Virtual Dentist (Wirtualny Dentysta): Emergency Guide

It's 10:30 PM, your tooth hurts, and the nearest clinic doesn't open for another 11 hours. Before you head to the ER or take another painkiller — you can check what's visible on photos in a few minutes. A virtual dentist — an AI scan plus an online dentist review — helps you quickly triage whether the problem can wait until morning or needs an urgent visit.

⚠️ Note: A virtual dentist and online consultation do not replace an in-clinic visit or emergency care. It's a triage tool — it helps you decide and prepare.

What is a "virtual dentist"?

"Virtual dentist" is an umbrella term for three related services that are easy to confuse:

AI scan — you send 5 phone photos of your teeth; an algorithm highlights visible signals in about a minute (discoloration, cavities, gum redness). Preliminary assessment, not a diagnosis.
Online dentist review — a dentist looks at the same photos and describes what they see plus suggested next steps. Paid, typically within 24h.
Video consultation — a video call with a dentist, useful for discussing symptoms, planning treatment, or getting a second opinion.

At preDenti, the AI scan is free, a dentist review is 99 PLN, and video consultations are a separate service — see the online scan.

When a virtual dentist is enough

Online consultation works well when the problem is visible on a photo and there are no red flags:

You noticed a dark spot or discoloration and aren't sure if it's a cavity
Your gums have been bleeding when brushing for a few days
An old filling fell out but nothing hurts
You want a second opinion before a costly procedure (implant, crown, orthodontics)
You're afraid of the dentist and need a first step without entering a clinic
You're travelling and want to know whether to wait until you're home

In these cases an AI scan gives you preliminary information in about a minute, and an optional dentist opinion arrives within 24 hours, instead of waiting weeks for a visit.

🔴 When NOT to rely on online consultation — go to a clinic or ER

Phone photos won't show everything. Get urgent in-person care if any of these apply:

Facial or neck swelling — may indicate an abscess and risk of spreading infection
Difficulty breathing or swallowing — ER, immediately
Fever above 38°C / 100.4°F with a toothache
Trauma — a knocked out, broken, or displaced tooth (every hour counts, especially for an avulsed permanent tooth)
Heavy, throbbing bleeding that doesn't stop with 10–15 minutes of pressure
Pain not responding to painkillers and getting worse

A virtual dentist helps triage — it does not replace an in-clinic exam, X-rays, or a procedure.

Online vs clinic — quick comparison

Situation	Virtual dentist	In-clinic visit
Evening uncertainty ("is this a cavity?")	✅ AI scan in 10 min	⏳ Weeks of waiting
Follow-up after treatment	✅ Photos + opinion	✅ Yes, but pricier
Second opinion before expensive procedure	✅ 99 PLN, 24h	✅ per clinic's price list, days
Pain + facial swelling	❌ No — urgent clinic	✅ Urgent
Knocked out / broken tooth	❌ No — ER / on-call dentist	✅ Urgent
Root canal, filling, extraction	❌ Cannot be done remotely	✅ Required

How a preDenti scan works, step by step

Go to preDenti.com/en/scan — no registration required
Take 5 photos of your teeth per the on-screen guide (front, sides, top, bottom)
AI prepares a preliminary report in about a minute — visible signals, categories, suggested next steps
Optionally order a dentist review for 99 PLN — a dentist reviews the same photos and describes what they see within 24h
Take the report to your clinic visit — the dentist already has a starting point

FAQ about the virtual dentist

Will an AI scan replace a dentist visit? No. It's preliminary information that helps you decide and prepare. Actual treatment always needs a clinic.

Will a preDenti report help at the clinic? Yes — dentists confirm that the photos and preliminary description shorten the intake and speed up planning.

What if AI misses something? AI scans have limitations (angle, lighting, hidden areas). That's why any red flag or worrying symptom means in-clinic care — even if the report "showed nothing".

Is it safe for my data? Photos are encrypted, the report lives in your account, and medical data is processed per GDPR.

Start with 5 photos — before you decide

If you have a worrying symptom tonight, start with a free scan — start online scan. If any of the red flags above apply, call emergency services or go to the ER / on-call dentist without waiting for a report.

preDenti is a preliminary dental assessment, not a medical diagnosis. In emergencies always use urgent care.