Kiroku vs OpenDentist: Which AI Dental Scribe is Right for You?

Choosing an AI dental scribe is one of the most impactful technology decisions a dental practice can make in 2026. Two of the leading options for UK dentists are Kiroku and OpenDentist — both purpose-built for dental clinical documentation, but with meaningfully different approaches.

This comparison will help you understand the key differences so you can choose the right tool for your practice.

Overview of Both Platforms

Kiroku

Kiroku was one of the first AI dental scribes to enter the UK market. It focuses on ambient recording during dental appointments, using AI to generate clinical notes from the conversation between clinician and patient. Kiroku has built a solid reputation among early adopters and has integrations with several UK practice management systems.

OpenDentist

OpenDentist is a clinical notes platform built specifically for UK dental professionals. It combines ambient recording with live transcription, giving clinicians real-time visibility of what the AI is capturing. OpenDentist emphasises template customisation and includes features like automated BPE extraction, periodontal diagnosis, task management, and a template store where dentists can share and import note formats.

Feature Comparison

| Feature | Kiroku | OpenDentist | |---|---|---| | Ambient recording | Yes | Yes | | Live transcription | No | Yes — real-time transcript panel during recording | | Template customisation | Limited presets | Fully customisable with drag-and-drop builder | | Template store | No | Yes — share and import community templates | | AI template builder | No | Yes — describe your template and AI builds it | | BPE extraction | Basic | Automated with periodontal staging | | BEWE extraction | No | Yes | | Periodontal diagnosis | No | Auto-generated from BPE scores | | Task management | No | Yes — AI-extracted tasks from consultation | | Field-level AI reasoning | No | Yes — see why each field was populated | | Note editing | Basic text editor | Structured field editor with raw text toggle | | Regeneration | Full note regeneration | Selective — regenerate notes, tasks, or both with custom instructions | | Version history | No | Yes — full version tracking with diff view | | Nurse notes | No | Yes — separate text input during recording | | Patient management | No | Yes — link notes to patients | | Practice details | No | Yes — auto-included in relevant notes | | Team management | Basic | Yes — invite and manage team members | | Pricing | From GBP 99/month per clinician | GBP 29/month per clinician after 14-day free trial | | UK dental focus | Yes | Yes — British English, UK terminology, GDC-aligned |

Key Differences

Recording Approach

Kiroku uses a straightforward ambient recording model. You start the recording, conduct your appointment, and stop the recording. Notes are generated after the appointment ends.

OpenDentist also records ambiently, but adds a live transcription panel that shows you what the AI is hearing in real time during the recording. This is a significant practical difference — you can see immediately if the microphone is not picking up your voice clearly, if important clinical terms are being misheard, or if a key part of the consultation was missed. You do not have to wait until the notes are generated to discover a problem.

OpenDentist also allows you to change your note template mid-recording. If you start with a routine examination template and discover the patient has an emergency complaint, you can switch to an emergency template without stopping the recording.

Note Generation Method

Both platforms use AI to generate clinical notes, but the underlying approach differs.

Kiroku generates notes as a single output after the recording ends. The note is presented as a complete document that you review and edit.

OpenDentist runs a multi-step pipeline: first the transcript is cleaned and dental terminology is corrected, then notes are generated with inline analysis. The AI produces a reasoning chain explaining why each field was populated the way it was — for example, explaining that a BPE score of 4 in the UR6 sextant led to a diagnosis of Stage III periodontitis. This reasoning is visible through tooltips on each field, giving you confidence in the AI's clinical logic and making it easy to spot errors.

Template Flexibility

This is one of the most significant differences between the two platforms.

Kiroku offers a selection of preset templates. You can choose which template to use for each appointment, but customisation options are limited. If the preset templates do not match your preferred note format, you may find yourself regularly editing the same sections.

OpenDentist provides a fully customisable template builder with drag-and-drop field ordering, custom sections, and the ability to set default values for healthy baselines. There is also an AI template builder — you describe what you want in plain English (or dictate it), and the AI generates a complete template structure.

Beyond personal customisation, OpenDentist includes a Template Store where dentists can share their templates with the community and import templates created by others. If a colleague has built a particularly good periodontal assessment template, you can import it in one click and customise it further for your needs.

