Artificial Intelligence Reshapes the Future of Dentistry

Artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting every facet of modern life and dentistry is no exception. By mimicking human intelligence, AI enhances tasks traditionally performed by oral health professionals, such as diagnosis, radiographic interpretation, and treatment planning, using data analysis to identify patterns and provide insights, ultimately, improving the quality of dental care.¹

One of AI’s most significant advantages is its ability to make predictions, allowing it to foresee potential issues based on a patient’s medical and treatment history.¹ While AI offers significant benefits to dentistry, it also presents challenges that oral health professionals must address as they adapt their practices. Understanding these changes is crucial to staying ahead in this rapidly evolving field.

Diagnostics and Patient Care

AI can significantly enhance the interpretation of radiographs by identifying visual patterns indicative of conditions such as caries, periodontal diseases, and various oral pathologies. Traditional methods often rely on oral health professionals to interpret the images, leading to inconsistencies and missed diagnoses, as they are subjective.^2,3 AI reduces this risk by offering an objective analysis based on data-driven insights. This technology not only allows earlier disease detection and treatment but also enables a more thorough analysis of complex cases, leading to improved treatment outcomes for patients.^3,4

AI is becoming a valuable asset in preventive dentistry, offering more than just diagnostic capabilities. By analyzing patients’ medical and dental histories, AI can identify risk factors and predict disease progression, enabling oral health professionals to take proactive measures tailored to each patient.^1–3 For example, if early signs of gingival or periodontal diseases are detected, AI can alert the dental hygienist, prompting timely interventions to prevent more severe issues. This proactive approach helps customize preventive treatments and self-care recommendations, reducing the need for extensive procedures and promoting better health outcomes.^1,2,5

Use Across Dental Specialties

AI’s applications extend across all dental specialties, proving particularly beneficial in complex cases. For instance, in orthodontics, advanced algorithms can predict tooth movement by analyzing head and neck imaging.^1,7,8 These tools can simulate various treatment scenarios, helping clinicians choose the best treatment plan, while considering the patient’s individual anatomic findings.

In oral surgery, AI can assess bone density and anatomical structures, aiding in implant placement and reducing the risk of complications. This enhances the overall surgical experience, ensuring better outcomes and patient satisfaction.^8,9

Assessing bone loss is another benefit of AI. It has the ability to reduce human error by offering precise measurements, revealing periodontal needs. By accurately tracking disease progression and severity, AI allows for timely interventions that might otherwise go unnoticed. For example, a practitioner can monitor the depth of periodontal pockets over time, adjusting treatment plans as necessary.^6–9 Additionally, AI can simulate various treatment scenarios, guiding clinicians in selecting the most suitable procedures for their patients.

In prosthodontics, AI has transformed the design of custom prosthetics through digital scanning and the creation of digital three-dimensional (3D) models. Digital scans enable the creation of highly accurate prosthetic designs that can simulate treatment outcomes before treatment begins.⁷ This allows patients to better visualize the final results, which can, in turn, increase case acceptance. The ability to see a realistic representation of the expected outcome can significantly alleviate any anxiety patients may feel about the procedure.

AI also proposes optimized digital workflows that streamline the sequence of procedures, reducing time and costs while still maintaining quality treatment. For example, AI-driven software can identify the most efficient steps in the fabrication of crowns and dentures, minimizing the need for adjustments and ensuring a better fit.^1–3 This efficiency not only boosts patient outcomes but can additionally improve the workflow of the dental practice.

In pediatric dentistry, AI introduces innovative solutions for treatment planning, diagnosis, and patient care that cater specifically to the needs of young patients. For instance, AI can assist in caries detection, monitor tooth development, and conduct risk assessments tailored to children’s unique dental health.⁹ This targeted approach allows for early intervention, which is crucial in preventing more severe dental issues as children grow.

Furthermore, AI can facilitate behavioral management by predicting patient anxiety. By analyzing past interactions and treatment responses, AI tools can tailor communication styles to different age groups, employing specific tones, visual aids, or language to ease procedures.¹⁰ For example, it might suggest simpler explanations and engaging visuals for young children, making the dental experience less intimidating.

For children undergoing orthodontic treatment, AI analyzes facial structures and predicts tooth movement, ensuring optimal timing for interventions. This capability helps orthodontists make informed decisions about when to initiate treatment, aligning with the child’s growth and development for the best possible outcome. AI also plays a crucial role in noninvasive caries management, helping to identify incipient caries that can be treated with less extensive procedures.¹⁰ This approach is particularly beneficial for children, as it reduces anxiety associated with invasive treatments.

AI also enhances laser dentistry, a technique growing in popularity in pediatric practices. By improving the precision of laser applications, AI reduces the risk of damage to surrounding tissues, boosting patient comfort and promoting faster healing. This can help alleviate anxiety and improve the overall dental experience, especially for children.^9–11

Additionally, AI offers great value in improving care for patients with special needs. By analyzing medical histories and behavioral patterns, AI provides tools to assist nonverbal or minimally verbal patients in communicating with oral health professionals.^10,12 These tools, tailored to individual preferences, help patients with developmental or intellectual disorders better understand treatment.

