The AI Answer Census: Full-Arch Dental Implants

Why measure what AI says about dentists?

More people now ask an AI assistant before they call. In BrightLocal's 2026 survey of 1,002 U.S. adults, 45% had used ChatGPT or another AI tool for local business recommendations, up from 6% the year before. The survey covers all local businesses, not only dentists. (BrightLocal, Local Consumer Review Survey 2026)

And the AI answers don't match the map. In BrightLocal's study of 200,875 local searches, Google Maps named a tracked business 66% of the time, while AI Overviews, ChatGPT and AI Mode named one 32% to 38% of the time. (BrightLocal, Local AI Visibility Study, 2026) We haven't found that gap measured for full-arch implant care. The census measures it.

What is the AI Answer Census?

A census of every full-arch implant provider in each metro, matched against what AI assistants say when asked who to see for full-arch implants (All-on-4 or All-on-X), permanent dentures, or teeth that are failing. It records which practices get named, how often, and which sources the answers draw on.

Which metros and AI assistants does it cover?

• Seven metros: Denver, Colorado Springs, Salt Lake City, Boise, Albuquerque, El Paso and Billings, each as a metro area (Denver includes Aurora, Lakewood and the cities around them). The Denver metro comes first; the others follow as each is verified.
• Five AI surfaces: ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews and Google AI Mode.
• One baseline: Google Maps, so the report can show who ranks on the map but goes missing from AI answers.

What questions does it ask?

Three sets of questions, asked word for word in every metro with only the city changed:

• Procedure questions, using both names patients and dentists use. For example: "who does All-on-X in Denver," "how much do All-on-4 implants cost in Boise" and "teeth in a day Salt Lake City."
• Problem questions, in patients' own words. For example: "my dentures don't fit anymore, what are my options" and "my teeth are rotting, what can I do."
• Specialist questions. For example: "which periodontist in Albuquerque does full arch cases."

The full question list is published with the report.

How is it measured?

• Asked more than once. AI answers change from one try to the next, so every question runs several times on every engine. The report gives how often each practice is named (for example, 4 of 5 runs), not just whether it showed up once.
• From a fixed point. Where an engine lets us set a location, each search runs from the same point in each metro, and that point is recorded.
• Where the answers come from. Each source an answer cites is sorted by type: the practice's own website, its Google Business Profile, directories, review sites and others.
• What it can't see. These are automated searches, not a patient's own app with its history and settings, so one person's answer can differ. The report says so, along with every engine, run date and limitation.

How we work

• Practices can't pay to change their results.
• No individual practice is shown negatively. Findings are reported by metro, and chains are reported with neutral counts only.
• The questions and method are published with the report, so anyone can rerun them.
• Every figure links to its source.

Who is it for?

Patients comparing full-arch options, dentists who refer them, dental marketing firms, and the companies that serve full-arch practices: implant and biologics makers, labs, lenders and educators. Each edition includes a downloadable dataset.

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