ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS A PROMISING PATHWAY TO DENTAL EXCELLENCE

Abstract

In an era of rapid dynamic developments across medicine, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI), lifelong learning is essential for long-term clinical success in dental practice. Artificial intelligence—the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines—has been utilized in healthcare for decades and holds transformational potential for dentistry by solving complex diagnostic challenges and streamlining clinical workflows. AI encompasses diverse subfields, including machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), computer vision, and robotics. Investigating AI applications in periodontics and cariology is particularly critical, as these represent major global oral health burdens. AI algorithms can analyze dental radiographs and detect early structural breakdown or loss that might escape manual clinician screening. Currently, AI algorithms span periodontics, cariology, endodontics, prosthodontics, orthodontics, and oral pathology. Conversely, real-world clinical adoption of AI in dentistry remains modest due to challenges surrounding data quality, standardization, algorithmic bias, high implementation costs, and regulatory compliance.