Dentistry has leapt into the arms of artificial intelligence (AI), embracing the multitude of benefits that AI tools can provide, from diagnosis support to clinical notes and treatment planning. But the technology is not just for clinicians, with the administrative team able to flourish with the help of an AI receptionist – no missed calls, no missed business.
However, AI is great until a human has to apologise for it. As dental practices increasingly integrate a range of AI systems into the workflow, it is essential that regulations are met and compliance is achieved. NHS and mixed practices must comply with the Data Protection Act 2018[i] and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).[ii] Failure to do so can lead to a massive penalty.
Following the same regulations should also be the gold standard for private practices because, if something goes wrong, you will be asked why you did not do the correct due diligence. Compliance and AI security that meets the NHS standard better protects private dental practices, the dental team, patients, and the brand as a whole from AI-related complications. But what might this entail?
AI security
The introduction of AI has changed the game in dental healthcare, revolutionising diagnosis, treatment planning and patient engagement. AI receptionists in particular can automate routine tasks such as appointment scheduling and data entry, freeing the team up to focus on in-person patient care whilst also minimising human error. In the long run, this will save time for a more efficient workflow. As such, AI systems rely heavily on collecting and analysing sensitive patient information, from medical records to diagnostic records. To manage this, several areas must be considered for AI use:
- Patient care – how does it support the patient journey?
- Data security – is sensitive information safely stored?
- Professional accountability – are you compliant and confident in its use?
- Patient safety – it must not give medical advice as there is no room for AI hallucinations in healthcare
If the AI system and the practice fails to accommodate these concerns, issues arise that endanger patients, the dental team and the reputation of the dental practice.
Areas of error
There are several ways in which AI technology can lead to an error and these have the potential to become legal issues depending on severity and if the dental practice was compliant with the established regulations.
One concern across AI technologies is inherited biases. As AI is trained by humans, its algorithms can inadvertently pick up behaviours which could lead to discriminatory outcomes in healthcare.[iii] It is vital that any bias is mitigated to establish equitable care. Similarly, technologies that originate outside of the UK and/or Europe may adhere to different data protection policies. For this, dental practices are recommended to contact the company of any AI technology they are using and request their Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC) evidence pack. This comprehensive bundle demonstrates that their software meets the NHS baseline standards, which means that private practices should also aim to meet this trusted framework, covering the five core domains: Clinical Safety, Data Protection, Technical Security, Interoperability, and Usability & Accessibility.[iv]
Staying safe
Cyber threats are an increasing problem, with AI-tools used to break through protective firewalls and obtain sensitive data. This is often ransomed at a substantial price. There has been a 44 per cent year on year increase in the exploitation of public facing software or system applications, demonstrating that heightened security is needed for patient data.[v] Dental practices should consider levelling up their cyber security as basic consumer-grade firewalls are no longer enough.
Employing robust protection keeps dental practices compliant with CQC expectations around data storage and management. These regulations revolve around safeguarding of individuals, safe systems and transitions, and accountability. Much of the CQC assessment framework overlaps with wider data protection laws, such as the GDPR, which emphasises lawfulness, fairness, data minimisation, transparency, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity, and confidentiality.[vi] Meeting the regulations reduces the risk of unauthorised access, data breaches, and data leaks, whilst also providing a legal bubble that shows that everything that could be done was done.
A system that meets the criteria
Meet the highest standards of compliance for private practices with RoboReception AI, a simple yet efficient system that is easy to integrate and brings about genuine growth. Able to support the administrative team by answering patient enquiries (including out of hours), scheduling appointments and handling many other tasks, ensures your practice never loses a lead. With 24/7 availability, the sophisticated, UK-based software is designed by dentists for dentists, raising revenue and allowing better support for your patients.
In a constantly changing digital world, AI tools can drive growth and improve outcomes. Private practices, in particular, must be wary of the systems they integrate, however. By following the gold standard of compliance that NHS and mixed practices should meet, you can ensure that your team, practice and patients are suitably protected.
To find out more visit www.roboreception.co.uk or call us on 07511 085684
Book a demo at https://calendly.com/roboreception/roboreception-demo-1
Author: Donna Hewitt and Dr Grant McAree (BDS)
[i] GOV.UK (2018). Data Protection Act 2018. [online] legislation.gov.uk. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2018/12/contents.
[ii] UK Government (2018). UK General Data Protection Regulation. [online] legislation.gov.uk. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2016/679/contents.
[iii] Batra, A.M. and Reche, A. (2023). A New Era of Dental Care: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Better Diagnosis and Treatment. Cureus, [online] 15(11). doi:https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.49319.
[iv] NHS England (2021). Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC). [online] NHS Transformation Directorate. Available at: https://transform.england.nhs.uk/key-tools-and-info/digital-technology-assessment-criteria-dtac/.
[v] Ibm.com. (2026). X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2026 | IBM. [online] Available at: https://www.ibm.com/reports/threat-intelligence?utm_content=SRCWW&p1=Search&p4=401463774&p5=b&p9=196430767113&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23550580025&gbraid=0AAAAA- [Accessed 18 May 2026]
[vi] GDPR (2018). General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). [online] GDPR. Available at: https://gdpr-info.eu/.
