Smile Dental Case Study
Designing the Future of Patient Care
Introduction AI in Dentistry
The Opportunity
The dental industry is evolving, but many clinics and professionals still rely on traditional tools and workflows, often leading to inefficiencies, patient discomfort, and administrative burdens. AI offers a unique opportunity to revolutionize dentistry, from streamlining operations to enhancing patient care.
In this case study, I apply design thinking to uncover challenges faced by dentists and explore how AI-powered solutions can create smarter, more effective, and patient-friendly experiences. By blending empathy, research, and ideation, I identify design opportunities that reimagine what dental care could look like in the near future.
Research
Over 75% of consumers are concerned about misinformation from AI.
60% patients would feel uncomfortable if their healthcare provider relied on AI.
Data source: Frontiers in Public Health (2022). Retrieved from https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.862832/full
70-77% respondents are primarily concerned that healthcare providers may rush AI adoption without fully understanding the associated risks.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.862832/full
43% of businesses are concerned about technology dependence
Key Challenges in AI Adoption in Dentistry
#Interaction Design #Project Management #UI Design #User Research #UX Design
1. Ethical and Privacy
AI models can inherit biases from their training data, resulting in unequal treatment outcomes for different patient populations.
2. Trust and Acceptance
Both dentists and patients may be hesitant to fully trust AI-driven diagnoses and treatments.
3. Workforce Adaptation and Training
Adapting the workforce to work alongside AI tools requires significant training and cultural shifts in human-centered care environments.
Problem statements
Insights
Dentists value AI’s ability to enhance treatment speed and quality but require flexibility to make personalized adjustments.
Patient-centric tools increase trust and communication.
Seamless tech integration is critical for adopting AI solutions.
Transparency is essential; patients appreciate tools that help clarify treatment plans.
Personalized treatments build trust and make patients feel valued.
Patients expect strong data privacy measures when AI is used to manage their health information.
Scenario: He runs a small dental clinic in a multicultural city, focusing on trust and personalized care while seeking an AI platform to streamline operations and enhance the patient experience.
Customer Journey
Dr. Lee
From Customer Journey to Opportunity
4. Realization
AI tips on balancing technology with patient care.
Progress reporting allows dentists to document challenges through screen recordings and comments, with automated check-ins for support.
5. Advocacy
Easy-to-use toolkit for clinic websites and social media, enabling staff to effortlessly create and share content.(e.g. content generation, patient testimonials)
1. Awareness
Display case studies and success stories
Free diagnostic tool or assessment quiz
2. Consideration
Help dentists simplify decision-making
3. Onboarding
Interactive tutorials
Patient-facing materials to explain how AI can assist efficiency and accuracy
Establishing Design Directions Through “How Might We” Questions
To address key user needs, I developed ‘HMW’ questions centered on transparency, flexibility, and trust in AI interaction. Leaving open-ended exploration, prioritizing the user’s perspective and ensuring the design process aligns with meaningful engagement and user control.
Mind Map
Personalized Plan Selector
Customization
Empowers users to find tools that fit their needs, building trust through personalized recommendations.
Streamline Technology
Captures existing clinic technology for seamless compatibility and smoother integration of new solutions.
Idea #1
This design simplifies decision-making for dentists by automating tailored recommendations based on their clinic's specific requirements. It enables quick identification of the best packages, helping dentists seamlessly embark on their journey with Smile Dental open solutions.
Process Bar
Provides clear visibility into the user's journey, enhances user confidence and reduces uncertainty.
User-Friendly Interface
Designed with simplicity in mind, the interface guides users through the selection process, making AI technology feel approachable and easy to understand.
Virtual Assistant
Idea #2
Smart Completion
This feature provides real-time suggestions to complete sentences as users type or speak, enhancing efficiency and facilitating clear communication.
Instant Translation
This feature offers instant translation of spoken or typed content, breaking down language barriers and enabling effortless engagement with diverse audiences, enhancing collaboration and understanding.
AI-Prompted Questions
Begins with a selection of common queries for easy access to relevant information. AI-driven prompts streamline the search process, enhancing user experience and saving time.
Conclusion
This design assessment presents the development of two concepts created for Smile Dental, grounded in extensive research and insights. By identifying user needs and challenges, I pinpointed areas for innovation to enhance the dental practice experience. Through ideation and prototyping, these concepts aim to streamline workflows while building trust and engagement, ultimately improving patient care and supporting dentists.
Together, these tools represent a vision for Smart Dental as a cohesive, AI-driven platform that enhances the user journey for dentists, making AI processes understandable and approachable for all stakeholders in dentistry.