The three modes
You pick the mode in Settings → Integrations → Booking mode. The default is Instant.
| Mode | What happens | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Instant | Appointment is created in OpenDental during the call. Patient gets a confirmation immediately. | Practices that trust the AI to handle bookings end-to-end. |
| Pending review | Appointment is held in your inbox. A staff member confirms before it's written to OpenDental. | Practices wanting a human in the loop for every booking. |
| Collect-only | Salva captures name, phone, reason, and a preferred time, then ends. No OpenDental write. | Practices that want manual control over scheduling. |
When instant makes sense
Instant booking is the right default for most general dental practices. The AI:
- Verifies real availability before offering times
- Won't double-book
- Respects your provider preferences and operatory mapping
- Logs every booking so you can audit later
If your scheduling is straightforward (cleanings, exams, simple restorative), instant gives you the biggest time-back-to-your-team win.
When pending review makes sense
Two situations call for pending review:
- Surgical practices or specialists where each appointment needs case-specific prep, lab coordination, or pre-op contact.
- New-customer onboarding — most practices run instant from day one, but some prefer pending mode for the first month while they build trust.
In pending mode, a staff member sees the proposed booking in the inbox, can adjust the time or provider, and confirms with one click. The patient gets a notification when it's confirmed.
When collect-only makes sense
Choose this only if you're not on OpenDental, or you've explicitly decided you don't want any AI-side scheduling. The AI still adds enormous value answering FAQs, taking emergencies, and handling after-hours callbacks.
The same three modes apply to chat
These modes aren't voice-only. Your website chat widget books real appointments too — instant, pending review, or collect-only — using the exact same setting. Configure the mode once and it governs how Salva books both over the phone and in chat.
Switching modes
Change the mode any time in Settings → Integrations. No downtime, no migration. The new mode applies to the next inbound call.
Published May 8, 2026 · Updated June 16, 2026