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AI in dentistry: helping diagnosis, not replacing the dentist

In recent years, computer vision models have made remarkable progress in analyzing medical images, and dentistry is no exception. But where do these tools truly belong?

Prepared by: Anodyne content team6 min read

What does AI do in dentistry?

Deep learning models can identify patterns such as areas suspected of decay on X-rays and intraoral photos and mark them for closer review. The result is a fast "second opinion" that draws the dentist's attention to spots worth a closer look.

Benefits for the practice

  • Saves time reviewing images
  • Explains findings to the patient more concretely with a marked-up image
  • Consistent documentation that can be compared over time
  • Helps reveal early lesions that might be missed

Take the limitations seriously

  • Image quality (light, angle, focus) directly affects the result.
  • Image analysis cannot measure sensitivity, nerve vitality or gum pocket depth.
  • False positives and false negatives are possible with any diagnostic tool.
  • Surface staining and tartar may be mistaken for decay.

Anodyne's approach

Anodyne is designed as the dentist's assistant: it shows suspicious areas based on the ICDAS index, reports the confidence score and reminds you with every report that the final diagnosis and treatment decision rest with the treating dentist.

Resources

  1. Schwendicke F, Samek W, Krois J. Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry: Chances and Challenges. J Dent Res. 2020;99(7):769-774.
  2. Ismail AI, et al. The International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS). Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2007;35(3):170-178.

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AI in dentistry: helping diagnosis, not replacing the dentist | Anodyne