The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry

Over the past several decades, artificial intelligence (AI) has been gaining popularity in both medical and dental fields. Its use has led to significant technological advancements in imaging, diagnostics, and treatment methods.^1-3 Designed to mimic human intelligence by way of processing input and generating output data, AI has unparalleled opportunities to improve diagnostics and the treatment of various conditions, anomalies, and pathologies.^1,2

AI serves as an umbrella term encompassing core components including machine learning (ML), artificial neural networks (ANN), and convolutional neural networks (CNN) or deep learning (DL). These subsets use algorithms to predict outcomes based on provided datasets.⁴ Due to the success of AI technology in the medical field and its demonstrated effectiveness, dentistry has increasingly adopted AI for various aspects of improving patient outcomes.⁵

In dentistry, AI offers more precise diagnostics and improved early disease detection.² AI-driven systems can analyze dental records, radiographs, and intraoral images to detect abnormalities, aid in treatment decisions, and tailor individualized recommendations.^2,3 Dental radiology and oral pathology are fundamentally similar disciplines, as both extract diagnostic information from images.¹ Oral health professionals use their knowledge and clinical expertise to interpret radiographs, which can result in subjectivity. Supplementing this interpretation with AI can lead to greater accuracy.⁵ Oral pathologists have used a combination of clinical judgment and histopathology imaging to evaluate and diagnose lesions. Supplementing AI tools can improve the accuracy of interpretation through the use of continually advancing algorithms.⁶

In addition to improved patient outcomes, oral health professionals can also benefit from AI-driven systems. AI can be useful in reducing operator fatigue, managing increased workload, removing the potential of human error in decision making, and undertaking the complexity of tasks by freeing up time for more comprehensive and individualized patient care.^1,4

Artificial Intelligence in Dental Radiology

AI can assist clinicians in identifying periodontal changes, carious lesions, anatomic structures, pathologic manifestations, and symptoms of diseases.⁷ Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) used in collaboration with AI has been shown to improve the detection of periapical and root canal infections compared to conventional two-dimensional (2D) imaging.⁸ CBCT imaging, with the assistance of AI, can be used in addressing malocclusion, airway evaluation, identification of anatomical landmarks, implant placement, and detection of root fractures.⁹ AI integration can help oral health professionals make faster, more informed, higher quality diagnoses, and improve treatment planning.

Not only is AI used to assist in three-dimensional imaging but it can also enhance diagnostic accuracy when interpreting 2D imaging. Carious lesions, affecting roughly 3 billion individuals throughout the world, can be arrested as incipient carious lesions, but often go undetected when interpreting proximal areas.¹⁰ Utilizing AI software can assist clinicians in identifying initial lesions, allowing for earlier intervention and/or preventive treatments.² In addition, CNN allows for detection of pattern changes, such as periodontal bone differences.¹¹ While AI has the potential to increase diagnostic accuracy from radiographic analysis, it doesn’t always demonstrate dependability.¹²

Artificial Intelligence in Oral Pathology

AI can significantly enhance detection of tissue patterns, abnormalities, and premalignant and malignant tissues in oral mucosal images.⁶ AI may be able to identify subtle lesions overlooked by human interpretation, thus improving accuracy.^1,6 With its potential to support pathologists and clinicians in diagnosing and managing oral and maxillofacial pathologies more accurately, AI may also foster interprofessional collaboration by oral pathologists and surrounding disciplines to advance the creation and adoption of these new ML-based imaging techniques.^3,6,13

AI algorithms can analyze patient data, medical records, and imaging results to suggest treatment plans and predict outcomes for patient management. AI systems can recognize tissue patterns that are suggestive of cancer through high sensitivity and specificity by examining large histopathology image databases, enabling earlier detection.⁶

While microscopic morphology from a biopsy remains the gold standard in oral pathology, it is a labor-intensive and subjective task.¹ AI has shown potential in enhancing cancer diagnostics by analyzing complex datasets and identifying early malignancies, particularly in oral and oropharyngeal cancers, which account for about 3% of all cancers diagnosed annually in the United States.¹⁴

