Leveraging AI for Enhanced Diagnosis and Treatment Planning

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in the dental world, promising to revolutionize how dental practices operate and serve patients. With an array of remarkable capabilities, AI is not just a trend; it represents a powerful tool that can elevate diagnostic precision, assist in patient education, streamline office operations and enhance the overall patient experience. 

Will AI replace your team members? Absolutely not. But failing to recognize and implement this new technology will quickly leave your practice behind.  

Artificial Intelligence Elevates Diagnostic Capabilities 

Several AI-powered imaging software have emerged in recent months, bringing with them a new era of dental diagnostics. The technology offers image analysis, often detecting minute irregularities that might otherwise be missed. The software can highlight concerns such as caries, calculus, periapical radiolucency, bone levels, notable margins, as well as anatomical structures, including tooth numbers, impacted teeth, restorations and much more. 

Yes, it’ll still require a clinician to read the results of the AI analysis, but the software will make it much easier to show your patients the state of their oral health. Some programs offer color-coded landmarks, making patient education a breeze. Many dentists even promote AI as a “second opinion” during diagnosing. Ultimately, this will lead to higher case acceptance for your practice. 

Tools to Increase Office Efficiency 

Dental practices are not immune to the labor shortage most businesses have been experiencing. The need to increase office efficiency and streamline workflows has never been greater.  

Virtual assistants aren’t new, but they are not often used in the dental office. However, the emergence of virtual dental assistants is a more recent concept. Powered by AI, these script generators can help clinicians chart restorations and periodontal measurements and transcribe clinical notes dictated by a dentist, hygienist or assistant. These features decrease the time spent moving from the patient to the computer and even help eliminate cross-contamination. 

Dental practices can also embed chatbots on their website, which help patients schedule appointments and answer billing and frequently asked questions. Your patients will have round-the-clock support. 

Enhance the Patient Experience 

Your patients probably have quite a few dentists they could choose from. Why do they choose you? Most dentists agree the answer to that question lies in the patient’s experience.  

Patients want to know they are getting the best care possible. Implementing new technologies into each appointment will enhance the patient’s experience in your office. CAD/CAM restoration design has been around for years and was one of the first AI-powered tools in the office. It’s now the standard of care in most practices. The ability to show your patients a 3D model of their teeth within seconds gets them more involved in their treatment. Patients can see how veneers, implants or orthodontic treatment will change their smile before treatment starts. 

How to Implement AI in Your Dental Practice 

Implementing AI solutions in your dental practice requires careful planning, strategic decision-making and a commitment to realizing the benefits of this technology. How will the technology fit into your existing workflows? Offices that take a structured approach to integration will have greater success. 

Before rolling out new software, talk with your team and allow them to participate in the decision-making process. After all, they are the ones who use the software and your other office systems day in and day out. They may be able to provide you with valuable feedback about how the software will work in your practice. A team mentality will also promote buy-in and contribute to better results. 

You should also talk to your IT services company. Adams Brown Technology Specialists can ensure your current equipment will support the additional software and can also assist in installing new programs. 

Once you have decided on a vendor, give your team ample time to train and learn how to use the tool. This training should cover both the technical aspects and best practices for integrating it into their daily routines. Most people are surprised when they see just how easy most of the AI programs are to use, but it’s still important that everyone on your team feels comfortable with all new technology. Contact an Adams Brown technology advisor to learn more about dental AI programs.