Yes. Dental AI receptionists can now answer calls around the clock and book, reschedule and cancel appointments directly in practice software like Dentrix, Eaglesoft and Open Dental. For most single and small group practices we recommend Dentina: it starts at $299 a month per location billed yearly, writes back to 11 practice systems and has a 30 day free trial.
Dental specific AI receptionists with direct practice software booking, published prices and free trials are on the market today, though HIPAA paperwork still needs checking vendor by vendor.- Our pickDentinaStarts at $299/month per location, billed yearly
- Budget pickMy AI Front DeskStarts at $99/month, or $79/month billed yearly
- Upgrade pickAriniStarts at $499/month (per Capterra listing, checked Oct 2026)
- Also greatWeave AI ReceptionistWeave plans start at $199/month; AI Receptionist pricing by quote
Dentina
Best for most dental practices that want calls answered and booked straight into their practice software.
Dentina is built only for dental offices, and its biggest strength is booking. It writes appointments, reschedules and cancellations back to Open Dental, Dentrix, Dentrix Ascend, Dentrix Enterprise, Eaglesoft, Curve, Denticon, Cloud9, Dolphin, OrthoTrac and PracticeWorks Dentina ↗. It follows your office's own scheduling rules, such as provider restrictions, operatory limits and booking a whole family at once Dentina ↗. It answers calls, texts and web chat 24/7, including after hours and overflow, and it works with your current phone carrier through call forwarding, with no new hardware Dentina ↗.
Pricing is published. The Standard plan starts at $299 a month per location, billed yearly, for up to three providers, with English and Spanish Dentina ↗ CloudTalk on Dentina pricing ↗. Premium starts at $399 a month and adds warm transfers to your staff, custom screening questions, advanced analytics, two way texting, web chat and up to 57 languages Dentina ↗ CloudTalk on Dentina pricing ↗. Annual billing saves 20 percent, and monthly billing is available Dentina ↗. There is a 30 day free trial with no setup fee, which you start by booking a demo Dentina ↗. Outbound recall and reactivation calls are available, with custom pricing for outbound campaigns and larger groups Dentina ↗.
Two cautions. Dentina says it is HIPAA compliant by design, but its home page does not mention a business associate agreement, so ask for a signed BAA before patient data flows Dentina ↗. And independent reviews are thin: a review roundup found no listings on G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, and that roundup was written by CloudTalk, a competing phone company CloudTalk on Dentina reviews ↗. Warm transfers are a Premium feature, which most practices will want Dentina ↗. Hands on testing is in progress; we will update this guide with results.
Why we like it
- Books directly in 11 dental practice systems, including Dentrix, Eaglesoft and Open Dental
- Follows provider, operatory and family booking rules
- Published price from $299 a month per location
- 30 day free trial with no setup fee
- Works with your current phone number
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- Warm transfers to staff need the $399 Premium plan
- BAA not mentioned on the home page; ask for one
- Best price requires yearly billing
- No independent user reviews yet
My AI Front Desk
Best for small practices that mostly need overflow answering and messages with a signed BAA.
If your practice mainly loses calls at lunch and after hours, and your team can book from a message, My AI Front Desk costs about a third of the dental specific tools. The Business-in-a-Box plan is $99 a month, or $79 a month billed yearly, and includes 200 voice minutes, 400 texts, 100 web chat conversations and Zapier My AI Front Desk pricing ↗. Extra voice minutes cost $0.25 through prepaid credits My AI Front Desk pricing ↗. There is a 7 day free trial My AI Front Desk pricing ↗.
It says it is HIPAA compliant and handles sensitive conversations with signed BAAs, encryption in transit and at rest, and strict access controls My AI Front Desk features ↗. When a call needs a person, it can warm transfer or send a real time alert with the full transcript My AI Front Desk features ↗. That combination, a BAA and a human handoff, is the minimum a dental office should accept.
The tradeoff is booking. Its site names connections for health practice tools such as Jane App and SimplePractice but does not name any dental practice software, so it cannot write appointments into Dentrix or Open Dental the way Dentina can My AI Front Desk features ↗. User feedback is mixed: 3.5 out of 5 from 15 Trustpilot reviews, with complaints about refunds and support Trustpilot, My AI Front Desk ↗.
