Last updated: October 28, 2026. Prices are reviewed monthly.
Short answer
For a single-location dental practice, ongoing AI search optimization and local SEO work usually runs as a monthly retainer, not a one-off project. At Spike Marketing, plans start at $1,297 per month, with a one-time $500 setup. Most practices add Google Ads on top, with ad spend paid directly to Google. See our pricing page for full plan details.
In this guide
What AI search optimization actually pays for
AI tools like ChatGPT and Google AI Mode decide which dentists to name based on the same signals as local search, plus a few extra:
- A complete, accurate Google Business Profile with the right categories, services and photos
- Matching name, address and phone on every directory and insurance listing
- A steady flow of recent, detailed patient reviews
- Website pages that clearly answer patient questions: services, insurance, emergency care, costs
- Structured data that tells search engines and AI tools exactly who you are
- Mentions on local and dental sites AI tools already trust
The monthly fee covers the work to build and maintain all of that, plus testing what the AI platforms say about your practice. Google says its AI features rely on the same SEO fundamentals as regular search, so this work helps in both places.
What changes the price
- Number of locations. Each office needs its own profile, listings and pages.
- Competition in your area. A practice in central Houston needs more work than one in a small town.
- Starting point. Duplicate listings, wrong phone numbers or a slow website take extra setup time.
- Services you want to grow. Implants, Invisalign and emergency care each need their own pages and content.
- Ads. Google Ads management is a separate line item from organic and AI work.
What you should get each month
- A report on Map Pack rankings, calls and website leads
- A record of what AI tools say when asked about dentists in your area
- A list of the fixes and content completed that month
- No long-term contract, so the work has to keep earning its place
Red flags when comparing AI search optimization quotes
- Guaranteed “#1 in ChatGPT”: no AI platform lets anyone guarantee inclusion
- No reporting on calls or leads, only rankings
- Locked 12-month contracts with no exit
- Bulk directory or link packages
How long it takes
Most practices see Google Business Profile and Map Pack movement within 90 days. Results from AI search optimization tend to follow once your listings, reviews and website are consistent, usually within 3–4 months.
How to budget for AI search optimization
Treat AI search optimization as part of your new-patient budget, not a separate experiment. Work out what a new patient is worth to the practice over a year, then compare that with the monthly fee. Give the work at least three to four months before judging it, and ask for a report that shows calls, booked appointments and what AI tools say about your practice, not just rankings.
Frequently asked questions
Is AI search optimization different from dental SEO?
It builds on the same foundation (your Google profile, reviews and website) and adds the signals AI tools use to choose who to name. Learn more about our dental SEO and AI visibility service.
Do I need Google Ads too?
Not always. Ads bring patients in quickly while organic and AI visibility build up.
Can you work with a practice outside your area?
Yes. Spike works remotely with practices across the US.
Want to know where your practice stands? Get a free AI visibility report for your practice.