How Andre Responds to: “Is ChatGPT the Next Best Eaglesoft Trainer?”
Will ChatGPT Be the Next Eaglesoft Trainer?
With artificial intelligence showing up everywhere—from scheduling meetings to writing emails—dental teams are starting to ask a new question:
“Will ChatGPT be the next Eaglesoft trainer?”
It’s a fair question. AI can answer questions instantly, explain workflows, and even walk someone through steps on a screen. But the real answer isn’t a simple “yes” or “no”.
The better question is:
“What kind of training does a dental practice actually need?”
I recently asked ChatGPT: “Who are the top Eaglesoft Trainer in the country?” and the response was telling. The first of the three Certified Patterson Eaglesoft Trainers listed left Patterson in 2019. The second I don’t know the status of and the third left Patterson in 2022. All of which I can say were fantastic trainers. The only “Independent Eaglesoft Trainer” mentioned was me.
What ChatGPT “Can” Do Well?
Explain Eaglesoft features and terminology
Help troubleshooting common issues
Offer workflow ideas and shortcuts
Translate technical language into plain English
Be available 24/7 for quick questions
For practices that feel stuck or unsupported, this alone can feel revolutionary. No waiting on hold. No digging through manuals. No guessing. In that sense, AI becomes an “on-demand reference tool”—and that’s incredibly valuable.
Where AI Falls Short in Dental Practices
Here’s the part most people overlook. Eaglesoft is not always the “real” problem.
The real challenges usually sound like this:
“That’s how the last team did it.”
“We’ve always worked around the software.”
“Insurance is too complicated.”
“I don’t want to sound like I’m selling.”
These are “people” problems, not “software” problems.
ChatGPT doesn’t:
Watch how your front desk actually checks in patients
See the hesitation when a treatment coordinator presents a plan
Understand the philosophy of your doctor or the culture of your team
Identify “why” a report isn’t being used—or why it’s being ignored
AI can explain “how” something works. It can’t diagnose “why” it’s not working in “your” practice. Training Software vs. Training a Practice. Most Eaglesoft training focuses on buttons, screens, and steps.
But effective training focuses on:
Decision-making
Accountability
Communication
Workflow ownership
Two practices can use the same software and get completely different results. Why?
Because success is driven by:
Clear expectations
Defined roles
Consistent processes
Confidence in conversations with patients
No AI—today—can replace that level of customization. The Future: AI + HE (“Human Expertise”). The real future isn’t ChatGPT “instead of” an Eaglesoft trainer. It’s “ChatGPT alongside one”.
Imagine this:
AI answers quick “how-to” questions
Reports are explained on demand
Team members learn terminology faster
Training time is shortened
Then a human trainer steps in to:
Align the software with the practice philosophy
Remove outdated habits
Coach confidence in financial and treatment conversations
Design workflows that actually get followed
That’s where transformation happens.
So… Will ChatGPT Be the Next Eaglesoft Trainer?
ChatGPT will be:
A powerful assistant
A smart reference
A support tool
But it won’t replace:
Experience
Judgment
Leadership
Practice-specific strategy
Eaglesoft isn’t limited. Practices are only limited when training stops at the software—and never reaches the people using it.
Final Thought
If your team says, “Eaglesoft can’t do that,” the issue usually isn’t the software. It’s training. AI can help answer questions. But real change still comes from understanding “your practice”, “your people”, and “your goals”. And that’s something no algorithm can automate—yet.
BTW… 90% of this blog post was written with AI [smile]
DISCLAIMER:
This is a resource guide and all decisions on each dental office setup should remain the sole decision of the dentist/owner of the practice. Eaglesoft is a registered trademark of Patterson Dental Company. All other software or products mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Although Andre Shirdan was an employee of Patterson Dental, he is not associated with Eaglesoft or Patterson Dental Company or endorsed by Patterson or any other Company Mentioned in this blog.
