In this episode of The Dental TeX-ray, Khuzaan Screwvalla of Great Lakes Dental Partners joins host Alan Rencher to unpack what’s happening in dental technology right now and where it’s heading next.

They’re breaking down the shift from standalone practice management systems to integrated, platform-based ecosystems and cutting through the AI hype with a pragmatic look at what actually works, how to evaluate vendors, and what it takes to build a scalable data foundation that protects the patient experience and strengthens revenue cycle performance.

• Why the move to integrated platforms is becoming the new standard — and what it changes for DSOs and private practices.

• How leading organizations separate AI value from AI noise with clear outcomes, governance, and the right data strategy.
• How to navigate vendor overload (including API requirements) while improving patient experience and modernizing revenue cycle management.

Timeline Highlights

• [01:12] – The rapid evolution of dental tech: from on-prem systems to SaaS and now AI

• [03:45] – Focusing on AI outcomes and the “North Star” instead

• [06:20] – The explosion of AI vendors in dental and how to cut through the noise

• [09:10] – Khuzaan’s honest take: AI vs. automation and the problem with industry hype

• [12:05] – Protecting patient experience while integrating new technology

• [15:30] – How Great Lakes vets vendors (and why API access is a dealbreaker)

• [20:18] – The power of a “single pane of glass” and unified data strategy

• [25:40] – Using data to drive decisions and the importance of “fail fast”

• [30:55] – The future of AI in dental: cracking the RCM challenge

• [35:10] – The promise (and cost challenges) of LLMs and internal AI tools

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