By Gillian Gunning
Artificial intelligence (AI) seems to be everywhere right now — from writing tools to online shopping, even helping plan your holidays. I was at a talk recently about how AI is changing the way businesses run, and I couldn’t help but reflect on how it’s already creeping into dentistry too.
At our practice, we’ve trialled radiology AI to support diagnosis of dental X-rays. It was impressive in how quickly it flagged up potential issues, but in truth, we found it a little too enthusiastic. We tried and tested the system, but ultimately didn’t feel it was ready yet. For us, the concern was that younger dentists, just starting out, could become over-reliant on it. In reality, AI doesn’t replace the careful human eye — we still need to examine and rationalise its findings. For now, it’s back to our experienced clinicians to make those decisions. Clinical judgment, shaped by experience and patient context, remains irreplaceable.
That said, I’m no AI sceptic. Like many of you, I use AI daily without even thinking about it. It’s embedded in maps, voice assistants, shopping apps, I even consciously use AI software to help me on a daily basis with tasks like planning our monthly team meetings or brainstorming ideas or teaching my self about A! It saves me time, helps me organise my life, and makes information easier to access. In equal measures, I find it fascinating and a bit scary.
Dentistry itself is already benefitting from AI and new technology in ways you might not expect. AI is being used within software to help the design dental crowns before they are milled. This type of evolving technology is helping the profession provide care more efficiently, while also creating new skills and roles within the team.
Where will it all lead? Honestly, I don’t think anyone can predict exactly how AI will shape dentistry over the next five years. What I am sure of is that the pace of change will be far faster than most of us expect. Our responsibility is to stay curious, keep learning, and adopt what truly improves patient care — without losing the human touch that sits at the heart of dentistry.
Technology will keep evolving, and so will we. As ever, our focus is to use the best of what’s available to make your experience smoother, more comfortable, and more effective — while keeping people, not machines, at the centre of your care.
