AI in Pediatric Dentistry

Study Notes

Overview of AI in Pediatric Dentistry

Rapid growth of AI applications in various fields, including pediatric dentistry.
Literature assessment conducted to synthesize existing study findings on AI in pediatric dentistry.

Applications of AI

Prediction of Early Childhood Caries:
- Many studies focused on predicting future caries experiences using AI.
- Variation in accuracy reported, ranging from 60% to 98%.
Automated Teeth Charting:
- AI assists in automated reporting through radiographs or photographs.
- Identifies supernumerary teeth, enhancing efficiency in dental practices.
Plaque Detection:
- AI tools can help detect dental plaque, beneficial for both professionals (e.g., dental hygienists) and patients.
- Development of plaque detection apps aids in improving patients’ oral hygiene.
Age Estimation:
- AI applications extend to estimating children’s age, contributing to tailored dental care.

Accuracy and Support

Tooth Classification:
- AI demonstrates comparable or superior accuracy to expert dentists.
- Significantly reduces the time required for thorough tooth classification.
Supernumerary Teeth Identification:
- Current AI technologies do not outperform experts in identifying supernumerary teeth like mesiodens.
- AI may be useful for training students and supporting less experienced dentists.

Challenges in Evaluation

Difficulty in evaluating AI's true value due to lack of comparisons with standard care.
Accuracy metrics were inconsistent across different studies, complicating assessments of AI efficacy in pediatric dentistry.

Description

Explore the rapidly growing field of Artificial Intelligence in pediatric dentistry, including its applications in predicting early childhood caries, automated teeth charting, and detecting dental plaque. Learn about the latest findings and uses of AI in this field.