At Tewkesbury Dental, we are always looking for ways to improve the care and experience we offer our patients. As part of that ongoing commitment, we have introduced a new tool called Chairsyde into some of our appointments – and we would like to tell you a little about what it is and how it benefits you.

What is Chairsyde?

Chairsyde is a clinical assistant that transcribes the conversation between you and your clinician in real time, turning it into accurate written notes. In practice, this means your clinician no longer has to stop and type up notes during your appointment. Instead, they can give you their full attention while you talk through your care.

Every note Chairsyde produces is reviewed and approved by your clinician before it is added to your dental records. It never makes clinical decisions or treatment recommendations – those always remain entirely in the hands of your clinician.

Chairsyde also doubles as a visual aid. It can show short animations of any treatment your clinician recommends, helping to explain what a procedure involves, along with the key risks and costs, so you can make confident, well-informed decisions about your care.

Why we have introduced it

We think the benefits speak for themselves:

• Your appointment, your clinician’s full focus. With note-taking handled in the background, your clinician can concentrate entirely on you.
• A clearer understanding of your treatment. Animations make it easier to picture what is being recommended and why.
• More accurate records. Detailed, consistent notes support the best possible ongoing care.
• A smoother experience. Less time on admin means more time doing what matters – looking after your smile.

Your privacy comes first

We understand that the idea of a conversation being transcribed may raise questions, and your privacy and comfort are always our priority.

Chairsyde only captures what is discussed during your appointment. The recording device stays switched off by default and is only activated by your clinician when notes are needed. The short voice recording is used purely to create the written transcript and is then automatically deleted once your clinician has checked it – no audio is kept, and the system cannot identify anyone from their voice.

Before we use Chairsyde with you for the first time, your clinician will explain how it works and ask for your permission. If you would rather we did not use it, that is absolutely fine – simply let your clinician know, and we will note your preference so it is not used at any of your appointments. You are free to change your mind at any time.

You can read the full details in our Chairsyde Privacy Notice.

Any questions?

If you would like to know more about Chairsyde or how we handle your information, please do not hesitate to speak to a member of our team at your next visit or get in touch with the practice. We are always happy to help.