A parent calls because their family dentist said their child "is going to need full braces soon" and they want to start the orthodontic process. This is a big, multi-year decision for them, and they have a lot of questions — when to start, how long it lasts, what it costs, whether their insurance helps. Your front desk is buried in a Monday-morning rush, and the call goes to voicemail. The parent, already a little overwhelmed, doesn't call back — they book a consult wherever they got a live answer. Comprehensive cases are your highest-value bookings, which makes every missed call here the most expensive one to lose.
DentalReception AI answers every one of those calls in under two rings and books the consult live, 24/7 — writing the appointment directly into your schedule in Dentrix, Open Dental, Eaglesoft, Curve Dental, or CareStack while the parent 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 D8070 call usually sounds like
D8070 is widely published as the CDT code for comprehensive orthodontic treatment of the transitional dentition — full orthodontic care begun during the mixed stage, when a child still has both baby and adult teeth. 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, no parent says a code. They say their child "needs full braces," they were "told to come in for a complete evaluation," or they "want to get the whole treatment started." The AI receptionist recognizes this as a comprehensive orthodontic consult request and captures the booking — it does not interpret the case or decide what treatment is needed.
What the AI can safely capture and schedule
For a comprehensive-treatment inquiry, the agent handles scheduling without a human:
- Identifies the patient as new or established and pulls the record or starts intake.
- Books a full orthodontic consultation or records appointment in the correct provider column, live during the call. See appointment scheduling.
- Captures the referral source so your team knows whether it came from a general dentist, a campaign, or word of mouth.
- Collects insurance and contact details so the front desk opens a clean record before the visit.
Because comprehensive cases drive the bulk of an ortho practice's production, consistent intake matters — see our orthodontics solution page.
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 — whether full treatment is needed, the right time to begin, or anything about the child's development.
- Treatment plan specifics — how long comprehensive care lasts, what appliances are used, or phasing. The agent books the consult where those answers are given.
- Coverage and cost specifics — orthodontic maximums, payment plans, or out-of-pocket amounts. The agent collects details and relays the question rather than quoting an answer.
Anything outside a clean consult 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 consult ready to go:
| Captured on the call | Written to the PMS |
|---|---|
| Patient identity / new-patient flag | Linked to chart or new record started |
| Comprehensive-ortho consult intent | Appointment booked in correct column |
| Referral source | Logged on the record |
| Insurance / contact details | Attached for verification |
| Questions needing a human | Task flagged for front desk |
For practices that live and die by these consults, see how the AI handles braces calls from first ring to booked.
Frequently asked questions
Does the AI assign the D8070 code to the appointment?
No. The agent captures the request for a comprehensive consult 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 D8070 here is informational only — confirm the official CDT definition independently. The AI recognizes consult intent, books the appointment in the right column, and writes a clear summary for your team.
Can it tell us whether full treatment is necessary?
No. Whether comprehensive orthodontic treatment is appropriate is a clinical decision the orthodontist makes after a full evaluation and records. The agent never advises on that. It captures the reason for the call, books the consultation, and routes any clinical question to your team so the right person answers it in person.
Will it discuss payment plans or coverage?
It collects and relays, it does not quote. The agent captures the family's carrier and member details and can answer the general questions you configure. Anything specific — orthodontic maximums, financing, or out-of-pocket cost — is routed to your treatment-coordination team rather than guessed, keeping those statements with the people authorized to make them.
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 parent 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.