Will AI Render Traditional Dentistry Obsolete?
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- Published: Friday, 09 January 2026 09:33
- Written by Peter Ingle
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As the profession, training establishments and the NHS grapple with workforce planning, they may merely need to fill a short gap before the transition to a vastly different way of delivering dental care.
A recent paper published in the Springer medical publication, Cureus, makes not just the bold assertion above regarding the fate of “traditional dentistry,” but sets out a timescale for those changes.
The authors from the Medical University of Sofia, led by Aleksandar Naydenov, Assistant Professor at the Department of Prosthetic Dental Medicine see the integration of AI as a revolution that will come into effect in four distinct stages. AI use may start with comparatively narrow task-specific models, but has the potential to develop towards artificial general intelligence (AGI) led practices.
A timescale is envisaged which begins with competition with traditional approaches in diagnostics, anticipated to occur between now and 2035. A second phase of virtual planning and construction is starting to come into play now but will take longer to become fully established. Similarly the timescale for actually executing procedures will run from now to 2040, with AGI moving to a position of dominance in some task specific procedures between now and 2047.
Systems are already being used to interpret x-ray images, predict and monitor orthodontic outcomes, and design prosthetic restorations, as well as automating administrative processes including appointment scheduling, and patient communication.
More advanced AI systems under development will include ones that that integrate diverse data sources, and robotics for autonomous procedures. Long-term there is the potential of AGI to perform all the intellectual tasks that human dentists do.
The authors explain that each of their four stages describes the possible evolution of AI in dentistry, and that each stage represents a conceptual scenario based on observed trends, rather than a prediction.
The expectation that AI may surpass human capabilities in dentistry is based on current trends in machine learning and deep learning advancements, robotics, and data integration.
Breaking down the first, primarily diagnostic stage will see AI dealing with specific tasks such as predicting tooth extractions and detecting periapical lesions from X-ray images. AI will increasingly compete with human specialists in specific diagnostic tasks for oral cancer, particularly in analysing histopathological images and CT scans. By 2028, AI systems such as ChatGPT could equal skilled humans in scientific writing and predictive algorithms.
To reach the fourth stage AGI will be required with a recent survey of 2,778 AI researchers finding a median expectation of AGI becoming real by 2047.
The authors of the paper supported their predictions with evidence from validated studies, but accept that extrapolations regarding timing, scope, and workforce impact are speculative. Their timelines are hypothetical and intended to stimulate discussion about possible futures.
Outside dentistry, AI is beginning to replace humans in executing specific tasks across various professions. This shift raises questions about the future roles of dentists and dental technicians.
The authors concluded that the four hypothetical stages offered have important limitations, and that future scientific publications on this topic would improve its robustness as a scientific contribution.
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