Artificial intelligence is often framed as a disruptive force—something that threatens to replace expertise rather than enhance it. But in a recent conversation with Dr. Rob Salvati, a dentist with more than four decades of clinical experience, a very different picture emerged. What if AI isn’t the enemy of experience—but its amplifier?
Dr. Salvati’s work in dentistry offers a compelling case study for professionals across every field. His insights apply just as much to law, consulting, education, healthcare, finance, and entrepreneurship as they do to clinical practice. At the heart of his message is a powerful truth: when experience, critical thinking, and human judgment guide the use of AI, performance improves rather than erodes.
This article explores five core principles drawn from that conversation—principles that apply far beyond dentistry.
Principles that Apply to Every Field
One of Dr. Salvati’s most important points is that technology should never be adopted simply because it exists. It must serve a clear purpose. In dentistry, that purpose is patient care—better diagnostics, fewer visits, more precise treatment. In other fields, the equivalent might be clearer decision-making, better client outcomes, improved efficiency, or deeper insight.
The principle is universal: technology should enhance the end user’s experience, not complicate it.
AI works best when it supports—not replaces—the professional’s role. Dr. Salvati’s decades of experience allow him to interpret what AI surfaces with discernment. Without that judgment, even powerful tools can lead to poor conclusions. For experienced professionals, this is good news. Years of pattern recognition, intuition, and contextual understanding are not outdated. They are the very foundation that makes AI useful.
AI does not eliminate the need for wisdom—it increases its value. I’ve found this to be true as a creator and performing artist, where depth of experience brings greater insight and a clearer big-picture perspective when asking questions and shaping prompts.
Objectivity, Bias and Better Decisions
“Looking for things to fix” reveals something important about professionalism: every expert carries assumptions shaped by training and experience.
What makes AI valuable in a dental practice is not blind trust, but objectivity. Digital scans allow one to compare data over time—to overlay images from years apart and see whether changes have actually occurred. This helps prevent unnecessary intervention and builds trust with patients.
This principle applies across industries. AI can help professionals step back from their own biases by providing longitudinal data, alternative views, or pattern analysis that the human eye might miss.
But—and this is critical—AI does not remove bias on its own. Humans must still ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, and interpret results responsibly. AI can highlight issues. It cannot decide what matters. This is where experience is even more valuable.
A Great Team: Skills, Character and Tech Readiness
Team building is an important part of most any business and historically, two areas have been important for Dr.Salvati’s office when hiring:
- Technical or clinical skill
- Personality and compassion
Today, there’s a third requirement: technological readiness. Not technical mastery—but willingness.
In any profession, teams must now be adaptable, curious, and resilient when systems change. AI tools evolve quickly. Platforms update. Workflows shift. The people who succeed are not those who “know everything,” but those willing to learn without giving up when something breaks.
Technology can intimidate clients and patients. A unified, confident team helps normalize change by explaining benefits clearly and calmly. That same principle applies to leadership, consulting, or content creation: when teams move together, change becomes manageable. A great team doesn’t just execute tasks—it reinforces trust in times of transition.
Using AI as a Tool: Benefits and Warning Signs
One of the most memorable lines of our conversation was: “If you don’t use AI as a tool, you will be the tool.”
The benefits of AI are real. In dentistry, AI can detect changes invisible to the human eye—measuring hundreds of shades of gray instead of a dozen. That means earlier detection, smaller interventions, and better long-term outcomes.
In other professions, AI excels at pattern recognition, data synthesis, and speed. It can surface insights faster than humans ever could. But there are warning signs. AI should draw attention, not dictate conclusions. Less-experienced professionals may be tempted to accept AI output at face value, without understanding why a result appears. This creates risk—not just of error, but of eroding professional judgment over time.
Another risk is overreliance. Systems will fail—it’s inevitable—and professionals must still know how to function without them. This applies to nearly every field. In music, having an “analog understanding” means I can keep performing acoustically when the sound goes out (and yes, that’s happened to me!). Sometimes, the analog approach is actually more powerful. You’ll find this same principle across many areas of work and life. In any field, AI should be a co-pilot, not an autopilot.
The Value of Critical Thinking in an AI-Driven World
Perhaps the most important theme of the interview was critical thinking. As AI becomes more embedded, professionals may skip the developmental stages that build judgment—or “doing the reps.” Without those reps, people lose the ability to question, evaluate, and contextualize information. Critical thinking is not replaced by AI. If anything, it becomes more important.
Professionals must ask:
- Why did the system flag this?
- What variables might affect this result?
- What context does the data not capture?
AI processes information. Humans assign meaning. This distinction matters deeply at mid-career and beyond. Experience is not something to bypass; it is the lens through which AI becomes powerful rather than dangerous.
Staying Informed Without Becoming Overwhelmed
AI developments arrive daily. New tools promise breakthroughs. The pressure to “keep up” can be exhausting with the pace of change. I liked the advice Dr. Salvati gave as it was refreshingly grounded: take a breath. You don’t need every tool. You need the right tools.
Just as unused gym memberships pile up, unused apps clutter computers and minds. The goal is not accumulation, but discernment—choosing tools that integrate well with existing workflows and abandoning those that don’t. I have shared some of the system I use in deciding which tools to use especially with new apps in my book Power of After. I love to try some of the new startup tools but am careful to only use those that will truly be of benefit as they can become huge time-wasters.
Referrals, trusted colleagues, and real-world testing matter more than hype. This applies whether you’re choosing a dentist, a platform, or a professional direction.
Application for Experienced Professionals
AI is not here to replace seasoned professionals. It is here to reward those willing to combine experience with curiosity, structure with flexibility, and innovation with integrity. That should instill hope in most every professional.
The future belongs to people who:
- Stay grounded in fundamentals
- Invest in learning without panic
- Use tools thoughtfully rather than blindly
- Preserve critical thinking as a core skill
When experience leads and technology follows, the result is not disruption—but elevation.
Additional Resources
Power of After: What's Next Can Be Your Most Purposeful Chapter by Deborah Johnson
Hero Mountain Summit: Power of After 5-Step Framework: A 5-month entrepreneurial mentorship designed to help mid-life professionals break free from stagnation and rise toward purposeful success.
FREE Downloads: Goal Setting Worksheets
FREE Resources and links: https://GoalsForYourLife.com/DJWorks
YouTube Podcast Playlist: Women at Halftime/Power of After
- about Dr. Robert Salvati
Dr. Robert Salvati is a highly respected leader in the field of dentistry, utilizing the most advanced AI-assisted technologies to deliver comprehensive, cutting-edge dental care. With over 40 years of dedicated experience, he is an active and proud member of the Ontario Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the Canadian Dental Association. He also holds prestigious Fellowships with the Academy of General Dentistry and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.
AI works best when it supports—not replaces—the professional’s role.
deborah johnson
Thought Leader, Keynote Speaker, Author
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