Google just overhauled AI Search with 2.5 billion users — then dropped a core algorithm update the next day. Here’s what your dental practice needs to do right now.
Last week, Google made two major moves in back-to-back days — and together, they represent the most significant shift in local search visibility dental practices have seen in years. In the latest Monday Marketing Rundown, Dan breaks down what happened, why it matters, and exactly what GPs, pediatric dentists, and orthodontists need to do right now to stay visible in an AI-driven search landscape.
At Google I/O 2026, CEO Sundar Pichai announced that AI Overviews has crossed 2.5 billion monthly active users and that AI Mode — Google’s conversational search experience — has already surpassed 1 billion users in just its first year. The very next day, Google launched the May 2026 core algorithm update, its second broad core update of the year. As Dan explains, most people are treating these as separate stories — but they’re not. Google just upgraded the AI systems that answer patient searches and changed the rules for what content feeds those systems, all within 48 hours.
In this week’s episode, Dan walks through the four things dental practices need to act on immediately: locking down their Google Business Profile, rewriting service pages to actually answer patient questions, strengthening E-E-A-T signals on their website, and monitoring Google Search Console for the telltale signs that AI Overviews are absorbing their traffic.
Is Your Practice Visible in AI Search?
The rules just changed — and the practices that adapt fastest will pull ahead in their markets. Schedule a free strategy call with the DentalScapes team and we’ll audit your current digital presence, identify exactly where AI search is costing you visibility, and show you what needs to happen next. No pressure, no generic pitch. Just a real look at where your practice stands.
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About the Author
Dan Brian
Co-Founder & Director of Client Services, DentalScapes
Dan Brian is co-founder and Director of Client Services at DentalScapes. A recognized early adopter of AI in dental marketing, Dan has been experimenting with and deploying AI tools since before they became mainstream — from AI-assisted content and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) to predictive campaign analytics. He leads DentalScapes' marketing education programs for practice owners, including The Dental Marketing Mix podcast and The Dental Domination Program book.
