Advances in Artificial Intelligence-aided Intraoral Imaging Analysis in Periodontics

Artificial intelligence has increasingly influenced the field of periodontology by enhancing diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning through advanced data-driven techniques. It was aimed to examine the integration of artificial intelligence, particularly deep learning and machine learning, in analyzing intraoral photographs for periodontal conditions in this review. Periodontal assessments rely on clinical and radiographic evaluations, but artificial intelligence introduces a transformative approach by analyzing large datasets to improve clinical decision-making. The review investigates the effectiveness of artificial intelligence-enhanced intraoral photograph analysis, focusing on methodologies for dataset creation, model development, training, and performance evaluation. A thorough search of databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and IEEE Xplore identified 338 articles, with 16 meeting the inclusion criteria. These studies primarily utilized convolutional neural networks and architectures like DeepLabv3+ and U-Net, demonstrating high accuracy in detecting conditions such as gingivitis, dental plaque, and other periodontal issues. The dataset sizes ranged from 110 to 7220 images, affecting the models' generalizability. Most studies employed supervised learning, with models trained on labeled datasets to achieve precise diagnostic outcomes. The review highlights that while artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques, including convolutional neural networks and U-Net, offer significant improvements in periodontal diagnostics, the choice of model and the quality of the dataset are crucial for performance. Hybrid approaches that combine automated and expert-driven methods might provide a balance between efficiency and accuracy. The successful integration of artificial intelligence into clinical practice requires continuous validation and adaptation to ensure that these technologies remain accurate and relevant. Future research should focus on enhancing model robustness, expanding dataset diversity, and refining clinical applications to fully exploit the potential of artificial intelligence in periodontology.