, live during the call. See appointment scheduling.
- Captures or refreshes insurance details so intake is clean before the visit — see insurance verification.
- Notes what the patient described — which tooth, any sensitivity — and writes a clear summary for your team. See filling calls.
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 — how extensive the work is, how many surfaces, whether a crown might be needed instead, pain that sounds urgent, or what treatment is appropriate. The agent does not diagnose.
- Coverage and cost specifics — whether a plan covers the restoration, annual maximums, or out-of-pocket amounts. It collects details and relays the question rather than quoting an answer.
- Code or billing requests — patients asking what will be billed are routed to staff.
Anything beyond a clean 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 appointment ready to go:
| Captured on the call | Written to the PMS |
|---|---|
| Patient identity / record match | Linked to existing chart |
| Filling / restorative intent | Appointment booked in correct column |
| Tooth or symptom the patient described | Noted for clinical review |
| Insurance details (if new or changed) | Attached to record for verification |
| Questions needing a human | Task flagged for front desk |
Works alongside your existing workflows — see filling calls and the confirmed integrations.
Frequently asked questions
Does the AI assign the D2393 code to the appointment?
No. The agent captures the patient's request to be seen and books the visit; it does not assign, confirm, or bill any CDT code, and it does not decide how many surfaces are involved or how extensive the restoration is. Surface count and code selection stay with your clinical and billing staff at the point of care. The reference to D2393 here is informational only — confirm the official CDT definition independently. The AI recognizes restorative intent, books the appointment, and writes a clear summary for your team.
Can it tell a patient whether their filling is covered?
It collects and relays, it does not quote. The agent captures the patient's carrier and member details and can answer the general coverage questions you configure. Anything specific — annual maximums, plan benefits, or out-of-pocket cost — is routed to your team rather than guessed. That keeps coverage statements with the people authorized to make them, while still moving the booking forward live on the call.
What if the tooth might actually need a crown instead?
The agent does not make that call. If a patient describes a large break or extensive damage, the AI does not decide between a filling and a crown — it captures what was described, books the visit your team configures for that intent, and flags anything ambiguous for clinical review. A dentist determines the right treatment at the point of care. See crown calls for how related requests are handled.
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 patient is on the call — 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 so nothing falls through the cracks.