The transformative role of AI in dentistry
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 26th December 2024
Although many dental professionals have embraced the advent of AI, there are others who have deep-rooted concerns. Many worry about AI encroaching on the viability of some jobs, and others worry about the impact of AI on their personal interaction with patients.
Although fear in the face of change is natural, there are many advantages with AI, which are becoming more and more widely valued within dentistry. Some applications that are already in use have variously demonstrated their ability to streamline services, safeguard clinicians by auditing and recording processes, improve treatment, assist with diagnosis and even help develop a better relationship with patients.
AI is reshaping the landscape of dentistry by complementing, rather than replacing, the care and expertise that only dentists can provide. Its ability to enhance accuracy, improve efficiency, and personalise treatments offers exciting possibilities for both dentists and patients.
Elevating clinical efficiency
AI algorithms can analyse images to assist in detecting dental conditions, such as caries, periodontal diseases, and oral cancers.[i] Although they can’t replace the discernment of a trained professional, radiographic diagnostics can benefit from AI that serves as a second set of eyes. This technology can act as a safety net to help ensure the treatment plan is appropriate and that nothing has been missed.
3D digital stents have improved the accuracy and success rate of precise implant placement. AI can be combined with intraoral and CBCT scans in minutes to develop a precise digital implant stent. Guided dental implant placement has significantly reduced the failure rate, which is 2.25% compared to 6.42% when performed freehand.[ii]
AI can support the advancement of minimally invasive techniques through automating or informing some procedures using robotics. The micro-precision facilitated by some of these technologies shows great promise in mitigating against complications in clinical practice.[iii]
AI also shows enormous potential in enhancing dental training. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) can enable professionals to practice and hone skills, learning procedures in a safe, but realistic and interactive setting. Algorithms can rate their responses, providing feedback and guidance, and alerting teaching staff to any issues requiring intervention.i
AI enhancing patient interaction
Building trust with patients is enormously important, and an excellent way to develop this rapport is to ensure they are educated and informed on their conditions, as well as treatment options, and the need for self-care. AI can enhance this process in numerous ways.
AI-powered smile design tools can demonstrate quick before and after simulations to patients with 80% accuracy. Human intervention is needed to evaluate these results, as currently these tools do not account for biotype, gingival health, smile line or the nasolabial angle, but the speed of the results provide an excellent visual prompt from which to work, helping patients picture how the treatment will benefit them.
AI tools that automate some clinical processes can also save time, while enabling busy practitioners to operate a patient-centred practice. Virtual care and dental monitoring systems accompanying some aligner therapies enable clinicians to conduct virtual checks of the teeth movement, for example.
Patient relationships can also benefit from tools that provide tailored, personalised attention without any additional consultation time. Precise algorithms analyse images and carry out automated checks. If the images meet pre-set criteria, patients are prompted to move on to the next stage of treatment. If not, it will prompt them to wait and continue with current aligners. If teeth have strayed out of the range, the system prompts the patient to call the practice.
Enhancing patient care through instant and accurate notes
AI that provides time-saving documentation, voice-transcription, note-taking, consultation and communication tools automatically free clinicians up to develop stronger bonds with their patients.
Designed by dentists, Kiroku has a suite of these AI-assisted tools to help clinicians save hours of admin time. Not only does the software free up time for clinicians to attend to patients, it can reduce medico-legal stress by providing accurate, automatically audited contemporaneous notes, using any browser. Once information is input using the easy and intuitive interface, it can be repurposed into any other format according to the professional’s own templates, including patient friendly information and advice.
By thoughtfully integrating AI into dental practices, dental care can be more effective, accessible, and tailored to each individual’s needs. The future of dentistry looks brighter than ever, with AI serving as a valuable tool. It is possible to combine the best of technology with the irreplaceable human touch to foster healthier smiles for generations to come.
To find out how to apply go to trykiroku.com/dental-foundation-training
[i] Dhopte A, Bagde H. Smart Smile: Revolutionizing Dentistry With Artificial Intelligence. Cureus. 2023 Jun 30;15(6):e41227. doi: 10.7759/cureus.41227. PMID: 37529520; PMCID: PMC10387377.
[ii] Abdelhay N, Prasad S, Gibson MP. Failure rates associated with guided versus non-guided dental implant placement: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BDJ Open. 2021 Aug 18;7(1):31. doi: 10.1038/s41405-021-00086-1. PMID: 34408127; PMCID: PMC8373900.
[iii] Lin-zi Han, Hang Wang, Qun-li Guan, Yin-hui Yang, Xiao-ni Li, Yang Yu, Yao-zhong Wang, Digital robot-assisted minimally invasive impacted tooth extraction: A case report, Heliyon, Volume 10, Issue 17, 2024, e36787, ISSN 2405-8440, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36787.
No Comments
No comments yet.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
