Henry Schein is expanding the use of artificial intelligence across its dental technology portfolio, embedding new AI-powered documentation, imaging, and workflow tools into its Dentrix software platforms as part of a broader strategy to drive growth in higher-margin technology services.
On the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call, CEO Stanley Bergman highlighted a strengthened partnership with Amazon Web Services to integrate generative and so-called agentic AI capabilities into Henry Schein One, the company’s dental software business.
Bergman said the AWS collaboration is supporting the rollout of AI features within Dentrix Ascend, Dentrix and Dentally, Henry Schein’s core practice-management systems. The goal, he said, is to help dental practices automate administrative tasks, improve clinical documentation, and reduce insurance claim denials.
Among the new tools is Voice Notes, a real-time documentation assistant that uses AI to capture and summarize patient interactions. Bergman said the company is also introducing voice-activated tools for charting, scheduling, and patient communications, positioning the features to shift time away from administrative work and toward patient care.
At the Chicago Dental Society’s Midwinter Meeting, Henry Schein One introduced Image Verify, an AI-powered image quality assessment tool built into Dentrix and Dentrix Ascend. The software evaluates clinical images now they are captured, flagging issues such as blur, misalignment, or incomplete coverage. Bergman said the capability is designed to address a persistent industry problem: insurance claims denied because of inadequate or missing documentation.
The company also launched a new forms workflow that captures insurance information from a photograph of a patient’s insurance card, aiming to streamline front-desk intake and reduce data-entry errors. In addition, Henry Schein said it is enhancing its Eligibility Pro product with faster response times and expanded payer connections.
The AI rollout comes as Henry Schein One continues to grow its cloud-based footprint. Bergman said cloud-based customers increased more than 20% year over year, primarily from new accounts, and that the business now has more than 11,000 Dentrix Ascend and Dentally subscribers. He added that subscription packages have been aligned to bundle practice management, revenue-cycle management, imaging, and patient-experience tools into more integrated offerings.
Bergman tied the technology push to findings from a recent survey of U.S. dental practices, which indicated that customers are focused on driving revenue growth and improving operational efficiency, including reducing appointment cancellations and delayed treatments. He said Henry Schein’s AI and workflow investments are intended to support those priorities.
Technology expansion comes as the company prepares for a leadership transition. Fred Lowery, a former executive at Thermo Fisher Scientific, will formally assume the role of chief executive next week, with Bergman remaining chairman. Lowery said on the call that he plans to conduct a 100-day listening tour with employees, customers, and suppliers and to accelerate existing strategic initiatives.
Henry Schein also said it expects to complete the rollout of its global e-commerce platform to U.S. dental and Canadian customers in the first quarter, with U.S. medical customers to follow.
Executives framed the AI investments as part of the company’s broader BOLD+1 strategic plan, which aims to shift more of Henry Schein’s operating income toward higher-growth, higher-margin businesses, including technology and value-added services.
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