ANN has been utilized to distinguish between normal, premalignant, and malignant tissues using laser-induced autofluorescence spectra with 98.3% accuracy, 100% specificity, and 96.5% sensitivity, indicating strong potential for real-time application.^4,15 Further studies have demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for AI-based models in detecting oral cancer and other lesions of the oral cavity, as well as high accuracy for predicting treatment outcomes in patients with oral malignant conditions, although further research is needed to fully validate these findings.³

AI can streamline early diagnosis, reduce mortality, and support effective interventions by analyzing histological features such as epithelial tissue architecture in oral cancers.¹ AI’s role in pathology is also expanding to disease severity assessment and prognosis prediction. However, extensive data and resources, along with regulatory frameworks, are still needed to encompass diverse clinical situations and fully integrate AI.¹ While AI systems allow clinicians to focus on complex cases and improve diagnostics, the process still heavily relies on pathologists for feedback and oversight, ensuring accurate integration and potentially leading to new research ideas.^1,4

Advantages and Limitations

Enhanced diagnostic accuracy; increased time efficiency in treatment, charting, documentation; and improved overall patient care are all advantages of AI utilization.^2,16,17 AI software could simplify dental reports while delivering feedback to patients in a clear, understandable format.¹⁸ AI can convert healthcare provider information into appropriate language for accurate documentation.¹⁸ The enhancement of patient education by way of AI tools and the use of patient data analyzation to tailor treatment plans help empower patients with the information needed to make informed decisions about their oral health. Additionally, ML within AI can help identify high risk patients and aid in the development of preventive care plans to reduce such risks.²

AI’s limitations, including high costs to implement, train, and maintain, may make hinder practices’ ability to incorporate.² Without adequate training, oral health professionals may misuse or misinterpret results that are generated by AI, as well as create an over-reliance on technology, discrediting it as a supplementary tool. As much as AI has been incorporated into dentistry, clinicians must continue to practice the clinical and radiographic evaluations they have been educated to do. AI is able to identify the crestal changes to periodontal bone, however, using traditional clinical and radiographic examinations to diagnose periodontal severity is still important.¹¹ Due to rapidly evolving technologies, continuous professional development is suggested to maintain competence and reduce the risk of negatively impacting patient care.¹⁹ Ethical considerations involved with AI must be further analyzed.

The Role of the Dental Hygienist

Dental hygienists can use AI for early detection and risk assessment as well as to enhance patient education, streamline charting and documentation, and elevate the overall quality of patient care by aiding in more precise diagnostic procedures.^2,4,16,18 Trusted AI programs can increase accuracy and efficiency by automating daily routine tasks in dental practices, reducing the time for administrative work and allowing the provider more focused time and dedication to patient care.^2,16,18

Dental hygienists who incorporate the use of AI in clinical practice can use it to support the development of preventive strategies and personalized treatment plans, ultimately leading to improved oral health outcomes. AI-focused professional development is essential for those integrating AI into practice, ensuring they can recognize ethical considerations, clinical importance, and how to apply it effectively in dentistry.¹⁹

Conclusion

AI plays a pivotal role in advancing patient care in dentistry, particularly in dental radiology and oral pathology. AI-driven tools offer new opportunities for improving diagnostic accuracy, increasing efficiency, and enhancing the quality of patient care.^2,3 While AI technology is rapidly evolving as a supplemental tool in achieving the highest level of patient care, ongoing research remains crucial. AI data-driven resources have shown to be reliable, transparent, and potentially better than human diagnosis.⁴ Although AI can augment human capabilities in reasoning, planning, and problem solving,⁴ it cannot determine patient identity, well-being, and autonomy as humans can.¹⁷ Thus, properly trained providers should use it as a tool in patient care, not as a replacement, overseeing and interpreting results where necessary.^6,17 The ethical considerations of AI must be thoroughly examined and critically discussed. The collaborative efforts of dental professionals and technologists serve to be critical in shaping the future of AI in dentistry.

References

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From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. November/December 2025; 23(6):12-14.