Artificial Intelligence Helps Dentists Find Cavities or Create Implants

X-rays are Great, but…

Currently, dentists usually diagnose dental cavities through visual and tactile examinations, primarily using a dental mirror and probe. However, when there are deep fissures in the teeth or the teeth are tightly crowded, early detection of cavities is complicated. Many cavities are thus discovered only at advanced stages, resulting in more complicated treatment or the need for tooth extraction.

Dentists increasingly rely on dental X-rays, which are almost indispensable in many cases. An extraoral panoramic image, or orthopantomogram (OPG), provides dentists with an overall view and reveals, for example, inflammation hidden at the roots of the teeth. More details are shown by intraoral images – bite-wing images reveal cavities hidden between teeth and under fillings, while periapical images are used by dentists when examining and treating root canals.

While these diagnostic methods are commonly used in practice and are considered highly reliable, the final diagnosis still largely depends on the experience and judgment of the practicing dentist. As in many other medical fields, this opens up potential for erroneous interpretations and possible mistakes.

Reliably Finds Dental Cavities

Tools of artificial intelligence (AI) could thus bring efficiency improvements to current practices. Several recent studies have focused on the possibilities of detecting dental cavities, root fractures, or evaluating tooth wear from two-dimensional X-ray images.

Each pixel has different intensity in shades of gray, expressing the different density of the object. AI algorithms can learn to distinguish differently dense structures of dental tissue, thus detecting possible cavities or other defects. Studies conducted so far have shown that AI yields promising results in the early detection of cavities and that its accuracy is equal to, or even better than, that of experienced dentists.

Artificial Intelligence Designs Bridges and Implants

AI could also find application in the reconstructive area of dentistry – in designing and creating dental implants, bridges, and crowns. The current common process of preparing a dental crown involves tooth preparation, impression taking, cast adjustment, replacement design, manufacturing, testing, and final attachment.

Recent research has therefore focused on making this process more efficient. They are exploring the possibilities of AI systems for designing crowns from 2D depth maps created using 3D tooth models. Results so far show that the morphology of such generated crowns is very similar to the morphology of natural teeth, which could make the resulting treatment even more tailored to the specific needs of individual patients.

AI Eases Prediction of Results in Orthodontics

Another area of dentistry where AI tools can find wide application is orthodontics. Since it is a highly individualized field of medicine, where each patient is unique and many variables come into play, it is often difficult for the orthodontist to establish an effective treatment plan or predict possible outcomes.

AI could thus find use in determining treatment procedures and plans, for example, in cephalometric analysis, segmentation and classification of teeth, or assessing whether extraction of certain teeth will be needed during treatment.

AI could also have great benefits in predicting possible outcomes, for example, in graphical simulation of changes from patient facial photographs. An illustrative demonstration of orthodontic treatment effects can significantly help in communication between patients and dentists, which is crucial in orthodontics.

(jko)

Sources:
1. Ding H., Wu J., Zhao W. et al. Artificial intelligence in dentistry – A review. Front Dent Med. 2023; (4), doi: 10.3389/fdmed.2023.1085251.
2. Lee J. H., Kim D. H., Jeong S. N., Choi S. H. Detection and diagnosis of dental caries using a deep learning-based convolutional neural network algorithm. J Dent. 2018; 77: 106–111, doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2018.07.015.
3. Kühnisch J., Meyer O., Hesenius M. et al. Caries detection on intraoral images using artificial intelligence. J Dent Res. 2022; 101 (2): 158–165, doi: 10.1177/00220345211032524.
4. Ong S. H., Kim H., Song J. S. et al. Fully automated deep learning approach to dental development assessment in panoramic radiographs. BMC Oral Health. 2024; 24 (1): 426, doi: 10.1186/s12903-024-04160-6.