AI Policy
Our Commitment to Transparency
At Smile for Life, we are committed to providing you with the highest quality dental care while being transparent about the technologies we use to support that care. This policy explains how our practice may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools in your treatment, communications, and our operations, and what that means for you as our patient.
How We May Use AI
AI tools may assist our team in the following ways. In every case, a licensed member of our clinical or administrative team reviews and is responsible for the final outcome: AI never replaces the judgment of your dentist or our staff.
Clinical support
- Assisting in the analysis of dental radiographs (X-rays) to help identify areas of interest for your dentist to review
- Supporting treatment planning by organizing clinical data for your dentist’s evaluation
- Transcribing or summarizing clinical notes during your visit, with review by your provider
Patient communication
- Answering common questions through website chat features or phone systems
- Assisting with appointment scheduling, reminders, and follow-up communications
- Drafting patient education materials, which are reviewed by our team before use
Administrative and billing
- Assisting with insurance verification, claims processing, and billing inquiries
- Supporting internal scheduling, records organization, and practice operations
Marketing
- Assisting in the creation of website content, social media posts, and patient outreach materials, all reviewed and approved by our team before publication
What AI Does Not Do
- AI does not diagnose your dental condition or make treatment decisions on its own. All diagnoses and treatment plans are made by your licensed dentist.
- AI does not replace conversations with your care team. You will always have the opportunity to speak directly with a human about your care.
- AI is not used to make final decisions about your eligibility for treatment or care.
Your Data and Privacy
Any AI tools we use are held to the same privacy and security standards as the rest of our practice. This includes:
- Compliance with HIPAA and applicable state privacy laws
- Use of AI vendors who maintain appropriate data protection agreements (Business Associate Agreements, where applicable)
- No use of your identifiable health information to train public or third-party AI models
- Data is used only to support your care and our practice operations — never sold to third parties
For more detail on how we collect, use, and protect your information, please see our Privacy Policy.
Your Choices
If you have questions or concerns about how AI is used in your care, or if you would prefer to opt out of certain AI-assisted communications (such as chatbot interactions), please let our front desk team know. We are happy to accommodate your preferences wherever possible.
Human Oversight
Every use of AI within our practice is overseen by trained staff and licensed professionals. AI is a tool that helps us work more efficiently and accurately; it does not replace the relationships, judgment, and care that define our practice.
Questions
If you have any questions about this AI Policy, please contact us at (509) 663-1161 / [email protected] or speak with a member of our team at your next visit.
Last updated: October 2026