The TechDental Podcast AI, Data & The Future of Scalable Dentistry
Title:
AI, Data & The Future of Scalable Dentistry with Ross Drynan (Henry Schein One)
Episode Summary
In this episode, Ross Drynan, Head of Partnerships at Henry Schein One, joins us to break down the real mechanics of digital transformation in dentistry. After 11 years inside one of the industry’s most influential software organisations, Ross has seen thousands of practices scale, stall, and reinvent themselves. This conversation cuts through the noise and focuses on what actually drives performance: data quality, leadership, team engagement, and the right partnerships.
We explore how AI is shifting from hype to measurable operational value, why data hygiene is now a strategic advantage, how cloud PMS ecosystems unlock innovation, and why people and behaviour change remain the hardest part of transformation. This is a practical, grounded and insight rich discussion for forward thinking dental leaders.
What You Will Learn
Modern dental business transformation:
- Why consistency beats intensity in growth
- The role of culture, team engagement and behavioural standards
- The two core KPIs that underpin every high performing practice
- How poor data hygiene blocks innovation and multiplies operational chaos
AI, automation and the future of workflows:
- Where AI provides real value today inside dental practices
- Why AI cannot fix bad data and why data consistency is now essential
- How to use AI for admin reduction so humans can focus on patients
- The progression from LLMs to full ecosystem automation
Cloud PMS and the new innovation ecosystem:
- Why cloud unlocks integrations that legacy on premise systems cannot
- How to migrate responsibly without disrupting patient trust
- How DSOs can modernise at scale without “open heart surgery”
- The difference between specialised partners and PMS bloat
Leadership and high performing teams:
- Why digital projects fail when humans are not prepared
- How to build a vision and strategy with your team
- The importance of communication, training and shared purpose
- How to eliminate friction by aligning people, workflows and mission
Key Quotes
- “Technology is just a tool. What matters is leadership, vision and an engaged team.”
- “AI will touch everything in dentistry. Not next year, but definitely in the next 5 to 10.”
- “Without clean data, AI does nothing but multiply the chaos.”
- “You cannot be the best at everything. Partnerships are the growth engine for the next decade.”
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
02:00 Ross on 11 years inside Henry Schein One
03:20 What really drives practice performance
05:40 Leadership, culture and behavioural standards
06:50 No fluff business transformation
09:40 Data hygiene and AI readiness
10:20 Where AI provides value today
12:30 The future of AI in dentistry
15:20 Data consistency, cloud migration and modernisation
20:10 Digital transformation for larger groups and DSOs
25:00 Why software projects fail
29:30 The 47 percent revenue uplift from integrated systems
32:00 Partnerships, APIs and the new ecosystem
35:00 Quick fire round
39:00 Where to connect with Ross
About the Guest
Ross Drynan
Head of Partnerships, Henry Schein One
Ross has spent more than a decade helping practices modernise through technology, data standardisation and behaviour change. He works across cloud PMS, APIs, integrations and strategic partnerships that enable dental practices to innovate at scale. Connect with Ross on LinkedIn or through the Dentally Community.
Links and Resources
- Dentally Community: https://community.dentally.com/
- Henry Schein One UK: https://www.linkedin.com/company/henry-schein-one-uk
- Connect with Ross on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-drynan/
- TechDental Podcast: www.techdental.com
- Contact: info@techdental.com
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