GDC Report Highlights AI Applications and Challenges in Dentistry
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- Published: Thursday, 21 August 2025 05:22
- Written by News Editor
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The General Dental Council (GDC) has released a report exploring the current use of artificial intelligence (AI) in dental services and its implications for professionals, patients, and the wider sector.
Commissioned by Peninsula Dental School at the University of Plymouth, the review analysed 45 international studies published since 2020, primarily from China (18) and the United States (13). No UK-based studies were included.
The research identified three key areas of AI application in dentistry:
- Robotics – Used in implant surgery, with systems like the Yomi robot aiding precision.
- Deep Learning – Applied in caries detection and treatment, including smartphone apps for intraoral imaging.
- Supervised Machine Learning – Employed in paediatric dentistry for predicting and identifying childhood caries.
While AI shows promise in improving diagnostic accuracy, patient outcomes, and enabling remote care, the report also notes risks such as complications in patients with poor bone quality and increased anxiety due to robotic systems. Additional challenges include high costs, training demands, patient compliance, and the need for clinical oversight.
Despite growing interest, real-world adoption remains limited. The report highlights significant gaps in evidence around best practices, large-scale trials, UK-specific research, ethical concerns, data protection, and the impact on equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Read the report here.
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