Will a Robot Replace My Dentist? The Role of AI in Dentistry

There is a lot of excitement about AI as a potential game changer in many fields, including healthcare. Billions of dollars are being invested to improve AI models and expand their use. So what is AI, and how is it used in dentistry?

What is AI?

Simply put, AI learns patterns from data and uses those patterns to make predictions in similar situations. For example, a model can be trained to detect dental decay by reviewing large numbers of X‑rays labeled for decay. The model then learns to identify similar signs on new X‑rays.

Current applications of AI in dentistry AI is already used in a number of clinical and practice workflows:

• Radiographic review: AI can highlight possible cavities, bone loss, and other findings on bitewing, periapical, and panoramic X‑rays to help dentists review images more quickly and consistently.

• Orthodontics: AI helps automate landmarking and measurements and can support customized aligner treatment planning.

• Implant planning and 3D imaging: AI assists with anatomical segmentation (teeth, nerve canals, sinuses) and can support implant position suggestions in CBCT images.

• Patient communication and operations: Some clinics use AI chatbots for common patient questions, appointment scheduling, and post‑treatment instructions.

• Outcome simulation and restorative workflows: AI speeds up tasks such as virtual wax‑ups, tooth segmentation, and prosthetic design in CAD/CAM systems.

In his 2025 National Day Rally speech, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong referenced Q&M Dental’s use of AI to analyze dental X‑rays. That example illustrates how clinics are adopting AI to support routine image review and workflow efficiency.

Limitations of AI

Safety, limits and guidance AI brings benefits but also has limits. Health authorities emphasize that AI should be an assistive tool—not a replacement for clinical judgment. For example, recent guidance from Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) reiterates that clinicians remain responsible for diagnosis and care decisions and that the clinician–patient relationship remains valuable.

Some key cautions include:

• Errors and “hallucinations”: AI can produce confident but incorrect outputs. Clinician review is essential to catch mistakes.

• Generalizability: Models trained on one dataset may perform worse on different patient groups or imaging settings.

• Privacy and data security: Practices must protect patient data and follow applicable privacy rules when using cloud or vendor services.

• Validation and oversight: Prefer tools with independent validation, regulatory clearance where applicable, and clear vendor documentation on performance and updates.

Concluding views on AI

AI is a useful assistant that can speed up diagnosis, increase consistency, and help with planning. Part of this article was also written with the help of AI. However, dentists still need to verify AI findings and apply clinical judgment. AI can flag issues or suggest options, but final decisions and the human aspects of care remain with the clinician.

I recently chatted online with a customer agent who introduced himself as “Alan” and later learned “he” was an AI chatbot. Despite repeated explanations, the replies stayed cold and factual. That experience highlights a key limitation of AI - it lacks human empathy and the subtle understanding that comes from real human interaction.