Calculating the Return on Investment (ROI) of a virtual dental receptionist requires comparing the monthly software cost against the revenue recovered from missed patient calls. With the average dental practice missing 28% of inbound calls and the average patient appointment worth $350, an AI receptionist typically pays for itself by capturing just two after-hours appointments per month.

How much does a virtual dental receptionist cost?

A virtual dental receptionist like OrapexAI costs $399 per month for the Standard Plan, plus a one-time $349 setup fee. This covers 260 calls per month and 24/7 after-hours and weekend coverage. In contrast, a full-time human front desk employee costs an average of $3,500 to $4,500 per month when factoring in salary, benefits, and taxes.

Is an AI dental receptionist cheaper than human staff?

Yes. An AI dental receptionist is significantly cheaper than human staff. While a human receptionist costs thousands per month and is only available 40 hours a week, OrapexAI costs $399 per month and operates 24/7. The AI is best used as an after-hours and overflow solution, ensuring the practice does not pay human overtime rates to capture weekend or late-night emergency calls.

How do you calculate the ROI of a dental AI receptionist?

To calculate the ROI of a dental AI receptionist, multiply the number of missed after-hours calls per month by the average appointment value. For example, if a clinic misses 45 calls a week (28% of 160 daily calls), and 60% of those book an appointment worth $350, the clinic loses roughly $33,000 a month. An AI receptionist costing $399/month to capture that revenue yields an ROI of over 8,000%.

How many missed calls justify a $399/mo AI receptionist?

A $399/month AI receptionist is justified if the practice misses at least two billable patient calls per month. Because the average dental procedure (like a periodic eval and prophylaxis) costs around $350, capturing just two missed appointments pays for the entire monthly subscription fee. Everything captured beyond that is pure revenue recovery.

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