How AI is reshaping dentistry
Investigators examined the functions and ethics of artificial intelligence as the technology begins to change how the field of dentistry operates.
AI tools have already been introduced to enhance dental research, clinical workflows, patient experiences and dental education, according to a news article from Augusta University. In a recent review published in Dental Research, the investigators explored how AI has begun to alter the dental landscape as well as the potential impacts the technology could have on the future of oral health care. They noted that through reliance on large-scale data sets across dental specialties, deep-learning models can support more accurate diagnoses, prognoses and treatment decision-making as well as more personalized patient care. AI software is capable of parsing through large data sets to help researchers identify patterns.
AI tools can make oral health care more accessible, individualized, streamlined and cost- and time-effective. The investigators revealed that AI software can lead to more precise dental decay detection, treatment planning and surgical care in the endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics and implantology specialties compared with more conventional methods. However, dental practices should be cautious and responsible when using AI to ensure that clinician expertise is still prioritized and no corners are being cut at the patient’s expense.
The investigators highlighted that AI has also allowed earlier-career researchers to have expertise beyond their experience level through the simulation of real-world scenarios in classroom settings and helping students map out more complex treatment plans. The application of AI in dental education and training has the potential to advance clinicians more quickly and can have a positive influence on patients’ receipt of high-quality care. Nonetheless, methods should be introduced to reduce cheating and fraudulence and maintain academic integrity.
Despite the positive effects of integrating AI tools into clinical settings, the investigators stressed that the technology still has many concerns that need to be addressed before its widespread implementation. For instance, AI tools may rely on limited or biased data and face ethical barriers to its clinical translation — calling for thorough validation, transparency and regulations to guide safe and effective practices. When creating new AI systems, developers should use de-identified data and comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act to enhance patient privacy and security. In addition, more rigorous testing involving separate data sets than those used to train the tools and real-world trials are needed to evaluate AI’s clinical readiness.
Read more: Augusta University
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