Dental SEO 101 - How AI and Google Ads Are Transforming Dental Practice Marketing in 2026

In this episode of Dental SEO 101, Ross Dunn shares key 2026 dental SEO and AI predictions, insights on AI-driven search changes, Google Ads updates, and practical tips to keep your dental practice ahead in the evolving digital landscape. Essential listening for staying competitive and informed in dental marketing.🚀 Top Takeaways from This Episode1. OpenAI Ads Are Coming—But Not for EveryoneOpenAI will soon show ads to free and Go tier users, but if you’re on Plus, Pro, or Enterprise, you’ll remain ad-free. Conversations won’t be shared with advertisers, and sensitive topics (like health and politics) will avoid ads. However, as Ross Dunn points out, these privacy and separation promises might vanish fast once revenue pressures ramp up.2. Perplexity Pulls Back from Ads—For NowPerplexity has stopped ad testing, emphasizing user trust in AI answers over revenue—a bold move in tech. Ross Dunn encourages practices to watch these shifts, as they will shape how your marketing reaches patients through AI.3) 2026 SEO & AI Predictions for Dental Practices• More Practices Will Post AI Ethics StatementsBuild patient trust by being transparent about your AI use. Show exactly where humans and AI fit into your workflow.• Fighting the ‘AI Slop’Expect to see sites emphasizing “human-written” content as generic AI copy floods the web. Stand out by adding unique stories and personal touches to your content.• Google Search Console (Still) Won’t Show AI Performance DataDon’t expect breakthroughs from Google here yet, though Bing is leading with a new AI Performance Report that shows how your content is cited by Microsoft Copilot.• Brand Storytelling Is Your SuperpowerDry, generic websites will continue to fade. Practices that showcase their personality, story, and patient experience will win online.• Beware of Chasing AI Search ResultsOver-focusing on “AI SEO” can hurt your standard SEO and tank your practice’s online exposure. Stick to building authority and quality content for sustainable success.⚠️ 4) Major Changes in Google Local SearchGoogle has removed the “call” button from local search results unless you’re paying for Google Ads. This change means being visible is no longer enough—you may need paid ads to keep those direct calls coming in. Ross Dunn recommends running Google Ads alongside your SEO efforts to maintain those leads.5) Quick Stats & InsightsAI Overviews Reduce Clicks: Ahrefs data shows a 58% drop in top-ranking page click-through rates when AI overviews appear.ChatGPT Search Behavior: 69% of users still use keywords (like “dentist near me”), but voice and natural language searches are growing—so craft content for both kinds.AI Agents & Governance: Expect more news and public awareness around AI tools—but full adoption will take time. (00:17) - Intro (00:54) - OpenAI shares more details about ChatGPT Ads (02:04) - Perplexity stops testing advertising (03:11) - Ross Dunn’s SEO Predictions 2026 (13:20) - AI Overviews Reduces Clicks as Much as 58% (14:20) - Bing Webmaster Tools officially adds AI Performance report (16:18) - Google Says Links Will Be More Visible In AI Overviews (17:34) - 75% of ChatGPT users rely on ‘keywords’ for local services: New data (19:50) - Local Pack “Call” Button is Now Pay-to-Play