TalkedAboutAll articlesWhen we scanned five dental practices on Manhattan's Upper West Side, we expected to find some gaps in AI visibility. What we discovered was far more alarming: 80% of these practices are effectively invisible to AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity—the very tools their potential patients are increasingly using to find healthcare providers.
The average AI visibility score across these practices was just 4 out of 100. To put that in perspective, that's like having a storefront with no sign, no windows, and a door that's painted to look like a wall.
Here's what's happening right now: A family just moved to the Upper West Side. Instead of Googling "dentist near me," they're opening ChatGPT and asking, "What's a good family dentist on the Upper West Side with evening appointments?"
If you're one of the 80% of practices with an AI visibility score under 25, your practice simply won't be mentioned. Not because you're not excellent at what you do, but because AI systems have no meaningful data about your practice to share.
This isn't a future problem—it's happening today. According to recent data, over 200 million people use ChatGPT alone, and a significant portion are using it for local business recommendations, including healthcare providers.
At TalkedAbout, we measure how often and how accurately AI systems recommend businesses when users ask relevant questions. Our scans revealed several critical issues facing Upper West Side dental practices:
Lack of Rich, Accessible Content: AI systems learn about businesses from publicly available information—websites, reviews, articles, and directories. Most dental practice websites contain basic information (services, hours, contact details) but lack the depth AI needs to understand what makes them unique. Are you great with anxious patients? Do you specialize in cosmetic procedures? Have a state-of-the-art facility? If this isn't clearly articulated online, AI doesn't know it.
Minimal Online Presence Beyond Basics: While none of the scanned practices were blocking AI crawlers (good news!), having an accessible website isn't enough. AI systems give weight to practices that appear in multiple credible sources, have detailed reviews, and maintain active online profiles.
No AI-Optimized Information Architecture: Traditional SEO focused on keywords and backlinks. AI visibility requires structured, comprehensive information that answers the questions real patients ask. "Do you take my insurance?" "Are you good with kids?" "Do you offer sedation dentistry?" If these answers aren't clearly available, AI can't recommend you with confidence.
The good news? This is a solvable problem, and being an early mover gives you a significant competitive advantage. Here's where to start:
Audit Your Current Visibility: Before you can improve, you need to know where you stand. Tools like TalkedAbout can scan your practice and show you exactly how visible you are to AI systems and where the gaps exist.
Enrich Your Online Content: Add detailed service descriptions, provider bios that showcase personality and expertise, patient success stories, and answers to frequently asked questions. Think about the conversations you have with new patients and make sure that information lives on your website.
Build Your Digital Footprint: Encourage patient reviews, get listed in healthcare directories, and ensure your practice information is consistent everywhere it appears online. Each credible mention strengthens your AI visibility.
Monitor and Adapt: AI systems evolve rapidly. What works today might need adjustment tomorrow. Regular monitoring ensures you maintain and improve your visibility as the landscape changes.
Q: Will AI really replace Google for finding dentists?
A: AI won't replace Google entirely, but it's already becoming a significant search channel. The key difference: Google shows you options to evaluate; AI makes recommendations. Being invisible to AI means losing patients who trust these recommendations.
Q: How long does it take to improve AI visibility?
A: You can see initial improvements within weeks of implementing changes, but building strong AI visibility is an ongoing process. The practices that start now will have a substantial advantage over those who wait.
Q: Do I need to block AI crawlers to protect my content?
A: No—and you shouldn't. None of the scanned practices blocked AI crawlers, which is the right approach. AI visibility helps patients find you; blocking crawlers ensures they won't.
Want to know how visible your practice is to AI? Get your free AI visibility scan at https://talkedabout.ai and discover exactly where you stand—and what you can do about it.