Why we like it
- $99 a month, or $79 billed yearly
- Says it signs BAAs
- Calls, texts and web chat in one plan
- Warm transfer or alert with transcript
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- No dental practice software integration named
- Staff must book from messages
- Billing complaints from users
Arini
Best for growing groups that want inbound answering plus outbound confirmation and reactivation calls.
Arini focuses on practices and groups that want an AI to work the phones in both directions. It answers inbound calls around the clock and makes outbound calls, such as hygiene appointment confirmations, with text and email reminders that stop once a patient confirms Arini ↗. Its customer list includes multi location groups such as MB2 Dental, Pearl Street Dental Partners and PepperPointe Partnerships, and the company claims 1,000,000 booked appointments Arini ↗.
Arini does not publish prices on its own site, but its Capterra listing shows a Starter Package at $499 a month for inbound call handling and online scheduling, and a Growth Package at $799 a month that adds outbound patient workflows, with a free trial available Capterra, Arini ↗. The listing names native integrations with nine systems, including Dentrix, Dentrix Ascend, Open Dental, Eaglesoft, Curve Dental, Denticon and CareStack, and says Arini maintains HIPAA compliance Capterra, Arini ↗.
Be careful with the details. Arini's own home page does not name the practice systems it connects to, its trust center link was a placeholder when we checked, and insurance verification appears only on its roadmap Arini ↗. Its Capterra listing had zero user reviews Capterra, Arini ↗. Get the integration, BAA and contract terms in writing during the trial.
Why we like it
- Inbound answering plus outbound confirmations
- Used by large dental groups
- Integrations with Dentrix, Open Dental and Eaglesoft listed on Capterra
- Free trial available
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- Costs more than our pick
- Prices not on the vendor's own site
- No user reviews on Capterra yet
Weave AI Receptionist
Best for practices already on Weave that want AI added to their phones and texting.
Weave is a patient communication platform many dental offices already use for phones and texting, and its AI Receptionist answers calls 24/7 with an AI voice, holds full AI conversations over text and hands calls to your team when needed Weave AI Receptionist ↗. Automatic booking and rescheduling into your schedule is available for qualified dental practice software users; others get appointment requests for staff to review Weave AI Receptionist ↗.
Weave says the AI Receptionist is designed to meet and exceed HIPAA standards Weave AI Receptionist ↗. Weave plans start at $199 a month, but the pricing page does not say which plan includes the AI features, and plan prices beyond that starting figure require a quote Weave pricing ↗. Weave was offering 25 percent off for early access through the rest of 2026 Weave AI Receptionist ↗. If you already pay for Weave, ask your rep for a quote before adding a second vendor.
Why we like it
- Built into a platform many dental offices already use
- AI handles both calls and texts
- Direct booking for qualified practice systems
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- AI pricing not published
- Direct booking only for qualified systems
- Real time language switching still coming soon
Compare them
| Tool | Starting price | Free trial | Answers calls | Texts and chat | Books in practice software | HIPAA BAA | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DentinaOur pick | $299/mo per location (yearly) | 30 days | Yes | Yes; two way texts on Premium | Yes, 11 systems | HIPAA claim; BAA not stated | Most practices |
| My AI Front DeskBudget pick | $99/mo ($79 yearly) | 7 days | Yes | Yes, texts and web chat | No dental systems named | Yes, signs BAAs | Overflow on a budget |
| AriniUpgrade pick | $499/mo (Capterra) | Yes, length not stated | Yes, plus outbound | Text reminders | Dentrix, Open Dental, Eaglesoft (Capterra) | HIPAA claim on Capterra | Groups and DSOs |
| Weave AI ReceptionistAlso great | Plans from $199/mo; AI by quote | Not stated | Yes | Yes, AI texting | Qualified systems only | Designed to meet HIPAA (vendor claim) | Existing Weave users |
| Viva AI | $350/mo | Free demo | Yes | Yes, texts, email, web chat | Not named | Not stated | Credit based bundles |
| Upfirst | $24.95/mo (30 calls) | 14 days, no card | Yes | Texts during calls | No dental systems named | Custom plan only | Non clinical overflow |
Prices and features from each vendor’s site, checked Oct 9, 2026. Prices change often.
