How Artificial Intelligence is Already Changing Dentistry
Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to have a profound impact on dentistry.
But what is it? People usually think of Terminator when they think about AI, but most often it’s actually a variety of tasks and challenges that computers are far better at than humans – think Netflix or Siri. They identify patterns, analyze data, and reveal insights at a level that we cannot.
How does that translate to oral health? In medicine, many fields are already using similar AI applications to analyze large numbers of diagnostic images such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs. It can assist doctors and radiologists to possible areas of concern, increasing both the speed and probability of detection. And it’s already catching on in dentistry.
Here are three ways AI is changing the future of oral health.
Improving the standard of care
AI can improve the tools that recognize caries and periodontal disease on images. There are times that even the most experienced dentist may otherwise miss something on a photo. Dentists are not radiologists, there can be inconsistencies.
By detecting diseases sooner and more accurately, we can have a significant health impact. Dentists can see more patients and catch problems earlier, without the need for more time-consuming, costly, and invasive procedures.
Making office management more efficient
AI can also help dentists be more efficient in their office. For example, AI software can begin to help dentists work faster, smarter, and more accurately by allowing them to directly communicate with patients, send reminders, and book appointments.
Many of these efficiencies can lead to the dental teams spending more time with their patients and allowing them to focus more on dentistry than running an office.
Helping patients practice preventive care
Oral health AI applications are emerging in the form of consumer-oriented mobile apps. Patients can take pictures of their teeth and gums, which are then scanned into the app, and the app identifies potential dental decay or gum disease and rates oral health accordingly. This technology can help increase oral health awareness and reduce anxiety that patients may have about dental treatment, so they feel more comfortable coming into the office to access preventive care.
Of course, it’s important to note that AI is just a tool to supplement and help improve care, not a replacement for in-office treatment. Ultimately, the goal of artificial intelligence is to enhance the work dental professionals are already doing by creating a more reliable and consistent patient experience.
While these technologies have the potential to help dentists and patients immensely, they cannot replace the functions and knowledge that dentists and other healthcare professionals perform every day to provide the best possible care for the patients.
To learn more about artificial intelligence and its role in dentistry, watch the Pearls of Wisdom episode featuring a conversation between Dr. Linda Vidone, VP Clinical Director and Ophir Tanz, founder and CEO of Pearl, an AI company focused on dentistry.
Disclaimer: Delta Dental does not recommend or endorse any specific technology, tests, dentists, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned in this blog.