Closing gaps in dental care: New era of digital dentistry on horizon
Artificial intelligence could help issue in a new era of digital dentistry, building a pathway to affordable, accessible dental care.
The World Health Organization has estimated that oral diseases affect nearly half of the world population, according to an article from Forbes. Although oral diseases may be prevented, a large proportion of U.S. patients may lack access to dental insurance or reside in dental desserts where access to dental care is limited or nonexistent — thereby delaying necessary treatment until oral health issues have worsened. As a result, some companies are utilizing AI to improve preventive dental care and accelerate the time to treatment.
One such novel AI-based imaging tool has been designed to detect early signs of periodontal disease and dental caries to help patients avoid more invasive procedures after the diseases progress without treatment. Innovators have also developed AI tools to automate administrative tasks such as appointment scheduling and billing, accelerate cash flow, decrease overhead costs, streamline billing codes, enhance payment processes and reduce insurance claim denials.
Despite ongoing regulatory issues, the adoption of AI tools in the dental clinic presents opportunities to advance the understanding and treatment of oral diseases.
Read more: Forbes
The article presented here is intended to inform you about the broader media perspective on dentistry, regardless of its alignment with the ADA's stance. It is important to note that publication of an article does not imply the ADA's endorsement, agreement, or promotion of its content.