Your bilingual assistant is in the operatory
The person who speaks Spanish is suctioning during a crown prep. Reminder calls pile up until lunch, and by then half the patients have stopped answering.
For dental front desks & office managers
Confirm tomorrow's patients. In Spanish, too.
Most dental Spanish courses teach chairside phrases. The front desk has a different job: reminder calls, reschedules, and explaining why the insurance estimate changed. intelecho places a real call to your patient and translates both directions live, so the scheduling and billing side of the practice can talk to every patient.
- 46 languages
- No app for either side
- Free 5-minute demo calls
48.0%
of Hispanic adults 65 and older had a dental visit in the past year, vs. 68.1% of White adults
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, NCHS Data Brief No. 500 (NHIS 2022)13.6M
US adults ages 18 to 64 who speak Spanish and speak English less than “very well”
Source: Migration Policy Institute, 2024 American Community Survey data29.8%
of US dental assistants are Hispanic or Latino, and they're usually chairside, not on the phone
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averagesThe challenge
Where the conversation gets stuck
No-shows you could have prevented
An automated English reminder goes out. The patient doesn't understand it, doesn't confirm, and doesn't come. That's an empty hygiene slot you could have filled from the waitlist.
Billing calls that end in confusion
Explaining a deductible, a downgraded benefit, or a balance after insurance is hard enough in one language. Patients hang up unsure what they owe and why.
Calls you can make today
Real situations, handled by phone
Appointment reminders
Call the day before to confirm a cleaning, remind the patient to bring a new insurance card, and ask them to arrive 10 minutes early for updated forms.
Rescheduling after a cancellation
The doctor is out Friday. Call each affected patient, offer two open times next week, and book the one that works while you have them on the line.
Insurance and balance questions
A patient calls about a bill. Call back to explain what the plan paid, what's left, and the payment options your office offers.
Post-visit check-ins
The day after an extraction, call to see how the patient is feeling and remind them of the follow-up visit. If they describe pain or bleeding that worries you, get the dentist on the line and use a qualified interpreter.
What it sounds like
A sample call, English ⇄ Spanish
Each person speaks naturally in their own language. intelecho translates every turn so each side hears the other in a clear AI voice.
Languages that come up most
- Spanish
- Mandarin Chinese
- Cantonese
- Vietnamese
- Filipino (Tagalog)
- Korean
- Arabic
- Haitian Creole
These follow the largest groups of US residents who speak English less than very well in the 2024 American Community Survey (via Migration Policy Institute): Spanish (18.4 million) far ahead, then Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean, Arabic and Haitian Creole.
Translating both waysEnglish ⇄ Spanish
Front desk · EnglishHi Mr. Ramírez, this is Kelly from Brightside Dental. I'm calling to confirm your cleaning tomorrow at 9:30.Patient hears: Hola, señor Ramírez, le habla Kelly de Brightside Dental. Le llamo para confirmar su limpieza de mañana a las 9:30.
Patient · EspañolSí, ahí estaré. ¿Tengo que llevar mi tarjeta del seguro nueva?You hear: Yes, I'll be there. Do I need to bring my new insurance card?
Front desk · EnglishYes, please bring it. Your plan changed, so we'll make a copy when you check in.Patient hears: Sí, por favor tráigala. Su plan cambió, así que haremos una copia cuando se registre.
Patient · EspañolMuy bien. Gracias por avisarme.You hear: Great. Thank you for letting me know.
How it works
Three steps from this page to a translated call
- 01
Pull up the patient's number
From the schedule, enter your office line or cell and the patient's phone. Choose English for you and the patient's preferred language for them. Add the practice name so they know who's calling.
- 02
You pick up, then the patient
intelecho calls you first, then rings the patient. They hear a short intro in their language explaining it's a translated call from your office.
- 03
Handle one item at a time
Confirm the date, then the time, then what to bring. Short sentences give the translation room to work and give the patient room to ask.
Get it right
Tips for smoother calls
- Make reminder calls in a batch from a quiet room, not at the check-in window with the phones ringing.
- Say dates as day and number, like "Thursday the 14th," and repeat the time at the end of the call.
- Spell out dollar amounts plainly. "Your part is 85 dollars" works better than "your patient portion after the write-off."
- Note the patient's preferred language in the chart so the next call starts in the right language.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can we use intelecho for informed consent or treatment plans?
No. Consent, diagnoses, treatment options, and medication instructions need a qualified medical interpreter. Section 1557 of the ACA requires practices that take federal funds, such as Medicaid, to provide one. intelecho is meant for front-desk logistics.
Is intelecho HIPAA compliant?
intelecho is not HIPAA-certified. It doesn't record call audio or store transcripts, but phone numbers go to Twilio and audio goes to OpenAI for translation. Stick to scheduling and general billing, and avoid discussing protected health details on the call.
Does the patient need a smartphone?
No. intelecho calls any US or Canadian phone number, including a landline. The patient answers like a normal call and speaks in their own language.
How long can a call last?
Free demo calls end after 5 minutes, which covers most reminders and reschedules. If your practice needs longer calls, contact us.
Will it understand dental and insurance terms?
Common words like cleaning, filling, crown, deductible, and copay usually come through well. AI can make mistakes, so keep sentences short and confirm key details like dates and amounts before you hang up.
Make your first translated call
Enter your number and theirs, pick both languages, and pick up when we ring you. It takes about a minute to set up.
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