Burlington, Vt. (WCAX) – Artificial intelligence is no longer just a concept but a real technology applied in many aspects of life. One field in Vermont starting to use AI is dentistry.
The Vermont State Dental Society says that various forms of AI are becoming commonplace in everyday dentist practice.
At Stowe Family Dentistry, patients leave knowing more about their teeth than ever before.
“He’s answered a lot of questions that come up in our office on a daily basis trying to explain what X-rays are, what part is the gray part, what part is the dark gray part, you know what. is, trying to differentiate between what’s important and what’s not,” said Dr. John Harris of Stowe Family Dentistry.
That’s because dentists John Harris and Jitka Matherli use Pearl — an AI software that highlights decay and infection from X-rays — as part of their routine. He says this helps patients see trouble spots more easily and provides a second opinion when considering a diagnosis.
“As providers, we’re trained to look at all these things, you know, so it’s important to be able to communicate more effectively,” Dr. Harris said.
Stowe Family Dentistry recently adopted the software and uses it in every patient room. Dentists say it also helps other office members, such as hygienists and front desk staff. However, they emphasize that it is only a tool and not a replacement.
“I think it’s pretty automatic for us. We’re not going to have you throw away what we’ve learned in practice for 20 years because there’s a pink color on the screen, but it’s helpful,” Stu. Dr. Jitka Matherli of Family Dentistry said.
Justin Hilbert of the Vermont State Dental Society agrees, saying AI in dentistry is more focused on diagnostics and X-rays. He also notes that AI is being used to sort through records and databases to uncover information, which is more efficient than doing it manually. But overall, AI in dentistry is in its infancy.
“It doesn’t replace the clinical judgment of practitioners, because a lot goes into treating a patient,” Dr. Hilbert said. “We use it in scanning, scanning and rehabilitation design, all the things that come with high-quality treatment. You know, the more information you have, the more information you have in rehabilitation and all of that. can be used to design
Hilbert also directs UVM’s dental residency program. As technology evolves, so does education, he says, and residents are exposed to scanning, restoration, and design AI technology.
“Perhaps as much as anything as a profession, we are cautiously optimistic — but love the help it can give us and how it can change patient care,” Dr. Hilbert said. “
The American Dental Association also says that AI can be used for treatment planning and data analysis. However, their standards for AI emphasize that clinical decisions are reserved for dentists and that AI developers are transparent about how products are designed and used.
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