Viva AI vs Arini vs Dentina: What’s the Best AI Assistant for Your Dental Office?
If you’re a dental office owner searching for the best AI receptionist solution, comparing Viva AI, Arini, and Dentina is essential. While they all promise to automate front-desk communication, the reality is that only one of them—Viva AI—goes beyond answering calls to actually running your front office.
In this post, we’ll compare all three platforms based on real capabilities—not marketing fluff—so you can choose the best AI assistant for your practice.
What Is Viva AI?
Viva AI is a powerful, all-in-one platform designed to automate dental front-office operations. Unlike simple AI receptionists like Arini and Dentina, Viva AI is not limited to answering calls—it acts as your receptionist, your office manager, and even your communications and payments system.
With Viva AI, dental practices can:
- Automate scheduling, payments, reminders, and forms
- Communicate with patients over calls, texts, emails, and web chats
- Integrate with their existing PMS
- Replace their phone system—or keep it, depending on the plan
- Empower staff with an AI assistant that provides insights and performs actions
🚀 All-in-One Communication: Beyond Just Answering Calls
Viva AI Does:
- Answers calls, texts, emails, and web chats 24/7
- Enables staff to send 1:1 text and email messages
- Sends attachments, payment requests, and forms to patients
- Handles live call transfers via extensions
- Provides language-based routing (transfer to extension “0”)
- Can hold real conversations – Unlike Arini and Dentina, which only collect basic info, Viva AI can fully converse with patients like a real receptionist.
Arini and Dentina Don’t:
- Only handle voice calls
- No support for texts, emails, or web chats
- Cannot transfer calls or provide extensions
- No multilingual routing from staff to AI
Why it matters: Patients want convenience. Being reachable and responsive across all channels increases trust and retention. Viva AI gives your practice real-time, full-spectrum communication tools—all automated.
💳 Payments and Billing Automation
Viva AI Provides:
- Send payment requests by text or email
- Accept credit card payments, including installment plans
- Integrated payment terminals with low processing rates
Arini and Dentina Lack:
- No payment request features
- No credit card processing or integration
- No built-in billing workflows
Why it matters: Practices using Viva AI get paid faster, eliminate extra billing software, and offer modern, patient-friendly ways to pay.
📅 Scheduling and Reminders—Fully Handled
Viva AI Includes:
- Automated appointment scheduling
- Reminders and confirmations via call, text, or email
Arini and Dentina:
- Basic scheduling via call (Arini only)
- No reminders or multichannel follow-ups
Why it matters: Missed appointments cost money. Viva AI keeps your schedule full and your team focused.
📝 E-Forms and Intake—No Paper, No Hassle
Viva AI Offers:
- Electronic forms for medical and dental history, consent
- Patients can complete forms digitally from any device
Arini and Dentina: No support for digital forms.
Why it matters: Simplifies onboarding and compliance. No more paper or disconnected tools.
🧠 Smart Staff Assistant: Practice Optimizer
Viva AI Empowers Staff With:
- Instant answers to practice questions (e.g., “List unscheduled treatments…”)
- Performance analysis by extension
- Actionable automation (e.g., “Call all patients with overdue treatment” – coming soon)
Arini and Dentina: No analytics, insights, or staff tools.
Why it matters: Viva becomes a smart assistant for your team—not just a voice for patients.
☎️ Phone System Flexibility (And Why It Matters)
Viva AI Offers Two Options:
- Gold Plan – Keep your current phone system, still get full AI features, more than Arini/Dentina, at lower cost
- Platinum & Diamond Plans – Viva replaces your phone provider, enabling call transfers, language routing, and full AI integration
Arini and Dentina: Cannot replace your phone system. Limited integration, no call routing or advanced automation.
📊 Feature Comparison
| Feature | Viva AI (Gold) | Viva AI (Platinum/Diamond) | Arini | Dentina |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Provider Replacement | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Call Transfers to Extensions | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Language-Based Routing | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| 24/7 Multichannel Communication | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Text/Email with Attachments | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Payment Requests + Terminals | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Installment Payments | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| E-Forms (Medical, Consent) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Practice Optimizer | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Automation Features | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Cost Advantage | 💰 Lower | 💰 Consolidated savings | 💸 Higher | ❓ Unknown |
🏁 Final Takeaway
If you’re choosing between Viva AI, Arini, and Dentina, the difference is clear:
- Arini and Dentina help with answering phones.
- Viva AI helps you run your business.
Whether you want to keep your existing phone system or consolidate services into a smarter, more powerful platform—Viva AI delivers more value, better automation, and long-term cost savings.
📅 Ready to See Viva AI in Action?
Visit getviva.ai to schedule a live demo and learn how Viva AI can take your practice from reactive to fully automated.