It happens every day in my practice. A patient has a dental issue, which I try to explain as we review their X-rays together. Digital radiographs are incredible. I remember taking X-rays in dental school. The patient would have to wait while I walked the film to the darkroom, opened up each photo packet, and dipped them in various solutions to develop the image.
Now the image is digital and pops up on the computer screen almost instantaneously. Once on the computer, I can manipulate the brightness and contrast. I can also zoom in on areas. This perhaps makes it easier for the patient to see, but being able to pick out subtle variations in the grayscale on a radiograph only comes after years of study and practice. Many times, a patient will respond with, “Well, okay, if you say so.”
I’ve been carefully watching the advent of artificial intelligence applications in the dental field, and I’m super excited about its potential to transform the practice of dentistry. One way we’re already seeing a positive impact is in diagnostic accuracy. It’s estimated that the human eye can detect between thirty and five hundred shades of gray. Some of the leading dental AI software can detect over four thousand shades of gray.
As AI continues in its development, it’s able to learn, and its accuracy improves. At this point, the software does not diagnose, but it measures and highlights aspects of the radiograph, alerting the dentist to potential issues that may exist. Dentists have successfully diagnosed dental and periodontal disease for decades without the aid of AI, but studies show that one hundred percent of dentists are more accurate when diagnosing problems with AI’s help.
The way these programs highlight and colorize the radiographs makes it much easier for patients to see and understand what their providers are trying to teach them about their oral health. Check out these two images: one is a standard radiograph, and the other is the same radiograph after AI analysis. It’s much easier to identify the natural structures of the tooth—the enamel and dentin—as well as the nerve tissue. Restorations are also simple to see.
What’s really cool are the measurements that show exact amounts of bone loss that have occurred from periodontal disease, as well as the slight variations that indicate areas of possible tooth decay. Using AI, dentists will be able to detect problems when they’re smaller and easier to repair.
Artificial intelligence won’t simply improve diagnostic capabilities and patient education. It will also make dental offices more efficient with smarter scheduling, insurance verification, referrals to specialists, and precise billing, which will streamline patient care and improve the overall experience. About 35 percent of dental offices are currently using AI, and that number will continue to grow as the systems become smarter and more clinicians are introduced to the outstanding benefits that AI provides.
I’m sorry to say that currently there isn’t anything artificial intelligence can do for the pinch of the needle or the sound of the drill, but I’m excited for all the ways AI will improve the dental experience for my patients.
Plumb Dental offers general dentistry for the entire family, including preventative care, root canals, implant restoration, cosmetic work—even whole smile makeovers. To schedule an appointment, call (435) 673-9606 or visit their website at plumbdental.com
Health and Fitness
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr William Plumb graduated from the State University of New York School of Dentistry in 2006. He opened Plumb Dental in St George in 2009. He has received extensive continuing education in cosmetic dentistry as well as oral surgery and implantology. He loves living in Southern Utah with his wife Kari and their four children.