AI and Dentistry: Bridging the Gap between Technology and Patient Care

The fourth industrial revolution has led to the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a significant contributor to various industries, including robotics, automotive, and healthcare.AI is particularly useful in dentistry, as it can diagnose conditions that surpass human capabilities.AI research in dentistry has permeated all domains, but there is a need for a comprehensive approach to study design, data allocation, and model performance.AI has been increasingly used in various fields, including operative dentistry, periodontics, orthodontics, and orthodontics.In operative dentistry, AI has been used to identify dental caries, vertical root fractures, apical lesions, pulp space volume, and tooth wear.In periodontics, AI has been used to diagnose periodontitis and categorize potential types of periodontal diseases.In orthodontics, AI has been used to plan and predict treatment outcomes, simulate alterations in facial photographs before and after treatment, and facilitate communication between patients and dentists.AI is playing a significant role in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (OMFP), specifically in detecting tumors and cancer using radiographic, microscopic, and ultrasonographic images.In prosthodontics, AI has been used in restoration design, enhancing workflow efficiency and accuracy.AI-driven virtual dental assistants can perform tasks with enhanced precision and reduced errors and can accurately detect genetic predisposition to oral cancer.AI has significantly transformed the field of oral surgery, forensic odontology, dentistry, and bioprinting.Robotic surgery, imageguided cranial surgery, and voice-activated dental chairs have shown efficacy in clinical settings.Bioprinting, a technology that generates living tissue and organs, has the potential to reconstruct oral tissues lost due to pathological or unintentional factors.However, the potential for AI to replace dentists remains uncertain, and its generalizability and reliability need to be assessed using external data.