How Have Dental Diagnostics Evolved So Far?

To appreciate where we are now, let's look back. Before AI entered dental offices, diagnostics relied heavily on what dentists could see and feel. Visual inspections and manual probing were standard but came with limitations. Deep fissures could hide early caries, and even the trusted dental explorer couldn't catch everything.

Then X-ray technology arrived. By the 1950s, conventional film X-rays became common, which reduced costs and improved safety. Yet identifying issues like interproximal caries remained challenging.

For example, a patient that has interproximal decay could go untreated for months because traditional radiographs couldn’t detect it. By the time the issue was discovered, the condition required extensive treatment—something that could have been avoided with earlier detection.

Additional challenges included:

• Inconsistencies in human diagnosis: Interpretation varies significantly between clinicians.

• Limited ability to detect early-stage lesions: Many issues are only identified after significant progression.

It’s clear that dentists needed a better solution that offers objective assessments, reduced variability among clinicians, and improved early detection. That’s where AI stepped in.

How Dentists Use AI for Diagnostic Imaging

Not so long ago, AI-powered diagnostic imaging became the partner many dentists didn't know they needed.

AI improves CBCT scans by segmenting teeth and bone structures, creating clearer pictures that lead to more precise treatment planning. When it comes to periodontal disease, these systems measure bone loss with remarkable accuracy, and help dentists better predict how the disease might progress and plan interventions accordingly.

Perhaps most impressive is AI's ability to identify oral cancer indicators by recognizing subtle tissue changes that would be invisible to the naked eye. This early detection capability can make a life-saving difference for patients. 

Additionally, AI standardizes the diagnostic process, reducing the natural variation that occurs between different clinicians and creating more consistent patient experiences.

Another breakthrough of AI dental diagnosis lies in its early detection capabilities. The technology excels at finding incipient lesions—those early-stage cavities that traditional methods might miss entirely.

What Kind of AI Tools Can You Use for Dental Diagnosis?

Here are the top 5 AI tools tech-savvy dentists have been using for dental diagnosis:

1. Denti.AI

Denti.AI is an advanced diagnostic tool that helps dentists detect oral diseases with greater accuracy. Its FDA-cleared Denti.AI Detect tool identifies cavities, periapical lesions, and bone loss from X-rays. This allows for earlier detection and intervention, which supports minimally invasive treatment. The system also automates perio charting through voice commands, making the process more efficient and reducing the time hygienists spend on manual data entry. 

In addition, Denti.AI transcribes clinical conversations in real time and generates detailed notes based on customizable templates. This feature helps dentists maintain accurate records without the need for extensive manual documentation. The platform integrates directly with practice management systems, making it easy to adopt without disrupting existing workflows. 

2. Diagnocat

Diagnocat is an AI-powered tool that helps dentists analyze 2D and 3D dental images with greater accuracy. It detects more than 30 pathologies in 2D images and over 65 in 3D, giving you a clearer picture of a patient’s oral health. 

By reducing diagnostic errors by 30%, it helps dentists make more precise treatment decisions. 

The software also generates detailed visual reports that make it easier for patients to understand their conditions, leading to a 25% increase in treatment acceptance rates. Diagnocat integrates with existing dental software, allowing you to incorporate AI analysis without changing your current systems.

3. Pearl - Second Opinion

Pearl's Second Opinion is an AI tool that assists dentists by analyzing dental X-rays in real-time to detect various conditions. It serves as a "second set of eyes," helping to identify issues such as incipient caries and early signs of periapical radiolucency, which can be challenging to spot. 

The system provides consistent, immediate analysis each time a new radiograph is taken, supporting dentists while patients are still in the chair. 

Its intuitive interface enhances the clarity of X-ray images, and facilitates better communication with patients.

4. Overjet

Overjet is an AI-powered platform designed to help you analyze radiographs and identify dental issues with greater precision. Its FDA-cleared technology detects conditions like cavities, calculus, and bone loss.

The tool also highlights areas of concern, which helps with treatment planning. 

Overjet’s annotated images help patients understand their conditions, improving communication and increasing case acceptance. The platform also supports smoother insurance claims by providing clear, precise documentation, speeding up approval processes. 

Overjet also integrates with your current practice management systems, so you don’t have to change your existing workflows.

5. VideaHealth

VideaHealth is an AI platform that helps you detect dental conditions with greater accuracy. Its FDA-approved algorithms identify issues like caries, periodontal problems, and endodontic lesions, even in young children. 

The platform provides clear visualizations that make it easier for you to explain diagnoses to patients and improve case acceptance. 

VideaHealth also offers AI-driven treatment recommendations and generates task lists, allowing you to focus on providing care. Using VideaHealth has been shown to increase caries detection by 119% and case acceptance rates by 13%. 

Challenges and Ethical Considerations

With all advancements come challenges, and AI in dental diagnosis is no exception.

There are concerns that AI could replace human dentists, but while AI can excel at specific tasks, it cannot replace the hands-on care and decision-making that only a skilled dentist can provide. AI may assist in diagnostics and treatment planning, but it lacks the ability to treat patients, build relationships, and make complex, nuanced decisions based on individual circumstances. The true value of AI lies in improving your existing expertise, not replacing the human touch that is essential to patient care.

AI works best as a collaboration tool that supports dentists by handling specific tasks that would otherwise be time-consuming or prone to human error. It can analyze large sets of data, identify patterns in X-rays or scans, and provide insights that assist in diagnostics and treatment planning. Dentists provide the critical thinking, empathy, and clinical judgment that algorithms cannot replicate.

Another potential challenge is overreliance on AI in dental diagnosis. This can be problematic because, while AI is a powerful tool, it is not infallible. AI algorithms are trained on data and can miss nuances that a trained dentist would easily recognize. For example, AI might misinterpret certain conditions or fail to account for a patient’s unique circumstances, which a dentist would consider during a comprehensive evaluation. 

If dentists rely too heavily on AI, there is a risk of overlooking important details or making incorrect treatment decisions based on incomplete or inaccurate data. Additionally, overreliance could reduce the development of a dentist's clinical skills and critical thinking. 

AI systems can also perpetuate biases present in their training data. For example, if an AI model is trained primarily on radiographs from one demographic group, it may perform less accurately for patients from other backgrounds. That's why a diverse training datasets and regular auditing of AI systems are necessary for fair and equitable care.

Unlock the Future of Dentistry with AI

As AI continues to transform dental diagnostics and treatment planning, it's important to address the operational challenges that come with integrating new technologies. One significant hurdle is adequately staffing your practice with skilled professionals who can use these AI tools.

With Teero’s staffing platform, you can connect with pre-vetted dental hygienists for both temporary and permanent placements. By streamlining the staffing process, Teero allows your practice to maintain consistent, high-quality patient care, even as you adopt advanced AI solutions.

Give us a call to learn more about our platform and how it can support your unique needs.