Who this is for
This guide is for dentists, office managers and small group owners whose phones ring while the front desk is checking a patient out, verifying insurance or on another line. Dentina's founder says that after COVID, staffing problems caused his own practice to miss 40 percent of its calls CloudTalk on Dentina reviews ↗. Each missed new patient call is a lost exam, cleaning and treatment plan.
A dental AI receptionist answers those calls, answers common questions, and, if it connects to your practice software, books the patient into an open slot that fits your rules. Some also call patients to confirm visits or bring back patients who are overdue for hygiene Dentina ↗ Arini ↗.
If your team answers almost every call already, you may only need after hours and lunch coverage. If you have very few missed calls, a better voicemail and a fast callback routine may be enough.
Why you should trust us
We read each vendor's product and pricing pages, checked prices on October 9, 2026, and looked for independent reviews on Capterra, Trustpilot and similar sites. Where a vendor does not publish prices, we used its official software marketplace listing and said so. We also read federal guidance on HIPAA business associate agreements HHS BAA guidance ↗ and a legal guide on call recording DMLP recording law ↗.
We have not tested these tools hands on yet. Hands on testing is in progress, and we will update this guide with results, including how each one books into a real practice schedule and handles an emergency call. No vendor paid for placement, and our picks were chosen on merit.
How we picked
We started with about twenty products marketed as dental AI receptionists, plus general AI receptionists that sell to dental offices. We dropped products with no public product page, no way to see pricing even through a marketplace listing, or no clear path for a single practice to sign up.
Direct booking into practice software mattered most. A receptionist that can only take messages still leaves your team calling patients back, which is the work you wanted to remove. HIPAA mattered next: a dental office is a covered entity, and an outside company that handles patient information for you generally needs a business associate agreement HHS BAA guidance ↗. Published pricing and a free trial broke ties.
- Books, reschedules and cancels directly in common dental practice software
- Follows provider and operatory scheduling rules
- Will sign a HIPAA business associate agreement
- Transfers urgent or complex calls to staff
- Published pricing and a free trial
- Texts and outbound recall calls as a bonus
- Independent user reports where available
What a dental AI receptionist can and can't do today
It can answer and book. The better dental tools write appointments straight into practice software and follow your rules for which provider and chair can take which visit Dentina ↗. They can answer after hours, cover overflow during busy times, and text confirmations Dentina ↗.
It can do outbound work. Dentina makes recall, confirmation and reactivation calls for patients lapsed 18 months or more Dentina ↗. Arini places confirmation calls and stops outreach when a patient confirms Arini ↗. Annie AI, from a dental marketing company, contacts hygiene patients without a future appointment Annie AI ↗.
It is weaker with insurance questions, treatment plan discussions and upset patients. Arini lists insurance verification on its roadmap rather than as a current feature Arini ↗. Dental emergencies need a clear script: the AI should give your emergency instructions and alert or transfer to staff, not judge how serious a symptom is.
It also does not replace the person at the desk. Think of it as the colleague who never misses a call, then hands the hard ones to your team.
Before you sign up
Get a signed BAA. HHS describes a business associate agreement as a written contract that sets how a vendor may use and disclose protected health information and requires safeguards for it HHS BAA guidance ↗. A HIPAA claim on a website is not the same as a signed agreement. Dentina, for example, says it is HIPAA compliant by design but does not mention a BAA on its home page Dentina ↗.
Confirm your exact practice software and version. Integration depth varies by system and can take one to three days to configure CloudTalk on Dentina pricing ↗. Ask the vendor to book a few test appointments during the trial and check them in your schedule.
Plan the recording notice. Federal law needs one party's consent to record a call, but states including California, Florida, Pennsylvania and Washington require consent from everyone on the call DMLP recording law ↗.
