Is dentistry ready for AI?
AI is already transforming some aspects of dentistry. A survey undertaken in the US in 2023 showed that a third of dentists had tested out aspects of AI while an article in the bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons describes how AI powered tools can analyse radiographs and intramural photographs to identify abnormalities and assist in disease detection. The article’s author predicts that within ten years it may be malpractice not to use AI in screening for oral cancer.
However, I take a pragmatic and cautious approach. Some systems are still in the early stages of development and there is a risk that we can become too dependent. I shared my views in an article in The Probe (see page 12). I have whittled down my advice to a checklist of three tips:
