How is AI shaping the future of dentistry?

Advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are revolutionising the dental industry. The practice of dentistry has historically relied on manual labour. What we are now witnessing is the initial phase of rapid transformation of modern dentistry. This can be attributed to a growling list of AI-powered applications that are used to enhance every field from dental diagnostics to continuing education, prediction of treatment outcomes to practice management; and many more.

​​One of the more popular dental applications of AI today shows its uncanny ability to analyse x-rays and 3D scans to create custom splints for braces that can be printed at home. This allows those with orthodontic concerns to get digital dental care without having to visit the dentist’s office.

Other current and near-future AI applications in dentistry include : Dental surgery assistant robots, VR Simulated Tooth Extraction, Augmented Reality (AR) apps (eg. for dental training and smile analysis), dental x-ray imaging,oral cancer detection using optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging technology, etc.

What is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to any computer system or process that exhibits intelligent behavior.

It was first introduced by Alan Turing in 1950 as an abstract concept. In recent years, however, there has been significant progress towards developing machines with human-level intelligence.

The field of AI covers practically any future-oriented field that you could think of: natural language processing, robotics, autonomous vehicles, speech recognition, image analysis, expert systems, neural networks, computational linguistics, cognitive science, philosophy, psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, game theory, evolutionary computation, information retrieval, knowledge representation, etc.

Of these, perhaps the two most exciting branches that dentistry is most commonly associated with are machine learning and deep learning.

Dental AI: Machine Learning vs deep learning

The term “machine learning” refers to a broad class of algorithms which can be used for pattern recognition or prediction tasks.

These algorithms learn from data by making assumptions about how they should behave based on what has been observed before. They then use this learned behaviour to make predictions about new observations.

The key difference between traditional statistical models (such as regression) and machine learning methods is that the latter does not assume any particular form of relationship between input variables and output values. Instead, it learns directly from examples.

Deep learning refers to the process in which an algorithm uses training data to build its own model, rather than relying on pre-existing knowledge. This allows machines to perform better at tasks where there are no clear relationships between inputs and outputs.

Machine Learning has been used for many years in medicine to predict disease outcomes based on patient characteristics such as age or gender. More recently, researchers have begun applying this technology to dental problems like tooth decay (cavities) and gum diseases. In fact, a recent study found that AI can be more accurate than human clinicians when diagnosing periodontal disease.

Deep learning makes use of neural networks with multiple layers of processing units. These models learn from data by adjusting their internal parameters over time until they reach an optimal solution.

This type of model was first developed in the 1980s but it wasn’t widely adopted until 2015. Today, there are several companies using AI for diagnosis and treatment planning. For example, SmileDirectClub uses machine-learning algorithms to create 3D images of patients’ smiles so doctors can plan treatments without having to physically examine them.

What are some examples of Dental AI?

The use of artificial intelligence in dentistry is on the rise. Dental practices are increasingly turning to automated systems to replace more traditional methods of treatment, as they can be more efficient and precise. In some cases, these systems even outperform human dentists! The following list provides a few examples of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been used by dental care providers. 

Caries detection

A study by researchers at Harvard University found that an algorithm could accurately diagnose caries lesions in teeth better than trained dentists. This was done using data from over 1 million images taken during routine oral exams.

Dental AI Software

The development of new dental AI software can improve quality of care while reducing costs. For example, the use of AI to analyse X-rays is helping doctors detect early signs of cancerous tumours before they become too large or invasive to be treated. Other applications include improving patient communication through virtual reality simulations and creating personalised 3D models of their mouths based on the patient’s data.

ORCA Dental AI is a good example of how dental AI can provide high-quality radiological diagnostic results. It uses AI algorithms to analyze their X-rays and create 3D models of their teeth. These models are then compared against the original image to determine if any changes have occurred since the last visit. The software also provides dental imagery interpretation of information based on the clinical expertise of thousands of worldwide clinicians.

Dental Practice Management

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way that dentists are performing their work, the way that they are interacting with their patients, and how much time they are able to spend on administrative tasks vs. patient care.

AI will inevitably shape the future of dentistry because it can automate much of what goes into running a dental clinic. Routine tasks best left to your AI administrative assistant include: Patient scheduling, appointment reminders, treatment planning, billing, insurance claims processing, etc.

Many cloud-based dental practice management software also simplify your transition from paper records to electronic ones by allowing you to import all of your data directly from your existing EHR system or other record keeping systems like Practice Management Software (PMS). This means less manual entry for you, which in turn saves you valuable time.

Automatic Tooth Polishing and Cleaning

The annual CES consumer electronics unveiled a host of AI toothbrushes that make brushing your teeth a sci-fi experience. One of these pricey gadgets include the Oral-B Pro 1000 SmartSeries electric toothbrush with built-in artificial intelligence technology.

​The device uses specialised algorithms to detect plaque buildup on each tooth surface and then automatically polishes them using an ultrasonic vibration. It can even clean between teeth without requiring any user input. Oral-B also presented the GeniusX range , which includes two models: one for men and another for women. Both are equipped with smart sensors that monitor users’ oral health habits and provide feedback via voice prompts or visual notifications.

The Oral-B Genius AI electric toothbrush is an example of what AI can accomplish when it comes to oral hygiene. The brush uses AI that learns how best to clean each individual user’s teeth based on their unique brushing habits. It then automatically adjusts its cleaning pattern accordingly.

Endodontic Applications

Dental AI demonstrated accuracy and precision in detecting, diagnosing, and predicting future dental diseases in endodontics. For instance, a study by the University of Michigan showed that deep learning algorithms were able to accurately predict whether root canal treatment was needed for patients who had been diagnosed with pulpitis (inflammation) using only clinical data from X-rays taken during routine dental visits. The algorithm also predicted which tooth would be most likely to fail after undergoing an apicoectomy procedure.

Dental AI Oral Cancer Detection System

In 2012, researchers at Stanford developed AI software capable of identifying oral cancer on images captured through smartphone cameras. This system is based on a neural network trained on over 1 million images of normal tissue and tumours. It can detect malignant lesions as small as 0. 5 mm in diameter. In 2019, the team reported that their model could correctly identify all types of cancers present in 100% of cases tested. They have since expanded this technology into a mobile app called “OScan” available for iOS devices.

Dental Implants

Artificial intelligence has been applied to help diagnose, predict, and optimise the effectiveness of implantable medical devices. For example, an AI algorithm was developed by researchers at University College London (UCL) to help dentists decide which patients are most likely to benefit from dental implants.

The dental AI system uses data (i.e. dental practice report) collected during routine clinical practice to train it on how best to detect signs of bone loss around teeth. It then predicts whether or not they will need further treatment with dental implants.

Limitless Potential

AI is certainly changing the future of the dental technology fields. It has the potential to change the way people see and interact with dentists, as well as how dental instruments are designed and implemented. For example, AI could be used in a variety of ways:

From improving patient welfare through better diagnosis and treatment planning to making more accurate predictions about dental risks and patient outcomes, this would empower dentists while affording them the time to focus their time and resources where they’re needed most. The ability for patients to access information on their own health conditions or treatments from anywhere at any time can also improve communication between doctors and patients. This may lead to improved compliance rates and overall satisfaction among both parties.

That said, the use of AI should be viewed as a complementary asset rather than an alternative to human decision-making in healthcare. It is important that we continue to rely heavily upon our intuition when it comes to medical decisions because there are many cases where data alone cannot provide us with all the answers necessary to make informed choices. In the foreseeable future, AI will still be aiding, and by no means replacing dental practitioners.