In every field of healthcare, artificial intelligence (AI) is making dynamic shifts to how providers can help patients; thereby meeting the patients’ expectations. Therefore, it is an obligation of healthcare facilities across the world to keep up with these developments, and this is no exception for the field of dentistry. In the near future, consumers will look at dental health in a different light:
… You enter the bathroom, connect your smart toothbrush to your smartphone – and when you put the brush in your mouth, it scans your teeth. The images automatically get transferred to the Cloud and are scrutinised by artifical intelligence, which identifies a cavity in your aching tooth and a hairline crack in another molar. The scans and preliminary analysis are sent to your dentist, who then proceeds to contact you for an appointment schedule.
The role of AI is critical is today’s era. It provides professional reliable, detailed information, assisting them to eventually administer better, quicker service to those in need.
Some AI-powered innovations that consumers can expect within the near future include the change in radiology. It is important to have prompt interpretation of dental information to make efficient, accurate medical decisions. However, dentists are generally unable to make swift interpretations. Attention to details and ample time are needed even though these are not favorable under certain circumstances. Hence, AI is important under such situations as it is capable of interpreting dental information, medical and dental records, and radiological scans. Experts at the University of Cincinnati highlighted that AI and machine learning technologies can provide healthcare professionals with the possibility of speeding up the radiology processes and more easily process the vast amount of data generated through digital images. In summary, AI help practitioners be able to act fast and make informed decisions.
The FDA has stated to acknowledge the marketing of AI algorithms created to understand medical images, and over the next few year they will have a significant influence in the field of dentistry. With a more extensive dataset, machine learning algorithms will only become increasingly perplex.
While these advancements are profound, they can only be applied practically during procedures with the use of virtual assistants.
The key to most AI advancements is big data: the use of widespread information to identify trends and patterns in behavior. AI carries out quick analysis providing users with triable data. This approach has obvious extensive applications in healthcare.
Today developers are dedicated to developing virtual assistants capable of carrying out those responsibilities, analysing scans with reference images to pinpoint potential issues for further analysis.
An innovation in dentistry that taps onto big data is the D Assistant. This virtual assistant created by Dentem will listen to commands, study data including dental images and records and provide information-driven suggestion during dental procedures. It is created to be the ideal fundamental tool needed to schedule appointments, save electronic dental records and set reminders for routine work.
One of the most important decisions dentists and patients must make is instance when they should tap onto fixed denture prosthetics or dental implants. Even though dental implants are generally more costly, they can help patients achieve full function after tooth loss due to injury, disease or tooth decay. Despite its benefits, when multiple teeth are not present from an arch, or a patient is entirely toothless in one or both arches, dentures may be the best choice.
However, in certain circumstances, making this decision can be difficult, particularly when a single tooth is missing. In this case, AI can assist with an evidence-based decision-making. AI can expedite the process of data analysis including underlying conditions, radiological scans, and any other patient-related information. This helps provide dentists with the information needed to overcome challenges.
AI has been forecasted to be integrated into all aspects of medicine over the next 10 years, essentially removing redundant procedures and standardising administration. This will result in better clinical results, cost reductions, improved access and patient satisfaction. Dentists and patients will be the key benefactors of these improvements, and as AI become more common, these benefits will become increasingly prevalent.
Source: Becoming Human: Artificial Intelligence Magazine
Participate in the upcoming QS Subject Focus Summit – Dentistry under the theme of “Changing Paradigm in Dental Education for Future Excellence” from 4-6 April 2019 in Seoul, South Korea.