Pricing Model

Kiroku pricing starts at approximately GBP 99 per month per clinician, with higher tiers for additional features. This puts it at the premium end of the market.

OpenDentist is priced at GBP 29 per month per clinician after a 14-day free trial, with all features included at a single price tier. There are no feature gates or upsells — every clinician gets access to live transcription, custom templates, task management, version history, and the template store.

For a practice with three dentists, the annual cost difference is significant:

• Kiroku: approximately GBP 3,564 per year (3 x GBP 99 x 12)
• OpenDentist: GBP 1,044 per year (3 x GBP 29 x 12)

That is a saving of over GBP 2,500 per year — enough to cover the cost of premium microphones for every surgery with change to spare.

Who Kiroku Is Best For

Kiroku may be the better choice if:

• You want a mature, established product. Kiroku has been in the market longer and has a larger installed base. If you value a proven track record and are less concerned about having the newest features, Kiroku offers stability.
• You prefer simplicity over customisation. If you are happy with preset templates and do not want to spend time building custom note formats, Kiroku's more opinionated approach may suit you.
• Integration with your PMS is critical. Kiroku has invested in direct integrations with several UK practice management systems. If seamless integration with your specific PMS is a non-negotiable requirement, check whether Kiroku supports your system.
• Budget is not a primary concern. If the higher price point is not a barrier, Kiroku delivers reliable core functionality.

Who OpenDentist Is Best For

OpenDentist may be the better choice if:

• You want live transcription feedback. The ability to see what the AI is hearing during the recording is a genuine workflow improvement, especially in noisy dental environments where you want real-time confirmation that your speech is being captured accurately.
• Template customisation matters to you. If you have specific note formats, use custom assessment frameworks, or simply want your notes to look exactly the way you prefer, OpenDentist's template builder is significantly more flexible.
• You want clinical AI reasoning. The field-level reasoning feature — showing why the AI populated each field the way it did — provides a layer of transparency and clinical confidence that is unique to OpenDentist.
• You value task management. If you want AI-extracted follow-up tasks (referrals to make, prescriptions to write, recalls to schedule), OpenDentist builds this into the workflow.
• Cost matters. At GBP 29 per month with all features included, OpenDentist is substantially more affordable, particularly for practices with multiple clinicians.
• You are an NHS dentist. The combination of comprehensive note generation, affordable pricing, and high-volume workflow support makes OpenDentist particularly well-suited to NHS practices where time and budget are both constrained.

How to Evaluate for Your Practice

The best way to choose between Kiroku and OpenDentist is to try both. Most dental practices find that the tool they prefer becomes obvious within a day or two of real-world use.

Here is a practical evaluation framework:

1. Sign up for free trials of both platforms. OpenDentist offers a 14-day free trial with full access to all features. Check Kiroku's current trial offering.
2. Test with real appointments. Role-play scenarios are useful for initial setup, but the real test is a full day of patient appointments. Pay attention to how the notes compare to what you would have written manually.
3. Assess transcription accuracy. Try both tools in your actual surgery environment with your actual background noise levels. Live transcription (available in OpenDentist) makes this assessment much easier.
4. Evaluate template fit. Can you get the notes to look the way you want them? If you cannot customise the output to match your preferred format, you will spend time editing every note — which defeats the purpose.
5. Consider the team. If multiple clinicians will use the tool, involve them in the evaluation. Individual preferences matter, and buy-in from the whole team is essential for successful adoption.

Making the Switch

If you are currently using Kiroku and considering OpenDentist, or vice versa, the switch is straightforward. Clinical notes generated by either platform are exportable, and your historical notes remain accessible in your practice management system regardless of which AI tool generated them.

OpenDentist's template builder also means you can recreate your preferred note format quickly, and the template store may have a community-built template that closely matches what you are already using.

The most important thing is to choose a tool that fits your workflow, meets your documentation standards, and makes your daily practice more sustainable. Both Kiroku and OpenDentist are purpose-built for UK dentistry — the right choice depends on your specific priorities.

Ready to see how OpenDentist compares in your practice? Start your 14-day free trial — no credit card required, all features included from day one.