- Get a signed BAA before going live
- Test booking into your practice software during the trial
- Write emergency instructions and a transfer number into the script
- Add a call recording notice to the greeting
- Check annual billing and refund terms before you sign
- Review transcripts weekly for the first month
What to look forward to
Expect more of the back office to move to AI. Dentina describes outbound treatment follow up calls as a future or limited release workflow Dentina ↗, Arini lists insurance verification Arini ↗, and Weave says real time language switching is coming soon Weave AI Receptionist ↗. Viva AI already prices its service in shared credits that cover calls, texts, email and web chat, which hints at where bundles are heading Viva AI pricing ↗.
We also expect independent reviews to catch up. Right now most dental AI receptionists have few or no public reviews, so we will add user findings and our own test results as they come in.
The competition
Viva AIStarts at $349/month
Viva AI starts at $350 a month with no contract and sells credits that cover calls, texts, email and web chat, with call routing and transfers on its Platinum plan and above Viva AI pricing ↗. Its pricing post does not name the practice systems it books into or mention a BAA, so it was harder to judge than Dentina Viva AI pricing ↗.
Annie AIQuote only
Annie AI, from dental marketing company My Social Practice, books directly onto the schedule, works with Dentrix, Eaglesoft and Open Dental, speaks English and Spanish and calls overdue hygiene patients Annie AI ↗. Pricing is not published and going live can take up to four weeks Annie AI ↗.
Smith.aiFree for 25 calls/month; paid plans start at $150/month
Smith.ai offers a free plan with 25 real calls a month and paid plans from $150 a month Smith.ai pricing ↗. Its AI Receptionist pricing page names Clio, Zapier and Calendly but no dental software, and it does not mention HIPAA Smith.ai pricing ↗.
UpfirstStarts at $24.95/month for 30 calls
Upfirst is our top general small business pick at $24.95 a month for 30 calls with a 14 day trial Upfirst pricing ↗. It lists BAAs only on its Custom plan and names no dental practice software, so it fits only non clinical overflow Upfirst pricing ↗.
Questions people ask
How much does an AI receptionist cost for a dental office?
Dental specific tools we checked start at $299 a month per location for Dentina, billed yearly Dentina ↗, $350 a month for Viva AI Viva AI pricing ↗ and $499 a month for Arini according to its Capterra listing Capterra, Arini ↗. A general tool like My AI Front Desk starts at $99 a month but does not book into dental software My AI Front Desk pricing ↗ My AI Front Desk features ↗.
Can an AI receptionist book appointments in Dentrix, Eaglesoft or Open Dental?
Yes. Dentina writes bookings, reschedules and cancellations back to Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Open Dental and eight other systems Dentina ↗. Arini's Capterra listing names Dentrix, Open Dental and Eaglesoft Capterra, Arini ↗, and Annie AI names the same three Annie AI ↗.
Is a dental AI receptionist HIPAA compliant?
Only if the vendor protects the data and signs a business associate agreement with you. HHS says the HIPAA rules generally require these contracts when an outside company handles protected health information for you HHS BAA guidance ↗. My AI Front Desk says it signs BAAs My AI Front Desk features ↗; Upfirst offers them only on its Custom plan Upfirst pricing ↗.
Can an AI receptionist handle dental emergencies?
It can follow your emergency script and pass the call on. Dentina's Premium plan adds warm transfers to staff Dentina ↗, and Annie AI says it notifies the practice during emergency handling Annie AI ↗. It should not decide how urgent a symptom is.
Will an AI receptionist call patients for recall?
Some will. Dentina makes recall, confirmation and reactivation calls Dentina ↗, Arini makes confirmation calls on its Growth package Capterra, Arini ↗ Arini ↗, and Annie AI contacts hygiene patients without a future appointment Annie AI ↗.
Is there a free trial?
Dentina offers a 30 day free trial with no setup fee Dentina ↗. Arini's Capterra listing says a free trial is available Capterra, Arini ↗. My AI Front Desk has a 7 day trial My AI Front Desk pricing ↗, and Upfirst a 14 day trial with no card Upfirst pricing ↗.
Where this comes from
Checked Oct 9, 2026. Vendor pages describe their own products; independent sources add outside views.
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