Estela Castro

Dental assistant 4.0 - practical AI for better communication, task organization, and an improved patient experience | Estela Castro

Additional Training Professional Registrations:
- Online Trainer Registration by DGERT
- Trainer Registration under the Legal Framework for Continuing Teacher Training
- Scientific-Pedagogical Council for Continuing Training, University of Minho
Awards and Distinctions
- 2024 - Good Practices in Health Award Directorate-General of Health, Portugal
- 2019 - Oral Hygienist of the Year Portuguese Association of Oral Hygienists Relevant Professional Activities
- 1995–2025 -Oral Hygienist, ULS Alt
Teaching Activities Coordination
- 2011–2013 — Programme Coordinator Coordinator of the Bachelor’s Degree in Oral Hygiene
- Teaching Experience 2004–2013 Community Health — 180 hours per year School Health — 60 hours per year Communication and Teach

Nationality: Portugal

Scientific areas: Dental Assistant Course

Auditorium B

Conference summary

Artificial Intelligence is progressively transforming the organisation of dental clinics, supporting teams in communication, planning and the management of everyday tasks. In this context, the Dental Assistant plays an essential role, often acting as the first point of contact with the patient, supporting the clinical routine and actively contributing to a more organised, safe and humanised patient experience. This conference aims to present, in a practical and accessible way, how AI can be used as a support tool for the Dental Assistant, without replacing clinical judgement, interfering with reserved professional competencies or compromising ethics and data confidentiality. The session will explore concrete applications of AI in patient communication, the creation of confirmation and reminder messages, the adaptation of technical language into plain language, the organisation of checklists, support in stock management, control of consumables, preparation of internal protocols and improvement of appointment scheduling. The session will also address the essential limits of using AI in a clinical context, namely what can be delegated, what should always be reviewed by a professional, and what type of information should never be entered into external digital tools, such as identifiable data or sensitive clinical information about patients. More than teaching technology, this approach aims to empower Dental Assistants to use artificial intelligence in an ethical, safe and useful way, reducing repetitive tasks, improving communication clarity and contributing to a more efficient, human and professional dental clinic.

Module 1 - AI without fear
Module 2 - The new role of the dental assistant in the digital age
Module 3 - Learning to ask AI the right way: how to make simple and effective requests to obtain messages, lists, checklists, and useful documents
Module 4 - Communicating with patients: creating messages for confirmations, reminders, no-shows, rescheduling, and post-appointment instructions
Module 5 - A more organized practice
Module 6 - Inventory without chaos
Module 7 - AI safety: what should never be shared and the limits of AI in healthcare
Module 8 - Hands-on workshop: getting my practice in order