AI can also monitor and control the dental environment, adjusting factors such as lighting, sounds, and scents to accommodate patients with sensory sensitivities. By creating a calming atmosphere, dental practices can help minimize sensory overload, ultimately, reducing patient stress and improving the overall experience. Integrating AI into dental care for patients with special needs creates a more compassionate, effective, and personalized treatment approach, enhancing the quality of care for both patients and their families.^9–11

Teledentistry

The use of AI has significantly advanced teledentistry, facilitating communication, education, and assessment of dental needs. This innovative approach allows oral health professionals to conduct virtual visits, providing consultations and follow-ups without requiring in-person appointments.⁹ AI can accurately diagnose conditions, such as periodontal diseases, caries, and malocclusion, during these virtual visits, increasing access to care for patients.

This is especially beneficial in underserved areas where patients may face barriers to receiving traditional dental services. Teledentistry powered by AI not only improves accessibility but also allows for greater flexibility in scheduling consultations, catering to the busy lives of patients.^9,14 AI can enable 24/7 virtual assistance, which is invaluable during emergencies or when immediate consultations are required. This capability fosters a more patient-centered approach, ensuring that dental needs are met promptly and efficiently. The integration of AI into teledentistry is transforming the way dental services are delivered, making them more efficient, accessible, and patient-oriented.^9–11,15

Efficiency in the Practice

AI can seamlessly integrate into the business and insurance aspects of dentistry, streamlining various administrative tasks such as appointment scheduling, patient follow-up, and billing. The ability to complete these tasks through automation not only enhances operational efficiency but also reduces the overall operational costs of running a dental practice.^3,4,15 By minimizing the time spent on administrative duties, oral health professionals can focus more on patient care and treatment outcomes.

AI can expedite insurance claim reviews and verify the accuracy of submitted information, leading to faster processing and reimbursement. Insurance companies can also benefit from AI technology by analyzing claims data to identify trends or discrepancies that may indicate fraud.^3,6 This enhances the integrity of the insurance process, ensuring that patients receive the appropriate treatments while also protecting both dental practices and insurance companies from potential losses. It can also assist in analyzing practice performance metrics, allowing oral health professionals to identify areas for improvement and optimize workflows. By leveraging data analytics, practices can make informed decisions about resource allocation, staffing, and patient engagement strategies.^1–4

Challenges and Considerations

Despite the promising potential of AI in dentistry, several challenges must be addressed for successful implementation. One major obstacle is variability in the quality of dental images and patient records, which can hinder AI algorithms from achieving consistent accuracy. Oral health professionals must ensure that their practices maintain high standards for imaging and recordkeeping to maximize the effectiveness of AI tools.^5–8,13,16

The financial investment required to incorporate AI technologies can be substantial, posing a challenge for many practitioners, particularly smaller practices. Beyond initial costs, ongoing training and maintenance further contribute to the financial burden.^3,8,16,17

Oral health professionals must be prepared to invest not only in the technology itself but also in the training necessary to ensure that staff can effectively use these tools. Some experienced clinicians may be skeptical of AI’s reliability in guiding treatment plans, leading to resistance in adopting new technologies. This reluctance can hinder AI’s integration into dental practices. To overcome these challenges, practitioners can benefit from ongoing education and training programs that highlight AI’s role in improving patient care. Addressing challenges is essential for effectively integrating AI into dental practices. Collaborations between oral health professionals and technology developers can facilitate the creation of user-friendly AI solutions that meet the specific needs of the dental community.^11,18,19 By understanding both the benefits and limitations of AI, the dental profession can better prepare for the future.

Conclusion

The future of AI in dentistry will revolutionize patient care, diagnosis, and treatment planning. AI-driven technologies are already improving diagnostic accuracy through advanced image recognition, aiding in the early detection of caries, gingival and periodontal diseases, and even oral cancers. As the algorithms continue to evolve, AI will offer more personalized treatment plans based on individual patient data, enhancing outcomes and minimizing errors. It is likely that AI will also play a critical role in robotic-assisted surgeries in the near future, offering higher precision and minimally invasive procedures.^7–9,18,19

AI-powered tools could streamline administrative tasks, improving efficiency in dental practices and reducing costs. As these innovations unfold, the integration of AI in dentistry promises not only to enhance clinical workflows but also to increase access to high-quality care. By making dentistry more effective, affordable, and accessible to a broader range of patients, AI stands to transform the field of dentistry.^5–8,19

The integration of AI into dentistry is not just a trend but a paradigm shift in how dental care is delivered. As oral health professionals embrace these technologies, they will be better equipped to meet the evolving needs of their patients, improve treatment outcomes, and shape the future of oral healthcare.^1,3

References

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From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. September/October 2025; 23(5):32-35.