The integration of AI into dentistry is an exciting advancement that holds promises of improved patient outcomes and streamlined operations. TDIC’s Risk Management analysts explain the risks associated with AI use and share tips for mitigating those risks.
Artificial intelligence offers innovative solutions for diagnosis, treatment planning and patient management in dentistry. Its integration also brings forth risks that dentists must be vigilant about to ensure patient safety and trust while minimizing their exposure to liability. The Dentists Insurance Company’s Risk Management Advice Line analysts point out that understanding these risks and adopting best practices to mitigate them is crucial.
Understanding AI
AI applications in dentistry range from AI-powered imaging systems to robotic surgical assistants. Have you integrated any of these common or emerging uses in your practice yet?
Common uses:
- Diagnostics and imaging: AI algorithms can analyze dental images like radiographs and 3D scans to identify dental caries, cancerous lesions and other abnormalities with high accuracy.
- Treatment planning: AI can help to create precise treatment plans by analyzing patient data, leading to efficient and personalized dental care.
- Automated scheduling: AI systems can manage appointments, reducing no-shows and optimizing schedules for patients and dental staff.
- Patient engagement: AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can provide patients with instant responses to inquiries, improving responsiveness and service satisfaction.
Emerging uses:
- Predictive analytics: AI can predict oral health issues before they arise by analyzing patterns in data, assisting in anticipating potential complications and facilitating preventive care.
- AI-powered robotics: Advanced robotic systems can assist in delicate procedures like ideal dental implant positioning, ensuring precision and reducing procedure time.
- Teledentistry: AI can support online consultations, enabling remote diagnostics and consultations and expanding access especially to rural areas.
Key risks of AI in dentistry
Each of these technologies has the potential to significantly enhance diagnostic precision and treatment outcomes.
Yet, each comes with its own set of challenges.
Data privacy concerns. AI systems require vast amounts of patient data to learn and function
effectively. This can raise significant data privacy and security issues, making sensitive patient information
vulnerable to breaches.
Diagnostic errors. While AI can enhance diagnostic capabilities, it’s not infallible. If AI is
used in diagnosis or treatment planning, the dentist must ensure that the AI recommendations meet the established
standard of care to avoid potential liability. Reliance on AI for diagnosis without proper clinician input can lead
to errors due to misinterpretation by the AI algorithms or due to biases in the data used to train the AI.
Algorithm bias. AI tools may exhibit
bias if trained on nonrepresentative datasets, leading to unintended racial or ethnic disparities in
treatment outcomes. Without diverse data training sets, providing fair treatment options for all patient
demographics may be difficult.
Lack of human oversight. Overreliance on AI systems might lead to a lack of necessary human
oversight. Dentists must remember that AI is a tool to assist — not replace — their professional judgment.
Ethical and legal implications. The use of AI in dentistry comes with ethical considerations,
such as transparency about the use of AI technologies in patient care. Additionally, liability in cases of
malpractice involving AI decisions is a legal gray area.
Integration and usability issues. Integrating AI systems into existing dental practice
workflows can be challenging. There might be a steep learning curve, or AI systems may not seamlessly integrate with
existing technologies.
