From Chaos to Automation: Scott Leune on the Future of Dentistry with AI and Curve

In Episode 20 of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune addresses the mounting pressures facing dental practices today—team shortages, administrative overwhelm, and shrinking margins. At the center of the discussion is a major shift happening in the industry: the rise of AI applications in dentistry and their integration into cloud based dental software. To explore this, Scott sits down with Jana Macon, President of Curve Dental, a company at the forefront of dental office automation.

About the Podcast and This Episode
The Dental CEO Podcast serves practice owners who want to lead better, grow faster, and build practices that thrive in a digital age. In this episode, Scott and Jana dive deep into how dental practice management software is evolving—and what it means for every aspect of running a modern practice.

About the Host and Guest

• Scott Leune, DDS is a serial dental entrepreneur who approaches each episode through the lens of practical leadership and forward-looking growth. His goal is to equip listeners with tools and strategies that can be applied immediately in real-world practice operations. Learn more about Scott’s webinars.
• Jana Macon is the President of Curve Dental. With over two decades of SaaS leadership experience, she brings strategic clarity and executional focus to Curve’s mission: to simplify and modernize dental software using the cloud and AI. Her leadership emphasizes innovation grounded in user feedback and data-driven design.

Key Highlights

1. AI Is About to Reshape the Entire Front Office

Scott believes AI is the missing link in solving the daily grind of dental offices. From phones to payments, automation is no longer optional—it’s inevitable.

• AI in dentistry will take over key admin tasks:
  • Answering phones;
  • Scheduling appointments;
  • Insurance verification;
  • Resubmitting denied claims;
  • Generating and tracking payments;
  • Even documenting clinical notes with ambient listening;
• Scott points out that many practices are already stretched thin. With AI doing the “muck work,” team members can focus on delivering a better patient experience.
• He emphasizes that adopting these tools now gives practices a competitive edge, even if the tools are still improving. “The winners,” he says, “are the early adopters who help AI learn.”

2. The Claims Process Will Become Fully Automated

Dr. Leune emphasizes that claims management—long a painful process—will be transformed by AI-enabled systems like Curve.

• AI will pre-check for missing data before claim submission;
• It will auto-attach the correct X-rays and narratives;
• It will reduce denials by catching human errors early;
• It will manage claim follow-ups and re-submissions automatically;

Scott sees this as a major relief for billing coordinators and believes it could completely eliminate thousands of dollars in missed revenue per month.

3. Patient Experience Is Now a Digital Experience

Scott stresses that a poor digital workflow isn’t just inefficient—it’s a growth killer.

• Jana shared that over 70% of patients will switch providers if the digital experience isn’t smooth
• Patients expect:
  • Online scheduling;
  • Digital treatment plans;
  • Text-based payment links;
  • No phone calls or paperwork;

Scott compares this to restaurants—“If I can’t book online, I don’t go.” He warns that dentists must modernize or risk losing patients who now expect low-friction access to care.

4. Outdated Software Is Fueling the Staffing Crisis

Scott thinks legacy systems are pushing younger hires out of dentistry before they even start.

• New employees are expected to learn outdated, clunky tools;
• Training takes weeks for tasks that should take minutes;
• Many leave frustrated, not because they can’t do the job, but because the tools are too broken;

He believes that modern dental scheduling software and intuitive platforms can cut onboarding time and reduce turnover—critical in today’s hiring climate.

5. AI Will Enable a Fully Automated Workflow—from First Call to Final Payment

Scott envisions a near-future “dream sequence” for dental operations:

• A patient books online or speaks with an AI agent;
• Insurance is verified automatically;
• The patient arrives and X-rays are analyzed by AI;
• Financial presentation is assisted by AI;
• Claims are generated, processed, and paid—entirely through automation;

He sees this not as a dream, but as an active roadmap, with Curve already testing most of these features today.

6. Curve’s Data-Driven AI Strategy Will Lead the Industry

Dr. Leune believes Curve has a unique advantage: 15 years of practice data in the cloud.

• AI models are only as good as the data they’re trained on;
• Curve’s innovation team is testing real-world use cases across all aspects of practice operations;
• Features like AI-generated clinical summaries, smart scheduling suggestions, and call analysis are already in development;

Scott notes that many software companies slap “AI” on their marketing without real substance. In contrast, Curve is building deeply integrated tools that will truly change how practices run.

7. AI Changes the Business Model of Dentistry

Scott emphasizes that this isn’t just about tools—it’s about the future structure of the practice.

• AI-enabled Curve changes how practices scale, how DSOs operate, and how solo owners compete;
• Practices may need fewer admin staff;
• Owners can make faster, smarter decisions based on better data;
• Multi-location growth becomes simpler and more affordable;

For Scott, this changes everything—from hiring and training to staffing models and financial planning.

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Final Words

Scott leaves this episode energized by what he calls “the most comprehensive discussion of real AI in dentistry” he’s ever had. For him, the key takeaway is clear:
The future belongs to practices that modernize their systems and workflows with AI and cloud-based tools.

Practices stuck in outdated systems will struggle to compete. Those that embrace dental office automation and invest in smart, cloud-native platforms like Curve will lead the next generation of dentistry.