#5 – Wardah Inam, Founder & CEO at Overjet

Introduction

In the latest episode of our dental and oral health podcast, we are thrilled to have Wardah Inam, founder and CEO of Overjet, join us. Overjet is a pioneering dental AI company that is transforming the way dental practices and insurance companies operate, ensuring the best possible care for patients. Wardah shares her journey, insights, and the exciting future of dental AI.

The Genesis of Overjet

Wardah Inam’s inspiration to start Overjet stemmed from a personal experience with differing dental treatment plans. Her curiosity led her to dive deeper into the dental field, eventually leaving her job to shadow dentists and understand the industry’s intricacies. This exploration revealed the potential of technology to enhance dental care, laying the foundation for Overjet.

Overjet’s Transformative Impact

Before Overjet, dental data processing was manual and subjective, leading to inefficiencies and miscommunication with patients. Overjet’s AI automates administrative tasks like claims processing and enhances clinical decision-making by providing objective, evidence-based diagnoses. This not only streamlines operations but also improves patient understanding and care quality.

Overcoming Initial Challenges

Starting Overjet was not without its hurdles. The fast-paced dental environment left little room for error, demanding a highly mature and efficient product from the outset. Wardah emphasizes the importance of quickly moving from a minimal viable product (MVP) to a robust solution to meet dentists’ needs and avoid workflow disruptions.

Why Dental AI Leads the Pack

Wardah explains that dental AI’s maturity compared to other medical fields is due to the unique nature of dentistry. Dentists juggle multiple roles, making time-saving tools invaluable. The smaller field of view in dental radiographs allows for more precise machine learning models, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and patient communication.

Real-world Success Stories

The success of Overjet is reflected in the positive feedback from dentists and patients. Wardah recounts stories of dentists gaining confidence in their diagnoses and patients leaving rave reviews. A particularly memorable moment was when a dental group praised Overjet with a pre-ChatGPT poem, highlighting the significant impact on their practice.

Leveraging Educational Background

Wardah’s academic journey, particularly her PhD, honed her ability to tackle large problems methodically and fearlessly. This background equipped her with the skills to aim high and persist through failures, ultimately driving Overjet’s success. She advises aspiring entrepreneurs to leverage academic resources and pursue impactful challenges.

Leadership Lessons from QBio

Before founding Overjet, Wardah gained valuable leadership experience at QBio. Key takeaways included the importance of recruiting top talent and empowering employees with responsibilities. These lessons have been crucial in building a strong, effective team at Overjet.

Future of Overjet

Wardah is excited about Overjet’s new products aimed at connecting dental practices and insurance companies. One innovation is real-time claim authorization, enabling patients to know their costs upfront and avoid surprise bills. This seamless experience is set to launch in the coming quarters, marking another milestone for Overjet.

Conclusion

Wardah Inam’s journey from MIT to revolutionizing dental care with Overjet is inspiring. Her dedication to leveraging AI for better patient outcomes and smoother dental operations is making waves in the industry. Stay tuned for more exciting developments from Overjet as they continue to innovate and transform dental care.