Dentists are not strangers to new technology. In fact, they have always been at the forefront of adoption when it comes to new dental tools and techniques. From composite fillings to tooth-colored crowns, dentists have always strived to use the latest and greatest technology in order to provide the best treatment for their patients.
With the advent of machine learning and artificial intelligence, dentists will soon be using even more advanced tools in their clinics. These tools will help them better diagnose problems, choose treatments.
For years, dentists have been using technology to improve their practice. From digital x-rays to computerized patient charts, technology has become an integral part of the dental profession. Now, new technological advances are being used to further improve dental care.
One such advance is the use of artificial intelligence (AI). AI is being used to diagnose and treat patients in a variety of ways. One example is the use of AI algorithms to predict which patients are likely to experience a cavity or other dental problem.
What Do We Mean By AI?
Artificial Intelligence is also called AI, which just means the software used by computers to emulate aspects of human intelligence. For example, a program that recommends what you should buy based on stuff you’ve bought.
So, why the concern? In just the last few years machine learning, which is a type of AI, has become extremely advanced. The deep-learning technique is behind many of Google’s best-known products, including its Google Ads, Speech-to-Text AI, Google Translate, and face recognition algorithm. It also underpins digital assistants like Siri and Cortana.
Rather than programmers giving machine learning AIs a list of definition that instructs on how to finish a task, the AIs have to learn how to do the task themselves. There are various ways to approach this, but the most popular involves using software that’s been trained with examples.
How Does AI Look Like in Dentistry?
From what was understood from Dr. Ebert VP of (Dental Practice & Relationship Management for ADA Business Innovations Group) ;
Dentists are using AI to increase the level of detection and delivering treatment. Intraoral scanning helpd in selection and designing better implant restorations that are manufactured by a 3D printer later — usually right in the office! AI is also being used to enhance caries (cavity) detection and early recognise problems with radiographs. AI also picks up on commonly low-quality images and prompts radiographers to retrain.
And AI is enhancing how dentists run their offices, chat bots that can be automated to schedule appointments.Text reminders, surveys and other customer requests.
As more dentists use the technology, it’s going to continue to be improved. The high use of intraoral scanners and digital radiographs is creating larger sets of de-identified data which machine learning processes to have a better identification of the need for assure of treatments according to specific criteria. For example, AI able to make the correlation that a shadow on a radiograph combined with an exact change in hue on an intraoral photo that perhaps shows that your tooth is fractured and needs restoration.
Technology is developing and becoming more advanced than ever before. This will, in turn, change the way dentists approach soft tissue pathology.Researchers working on nanotechnology are developing new detectors to accurately measure the levels of certain biomarkers in saliva samples. Oral fluid samples taken from the mouth can be tested by these devices and provide an early indication of a health problem
Technology starts to connect dental conditions with other health markers even those trackable via wearable sensors, So there will be higher chances for better, earlier treatment. Implications go far beyond mouth. After all, periodontal disease can be connected to heart disease and low birthweight babies.
AI for dental career paths
Meanwhile, AI is used to help dentists in their career paths.
There were no social media, mobile apps or websites 25 years ago. Fortunately, dental practices have a little more help now. Today’s dentists have more options. And AI can help them explore these options, including ones they may have overlooked, just like how Goodreads may suggest a book that becomes a new favorite.
ADA Practice Transitions (ADAPT) is doing exactly this. ADAPT is helps dentists to find the perfect match ( person or practice), then manage the details to finish a transaction with better efficiency and success.
As dentistry faces many retirements,integrating AI into practice transitions can help achieve better patient retention as well as dentists’ satisfaction. AI can also reduce cost of the average practice transition.
ADAPT starts by asking dentists to fill out a detailed questionnaire that asks about their preferences. What’s their preferred pace? Which treatments do they like? Do they like to have all the latest tech? How do they divide up roles among staff?
These answers help ADAPT’s AI “learn” what’s important. Filters process the profiles to show the (human) ADA Advisor multiple potential matches and rank them according to how well the profiles orient. Next, that human advisor validates the suggested matches, applying feedback and additional input to finally improve the matching algorithm with a transition expert’s human touch.
Since ADAPT can show multiple practice styles and locations, they often suggest something that pushes the limits of what someone indicates they are willing to accept, much like Amazon occasionally suggests a seemingly obscure products that you soon find yourself buyging. ADAPT then asks for feedback on how well the recommendations fit or flopped. Over time, these responses help the AI to further enhance the recommendations for other dentists transitioning with ADAPT.
More inputs, better outputs
The more people that are connected to a network, the more valuable and efficient it becomes. A good example of this is the telephone; by itself, it’s all but worthless, but with a growing number of people using them, each phone turns into something really worthwhile for everyone else on the network.
Just like caries detection will improve as AI processes more images, machine learning will become more effective at matching ADAPT participants, too. The more matches ADAPT creates, the better they identify important factors that lead to suitable matches.
ADAPT can begin to recognize and rank which attributes are most predictive of successful matches. What’s the right blend of practice size, treatment focus, pace, and patient mix? If two doctors are an 85% match, is that enough to suggest moving forward, or is 70% sufficient to recommend a conversation? The algorithms will group these traits into categories of complementary attributes. As more dentists use the service and ADAPT People have begun to gain more awareness of these associations, it will become easier to help dentists to find the right match for their long-term goals.
Could Dentists be Replaced by AI Assistants?
Dr. Ebert Answers:
People remain at the heart of it all
Even though AI is becoming more prevalent across processes, there are still certain areas where humans are needed because they can do things that machines can’t. As AI keep improving, humans’ roles are going to change. While AI may detect a cavity or help make a better implant restoration, it will still take a person to sense a patient’s hesitation and offer a reassuring explanation. On the practice transitions side, AI will free up the advisors to spend more time advising individual doctors, answering their questions, and offering reassurance through a sophisticated process.
Finally, The goal is for AI to complement, not replace humans, So dentists deliver better care, make better matches, reduce costs, and navigate their work as easily as possible.
So to never be replaced by AI you should have solid basics of theoretical and practical science. Here comes the major role of The Dentistry, Full-time Graduate Program at The University of Debrecen.
What’s The Dentistry, Full-time Graduate Program At the University of Debrecen About?
It’s a 5-year Dentistry program that has been carefully structured and designed to make sure you get the high standard of knowledge, skills, and responsibility of dental surgeons. We guarantee you have the necessary motor skills when working with hand and electric instruments to be effective with patients.
You will be able to perform various medical procedures such as palpation, percussion, auscultation, and others. You will have good gross and fine motor skills and touch sensations. You will be able to operate dental equipment with sympathy. You’ll be able to take a full medical and dental history from the patient.
You’re going to receive training and experience in interpreting X-rays other images for medical purposes. Your first step will be to systematically examine the teeth, visual and tactually. You will observe such things as shape, color, and any unusual features, both inside outside the mouth. As a Dentist student, you will be able to talk with the patients, share information and give directions during treatment. To become a great dentist you need to have a good attitude and show people respect, understanding, and empathy.
In conclusion;
We need to ensure that the AI-based systems are programmed in a way that they understand the subject matter to be able to produce accurate and clinically meaningful results.
There are many benefits of integrating AI into dentistry. For one, it can translate medical records from all over the world through natural language processing, which is beneficial for remote areas. Furthermore, it can be used for diagnosis as well as treatment with more accuracy matching than an expert human doctor.
