It's a busy afternoon and a patient in active braces is calling to schedule their next adjustment — a routine, recurring visit you book dozens of times a week. But your scheduling coordinator is mid-checkout with a parent at the counter, and the call rolls to voicemail. The patient is between classes and won't call back, so a slot in your adjustment column goes unfilled. Periodic ortho visits are the backbone of your active-treatment schedule, and every one that slips delays a case and opens a gap in your day.
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 D8670 call usually sounds like
D8670 is commonly published as the CDT code for a periodic orthodontic treatment visit — the recurring adjustment appointment during active treatment. 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. They say they need their "next adjustment," want to "come in for a tightening," or are "due for their monthly braces visit." The AI receptionist recognizes a recurring active-treatment booking and captures it — it does not interpret the procedure.
What the AI can safely capture and schedule
For a routine periodic visit, the agent handles the full booking without a human:
- Confirms the patient is established and pulls their record so the visit lands on the right chart and provider column. See appointment scheduling.
- Offers and books an open adjustment slot, live during the call.
- Refreshes insurance or contact details if anything has changed.
- Writes a clear summary so the front desk sees exactly what was booked.
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 treatment is progressing, whether something feels wrong, or how much longer braces will stay on. These belong to the orthodontist.
- Coverage and cost specifics — remaining ortho benefits, monthly payment questions, or out-of-pocket amounts. The agent collects details and relays the question.
- Problems between visits — if a patient reports a poking wire, loose bracket, or pain, the call is routed with full context. See orthodontic wire emergency calls.
Anything outside a clean adjustment 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 visit ready to go:
| Captured on the call | Written to the PMS |
|---|---|
| Patient identity / record match | Linked to existing chart |
| Periodic-visit scheduling intent | Appointment booked in correct column |
| Updated contact / insurance details | Attached to record |
| Questions needing a human | Task flagged for front desk |
| Full call summary | Notes on the appointment |
Built for practices like yours — see our orthodontics solution and the confirmed integrations.
Frequently asked questions
Does the AI assign the D8670 code to the appointment?
No. The agent captures the patient's request for their next adjustment 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 D8670 here is informational only — confirm the official CDT definition independently. The AI recognizes recurring active-treatment intent, books it in the right column, and writes a clear summary for your team.
Can it answer how treatment is going?
No. Progress, timelines, and anything about how the case is advancing are clinical judgments for the orthodontist. The agent never assesses treatment or guesses at how much longer braces stay on. It books the next adjustment and routes any clinical question to your team so it is answered by the right person.
What if the patient reports a problem between visits?
That call stops being a routine booking. If a patient describes pain, a poking wire, a loose bracket, or anything clinical, the agent does not treat it as a simple adjustment request. It captures the detail and routes the call to your front desk or triage workflow with full context, so a person decides how urgently the patient should be seen. The AI never diagnoses.
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 still 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.