Kunal Rai explains how AI helped him to shift his practice from fully NHS-focused to incorporate private dentistry.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is refocusing dentistry, and Dr Kunal Rai, founder of Meliora Dental in Leeds, has embraced its scope to fuel a transition to mixed practice. When he took over the clinic, it relied entirely on NHS funding, which he believed was limiting growth and treatment options.
Instead of focusing on external marketing, he prioritised communications with existing patients and integrated new technologies to help underline the long-term benefits of investing in more sophisticated treatment options. Organic growth, built on word of mouth recommendations, has meant his practice has thrived.
From NHS to private work
When Dr Rai bought his practice in 2023, it was fully NHS-funded. Since then, he has reduced NHS contracts from 21,000 to 13,000 UDAs while increasing a shift towards private treatments. AI has played a key role in this shift.
‘NHS funding has its limits. AI has helped us provide better care and made private treatment more acceptable to patients,’ he says. ‘By making dental issues clearer, Pearl AI encourages patients to opt for more sophisticated treatments. Patients feel more in control of their choices, leading to higher satisfaction and better long-term results.’
This shift has allowed the practice to focus more on advanced treatments such as dental implants. ‘Patients see the benefit of investing in a lasting solution rather than a short-term fix available through the NHS,’ Dr Rai notes.
With a background in computer science, Dr Rai explored AI-driven solutions to enhance diagnostics and build patient trust. He implemented Hello Pearl AI, an advanced X-ray analysis tool which provides instant radiographic feedback.
Explaining dental issues to patients isn’t always easy. Most struggle to make sense of X-rays. The Hello Pearl AI software simplifies this by colour-coding problem areas so they can clearly see what’s happening.
‘Patients see the problem instantly,’ says Dr Rai. ‘This makes conversations easier, leads to a co-diagnosis discussion and helps them feel confident about the treatment we recommend.’
The software is now an intrinsic tool at the centre his practice, which every associate and hygienist uses.
Encouraging patients to accept treatment
Dr Rai has noticed an increase in treatment acceptance since introducing Hello Pearl AI. A clear AI-generated image makes patients more likely to go ahead with treatment.
‘Patients trust AI because it presents an objective view,’ he explains. ‘They can see the issue themselves, which makes decisions easier. One patient arrived expecting a root canal but chose an implant after viewing her bone loss on her X-rays, graphically illustrated by the software. She made the decision right away after seeing it for herself,’ Dr Rai recalls.
Hello Pearl AI also provides a percentage breakdown of risk, helping patients understand the likelihood of future complications. ‘When a patient sees that a cavity has a high chance of worsening within a year, they’re more inclined to act sooner rather than later,’ he adds.
Dental litigation is also increasing, and AI provides an extra layer of protection. By keeping a digital record of what has been detected, Hello Pearl AI helps dentists safeguard themselves against claims.
‘Mistakes happen, but AI offers a record of what was seen and discussed,’ says Dr Rai. ‘That’s invaluable if a dispute arises.’
This makes AI particularly useful for busy practices, where time constraints can lead to missed details. With detailed AI-assisted reports, dentists can show that they followed a thorough diagnostic process, reducing liability concerns.
As a former clinical teaching fellow at Leeds Dental School, Dr Rai sees tremendous potential in integrating AI into dental education. While he acknowledges that some experienced dentists may initially hesitate, he’s observed that younger dentists typically embrace the technology readily.
‘Seeing AI in action makes dentists realise how useful it is,’ he says. ‘Once they experience it, they’re convinced.’
By integrating AI training into dental school curriculums, future dentists can develop confidence in using AI tools from the start. ‘AI isn’t replacing dentists,’ Dr Rai emphasises. ‘It’s a tool to support better decisions.’
Key benefits of Pearl AI for Dr Rai’s practice:
- Improved patient communication – patients can visually understand their dental issues, leading to increased trust
- Higher treatment acceptance – seeing their condition on AI-enhanced X-rays convinces many to opt for private treatments like white fillings, crowns, and implants
- Increased efficiency – AI-assisted diagnostics helped maintain appointment times, reducing delays and stress
- Revenue growth – private treatment uptake increased, leading to a reduction in NHS contracts from 21,000 to 13,000 UDAs over two years
- Legal security – AI-generated reports serve as an additional safeguard against misdiagnosis claims.
What’s next for AI in dentistry?
Right now, Hello Pearl AI analyses intraoral X-rays, but its capabilities are expanding. Dr Rai hopes that it could soon assess extraoral imaging and CBCT scans, eliminating the need to send scans to external radiologists.
‘If AI could instantly read CBCT scans, it would be a major change for implant dentistry,’ explains Dr Rai. ‘It would make procedures faster and more precise.’
He also hopes that Hello Pearl AI will be able to introduce predictive analytics, helping dentists anticipate problems before they develop. He mentions that being able to see how a tooth will degrade based on current wear patterns would be a major step forward.
For dentists considering AI, Dr Rai’s experience proves its value. ‘AI isn’t just useful, it’s becoming necessary. It improves patient care, makes practices more efficient and helps us deliver better treatment.’
As AI becomes common in dentistry, practices using it will have an advantage. Hello Pearl AI is making patient care faster, smarter and more effective. Dr Rai believes that in the next five years, AI-assisted diagnostics will be the norm.
‘It won’t be a question of whether to use AI, but how to use it best,’ he predicts.
He concludes: ‘AI isn’t here to replace dentists. It’s a tool to improve accuracy, simplify workflows and enhance patient care. With tools like Hello Pearl AI, practices can provide faster, more accurate diagnoses, improving both patient experience and business efficiency. Dentistry has changed a lot over the years. AI is the next step. Getting on board now keeps you ahead. For dentists looking to improve accuracy and efficiency, AI is becoming an essential part of practice.’
For more information visit: hellopearl.com/getdemo.
This article is sponsored by Hello Pearl.
