How Affinity Intelligence Is Transforming Patient Treatment Acceptance

AI Isn’t Just Artificial Anymore, It’s Affinity Intelligence 

Only 25-30% of necessary procedures being completed ⁽³⁾. Dentists aren’t recommending unnecessary treatment, so where’s the disconnect?  

The answer lies in building patient confidence. That’s what we call Affinity Intelligence, a fresh way of thinking about AI.  

By seamlessly connecting patient data and diagnostics, Affinity Intelligence puts the right information at your team’s fingertips to build trust, provide clarity, and help patients feel ownership in their care. 

Help patients understand their coverage and close the gaps 

Before accepting treatments, patients need to know what insurance covers, what out-of-pocket expenses they are responsible for and if payment options are available. Automated eligibility checks integrated with your PMS provide the clarity needed to help patients make informed decisions quickly and efficiently. 

"A patient’s ability to afford treatment plays a big role in why they accept the recommendation."

- Martin Kearns, GM, Revenue Cycle Management, Henry Schein One 

“Doctors want to provide price transparency when the patient is chairside,” said Kearns. “We’ll see significant demand for clinical tools that can be adapted into tools for sales, patient-facing education, and marketing.”  

Reinforce diagnoses with technology patients trust  

We've seen proof that patients trust healthcare more when it's backed with AI, but they won't trust AI on its own. Do they want an office that's using technology to help create a better experience, though? Overwhelmingly we’re seeing the answer is yes.  We're already seeing patients confirm that offices have AI before their appointments. 

59% of patients are more likely to follow their dentist’s treatment recommendations if they knew that AI was involved ⁽⁶⁾. 

Confidence Is the Secret to Treatment Acceptance  

The average case acceptance rate is 46% ⁽¹⁸⁾–we’ve got some work to do here. When patients go to the dentist for a problem, 44% of respondents ⁽¹⁹⁾ said they've declined or delayed a treatment.   

"Patients want to be more involved in conversations about their health. They want to know where their money is going."

- Tamara Whitley, Owner and Office Director, Whitley Family Dental

In 2025, education and payment transparency will help practices to engage patients more deeply, transforming the conversation to improve oral health outcomes and treatment acceptance. “That's going to be huge in the next year because patients are hungry for education now,” said Whitley.

Learn more about how AI is redefining care in our 2025 Dental Trends Outlook.

Footnotes match 2025 Dental Trends Outlook: 

(3) The ‘Golden Age’ of Dentistry; Becker’s Dental + DSO Review 

(6) Six in 10 Patients More Likely to Trust Their Dentist If They Use AI, Survey Says; Dentistry 

(18) Henry Schein One Industry Report; Henry Schein One 

(19) AI Would Make People Trust Their Dentist More, New Survey Shows; Forbes