Quantumrun

IMAGE CREDIT:

iStock

AI in dentistry: Automating dental care

With AI enabling more accurate diagnoses and enhancing patient care, a trip to the dentist might become a little less scary.

Author:
Author name
Quantumrun Foresight
August 18, 2022

Insight summary

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming dentistry by enhancing treatment accuracy and clinic efficiency, from diagnosis to dental product design. This shift can lead to more personalized patient care, reduced human error, and improved operational procedures in clinics. The trend could also reshape dental education, insurance policies, and government regulations.

AI in dentistry context

The COVID-19 pandemic saw numerous technologies emerge to facilitate a wholly contactless and remote business model. During this period, dentists saw the massive potential that automation could bring to their clinics. For example, during the pandemic, many patients in developed countries relied on teleconsultation to access many forms of oral care.

By employing AI solutions, dentists can significantly enhance their practice. AI enables the identification of gaps in treatments and assessment of product and service quality, leading to improved patient care and increased clinic profitability. Integrating AI technologies like computer vision, data mining, and predictive analytics transforms the traditionally manual-intensive dental sector, standardizing care and optimizing treatment planning.

The rise of AI in dentistry is mainly being driven by the typical economic and administrative benefits of scale. Meanwhile, consolidation also implies the consolidation of practice data. As dental practices combine, their data gets more valuable. The pressure to combine operations into groups will increase as AI transforms their combined data into larger revenues and smarter patient care.

Disruptive impact

AI-powered desktop software and mobile applications are leveraging algorithms to analyze clinical data, which aids in refining patient care and elevating clinic profitability. For instance, AI systems are increasingly matching the diagnostic skills of experienced dentists, enhancing the accuracy of diagnoses. This technology can precisely identify specific areas of a patient’s teeth and mouth, and recognize diseases from dental x-rays and other patient records. Consequently, it can recommend the most appropriate treatments for each patient, and categorize them based on the nature of their dental issues, whether chronic or aggressive.

Machine learning (ML) is another aspect that contributes to the consistency of dental care. AI systems are capable of providing valuable second opinions, supporting dentists in making more informed decisions. Automation, facilitated by AI, links practice and patient data with diagnostic and treatment outcomes, which not only automates claims validation but also streamlines overall workflow.

Moreover, tasks, such as designing dental restorations like onlays, inlays, crowns, and bridges, are now executed with enhanced accuracy by AI systems. This feature not only improves the quality of dental products but also reduces the margin for human error. Additionally, AI is enabling certain operations in dental offices to be conducted hands-free, which not only boosts efficiency but also minimizes contamination risks.

Implications of AI in dentistry

Wider implications of AI in dentistry may include:

Dental practices increasingly using robots for tasks like sterilizing rooms and organizing tools, leading to improved hygiene standards and efficiency in clinics.
Predictive and diagnostic analysis by dentists creating more tailored treatment plans for patients, requiring dentists to gain skills in data interpretation and analysis.
Data-driven maintenance of dental equipment and tools, enabling practices to optimize usage and predict when replacements are needed.
The establishment of fully remote registration and consultation processes in dental clinics, including the use of chatbots for patient queries, enhancing patient convenience and reducing administrative burdens.
Dental education programs incorporating AI/ML curricula, preparing future dentists for a technology-integrated practice.
Insurance companies adjusting policies and coverage based on AI-driven dental diagnostics and treatments, lowering costs and improving claim processing efficiency.
Governments enacting regulations to ensure ethical use of AI in dentistry.
Increase in patient trust and satisfaction due to more accurate and personalized dental care, leading to higher demand for AI-integrated dental services.
Shift in labor dynamics in dental clinics, with some traditional roles becoming obsolete and new tech-focused positions emerging.