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From diagnostics to crown design and practice management, AI-powered technologies are enhancing accuracy, efficiency, and patient outcomes, heralding a new era of dental care.
Whether we realize it or not, artificial intelligence (AI) is quietly weaving its way further into nearly every aspect of our lives. From morning to night, these smart technologies operate seamlessly behind the scenes, enhancing and simplifying our daily tasks and routines. Whether it’s virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa answering our questions, navigation apps finding the quickest routes, social media and streaming platforms personalizing content, or online services tailoring our shopping and fitness experiences, AI is transforming how we live and interact with the world in countless ways.
In recent years, AI also has made significant strides in dentistry, reshaping both clinical and administrative aspects of the field. Intelligent systems are increasingly integrated into daily workflows, streamlining tasks like treatment planning and crown design while optimizing practice management functions such as scheduling and billing. Perhaps most notably, AI-powered diagnostic software is transforming patient care, enhancing diagnostic accuracy, improving patient engagement, and uncovering new treatment opportunities. As more practices embrace these advancements, AI is proving to be a valuable tool in elevating efficiency and patient outcomes.
Transforming the Dental Practice
Dr. Daniel Berant and Dr. Liora Berant, brother and sister dentists who lectured on the use of AI in dentistry during Henry Schein’s ThriveLive 2024 in Las Vegas, believe there are many reasons to be excited about the possibilities of AI-powered technologies impacting the dental practice. And it begins with diagnostics—notably, the use of advanced imaging software to achieve more accurate, efficient, and early detection of caries, periodontal diseases, bone loss, and other dental issues that might otherwise be missed.
“Radiology, specifically, is where I think AI is going to be making tremendous gains because, as a dentist, you’re not just the dentist—you’re also the psychiatrist, the HR person, the CFO, and CEO. You’re running between all these jobs. So, under time pressure when you’re looking at x-rays, there are a lot of areas that can be missed and that we should be more attentive to,” said Dr. Liora, who practices at Berant Family Dentistry in Vancouver, Canada.
She noted several studies illustrating that point, including one showing that dentists miss 40% of caries and 67% of periodontally related pathologies when viewing x-rays. “That’s significant,” she said. “So, if we want to be optimizing patient care and giving patients the best that we can, we really do need a sidekick who is like a third-party, objective observer that will say, ‘Hey, what do you think about this? What do you think about that?’ And if we can increase the accuracy in which it does that, that’s fantastic.”
Optimizing Patient Care
Several commercial software applications, such as Pearl, Overjet, and VideaHealth, are now available to detect dental pathologies and other conditions in radiographs. Dr. Liora and Dr. Daniel praise these intelligent diagnostic tools for driving a shift toward earlier diagnosis and intervention—crucial advancements that can improve patient health outcomes. By identifying issues sooner, these technologies enable more proactive and effective treatment.
In addition to identifying findings in real time, VideaHealth, whose suite of dental AI technology addresses virtually every dental disease state, can annotate over 18 months of historical images to help monitor and track progression of disease.
“They can go back 18 months in your x-rays when you launch with them and uncover treatment plans that you may have missed,” Dr. Liora said. “So, that could create more treatment planning for the next time the patient comes in, whether it’s saying, ‘We have noticed this bone loss. It’s getting worse with subsequent x-rays that we’ve analyzed.’ Or maybe it leads to a discussion of whether they should be a perio patient now. It's fascinating, because we’re going to miss less and we’re going to be able to treat more optimally."
Advancing Clinical Processes
On the restorative side, AI algorithms are streamlining crown design by analyzing 3D scans and generating highly accurate, custom designs in a fraction of the time it would take a human. Companies like 3Shape are harnessing AI-driven workflows to create models and design proposals that technicians can review and fine-tune if necessary. Its remote AI-powered digital design service, 3Shape Automate, has boosted lab capacity, designing over 2 million crowns in 2023 alone. This technology allows for faster, more efficient treatment without compromising precision or quality.
Another forerunner is DTX Studio Clinic software, part of the DEXIS family of imaging solutions, which leverages AI-based technology to automatically detect common dental issues in 2D x-rays; recognize and sort x-ray images into a unified template; trace the nerve canal in CBCT scans; and fuse extraoral and intraoral scan data for a comprehensive 3D view of the underlying anatomy.
Dr. Daniel, an orthodontist, periodontist, and implant specialist practicing in New York City, noted there are now many AI-driven technologies assisting with clinical processes. He pointed to the use of robotics for tasks ranging from manufacturing to surgery. “We’re able to place implants that are robotically guided with live haptic feedback to enhance accuracy and control, and we can see exactly where that implant is going in real time because the robotic system is integrated with the 3D x-ray,” he said.
Streamlining Front-Office Tasks
AI is also revolutionizing practice management by streamlining administrative tasks and enhancing the patient experience. Smart technologies automate routine processes like appointment scheduling, reminders, and billing, while also supporting marketing and social media efforts. By reducing the administrative burden on office staff and minimizing human error, AI helps practices run more efficiently, allowing teams to focus on patient care and improve overall practice productivity.
“From an administrative point of view, we’re now seeing how the insurance space is integrating into practice management software,” said Dr. Daniel. “This is going to be a huge game-changer because thousands—if not hundreds of thousands—of dollars are probably lost each year by not billing properly. And AI can do that in seconds without making the errors that a human might make, especially when they’re overworked or overbooked.”
Additionally, AI-powered virtual assistants offer round-the-clock support, helping patients with inquiries and scheduling appointments at any time. And predictive analytics can identify patients who are due for check-ups or those at higher risk for dental issues, enabling proactive care and timely interventions.
Embracing AI in Dentistry
The way Dr. Daniel and Dr. Liora see it, AI’s transformative potential should be embraced as a powerful tool that supports dentists in delivering an exceptional patient experience. “AI isn’t here to replace the dentist,” Dr. Daniel emphasized, “but it will replace the dentist who isn’t using it.”
Those who leverage intelligent technologies in their practice are creating opportunities for greater diagnostics and earlier intervention, leading to an overall better patient experience.
“There are huge possibilities within this space,” said Dr. Daniel. “I heard it said years ago, but it rings even more true today, that this is the best time to be practicing dentistry. You truly have the ability to help people by merging your artistic capabilities and your understanding of biology with these amazing technologies, and that is very rewarding.”
Find out more about Daniel Berant