Dentally is the most widely used cloud-based practice management system in UK private dental practices. Any AI receptionist that can't integrate natively with Dentally is a non-starter for most practices. This guide explains exactly how the integration works.
What Dentally AI integration actually means
There are two types of integration, and the difference matters enormously for your workflow.
Batch sync is where appointments are collected and pushed to Dentally in batches — every 15 minutes, every hour, or once overnight. This is useless for an AI receptionist. By the time the appointment appears in Dentally, you may have already double-booked the slot manually, and the patient may have received an SMS confirmation for a slot that no longer exists.
Real-time API integration is where VocoClinic reads live availability from Dentally's API before offering a slot — and writes the confirmed appointment back to Dentally within seconds of the patient confirming. The appointment appears in your diary before the call ends.
What syncs in real time with VocoClinic + Dentally
| Data type | Syncs in real time |
|---|---|
| Appointment booking | ✓ Yes — appears in diary in seconds |
| Appointment cancellation | ✓ Yes — slot freed immediately |
| New patient record creation | ✓ Yes — auto-created on first booking |
| Provider availability | ✓ Yes — AI reads live diary before offering slots |
| Treatment type / column | ✓ Yes — configured per practice during setup |
| SMS confirmation sent | ✓ Yes — triggered automatically on booking |
Setting up Dentally + VocoClinic in under 2 hours
No IT department required. The setup process is handled end-to-end by VocoClinic's onboarding team.
Share your Dentally API credentials
3 minutesYou generate an API key from your Dentally account settings and share it with VocoClinic via a secure portal. No external IT access required.
VocoClinic configures your appointment rules
90 minutesWe set up your appointment types, provider columns, booking durations, and any custom routing rules (e.g., new patients only to Provider A).
Live test booking
15 minutesWe make a test booking through the AI with you watching in Dentally. You confirm it appears correctly in the right column with the right provider.
Number forward and go live
5 minutesYou forward your practice number to VocoClinic (via your phone provider's settings — takes 2 minutes). The AI answers your next call.
Built for how Dentally actually works
- Reads your live provider column availability — AI never double-books
- Creates new patient records automatically on first booking
- Handles NHS and private appointment types separately
- Supports multiple providers at same or different locations
- Cancellations immediately re-open slots in Dentally
- Works with Dentally's recurring appointment rules
Common questions about Dentally integration
Will AI bookings look different from manual bookings in Dentally?
No. Appointments created by VocoClinic appear in Dentally identically to manually created appointments. The only difference is an optional source tag visible in the appointment notes, which helps you track AI-recovered appointments.
Can patients book with specific providers in Dentally?
Yes. VocoClinic reads your live Dentally provider columns and can route bookings to specific dentists or hygienists based on caller preference or appointment type. This is configured during setup.
What happens if a patient books a time that's blocked in Dentally?
VocoClinic reads live availability before offering any slots. It cannot offer a blocked time. If all suitable slots are unavailable, it takes a callback request noting the caller's preference, and flags it in your dashboard.
Can VocoClinic handle NHS recall bookings in Dentally?
Yes, with configuration. NHS recall appointment types are set up separately during onboarding and mapped to the correct columns. VocoClinic can offer recall slots and route them appropriately through the NHS module.
See VocoClinic + Dentally in action
Book a 15-minute demo. We'll show you a live booking appear in Dentally in real time.
Book a Dentally Demo