A review on harnessing AI for precision dentistry: A new era in oral healthcare

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming dental public health by improving diagnostic accuracy, treatment planning, and patient care. This review explores how AI enhances disease forecasting, treatment precision, and scalability through machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) algorithms, which analyze large datasets to predict disease trends. In dentistry, AI has revolutionized caries detection, classification of dental restorations, and treatment planning, often outperforming traditional methods. AI-powered tools like smart toothbrushes provide real-time feedback for oral hygiene, while AI applications in nutrition offer personalized dietary assessments that influence oral health. Additionally, AI driven models combining genetic and environmental factors enable precise caries risk predictions and targeted interventions. Ethical and legal challenges, such as data security and potential biases, need to be addressed to fully realize AI's potential. Despite these concerns, AI holds significant promise for improving patient outcomes and enhancing the efficiency of healthcare systems. Its integration into oral healthcare is poised to enhance the quality and accessibility of care, ushering in a new era of precision dentistry.