Embracing Artificial Intelligence in Aligner Treatment Planning

We tend to attribute all but the simplest human behavior to intelligence. This candid truth has led experts to collate and recreate machine functions that simulate human intelligence. Since machines lack intentionality, many actions that are imputed to machinery cannot directly be celebrated as actions that stem from intelligence. As a result, Artificial Intelligence came to be; described as the ability of machines to perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence to perform.

In dentistry, AI has been adopted in many diverse disciplines such as operative dentistry, periodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, prosthodontics, and orthodontics. Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics have been especially blessed with the progression of AI and when combined with the magnificence of clear aligners, AI has rewritten the meaning of top-notch quality of care.

As we explore the uncharted back roads of AI in aligner sequences, we can hopefully anticipate a new augmented reality of orthodontic treatment. But first, let’s take a dip in what AI actually is.

What is Artificial Intelligence?

While it may feel like the popularity surrounding AI is just seeing the light of day in recent years, the groundwork for its development began ages ago. A scientist named Alan Turing was one of the first researchers to be enamored by this concept of intelligent matter in machines. In fact, in his seminal work “Computing Machinery and Intelligence” which was published in 1950, he asked the notorious question “Can machines think?”

Decades later in 1956, another scientist John McCarthy co-authored a document that coined the term “artificial intelligence”. Something like this that has bewildered experts for centuries has now integrated seamlessly into today’s latest-age technology. Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science that employs algorithms to tackle problem-solving, learning, and logical reasoning.

In simple words, artificial refers to a method by which a machine is used to do a task that requires human intelligence without human intervention. Various subsets of AI exist such as deep learning, machine learning, cognitive computing, and fuzzy logic. Overall, these AI components are used to comprehend statistical patterns and data structures to complete tasks at any degree of complexity.

AI in aligner treatment planning

AI has been used in the dental industry to accomplish everything from diagnosing diseases based on radiographs to curating specialized care plans for each patient. Here are some of the many revolutionary ways artificial intelligence is used in orthodontics, particularly aligner treatment.

• Diagnostics and imaging

Advanced software and machine learning programs are equipped to analyze dental radiographs, intraoral scans, and 3D images and in turn detect and diagnose dental conditions like malocclusion, fracture, and tumors accurately. AI is also able to compare thousands of images and identify patterns and abnormalities, helping dentists make more precise diagnoses. Early detection of inconspicuous conditions will lead to timely interventions, thereby improving patient outcomes.

Through AI-powered imaging systems, your dentist can create 3D models of your teeth and jaws. These 3D models can then be used to plan the orthodontic treatment plan. This software also automates the recording of tooth dimensions and can help dentists predict the course of their patient’s treatment along with potential outcomes.

• Personalized treatment planning

AI algorithms can process vast amounts of patient information including medical history, genetics, and lifestyle factors. By identifying patterns from these past cases, AI can accurately identify patterns and learn to predict tooth movement with greater precision. This personalized approach enhances the quality of care and also optimizes treatment efficacy.

Using AI, orthodontists can visualize the desired final outcomes of a treatment even before they begin. Through the compiled data, AI can suggest the most effective aligner sequence in order to achieve the most desired results. Not only can this allow the dentist to make proactive adjustments to the treatment plan but also ensures that the overall treatment duration and associated costs are significantly reduced.

• Enhanced surgical procedures

AI is well-integrated into the surgical realm of dentistry. In oral and maxillofacial surgery as well as orthopedics, robots have been used to assist with delicate procedures such as bone grafting and implant placement. This is done by ensuring greater precision while at the same time minimizing risks, which can lead to shorter surgery times, faster recovery, and improved patient outcomes.

AI is also used to perform repetitive tasks such as orthodontic adjustments. So, maybe at your next braces adjustment appointment, you may get a chance to have it done by a Dr. Robot. By automating such tasks, dentists can be available to perform more critical and complex procedures.

• Virtual dental asistants

If you’ve visited at least one dental website, you may have run into advanced AI without even realizing it. Most companies now use virtual assistants that help streamline administrative workflow. AI script generators in the form of chatbots are used to manage appointment scheduling, patient inquiries, and billing processes. By using AI, local dentists can ensure that they provide round-the-clock support to their patients.

Another brilliant way AI has been automated is through teledentistry. You can now videoconference with your dentists and improve your dental care remotely. Using AI-powered sensors and wearable devices, your dentist can now monitor your oral health for extended periods especially when you cannot see them as scheduled. These devices can not only track your oral hygiene and adverse habits but also allow dentists to monitor the progress of their patient’s aligner treatment.

AI has now opened the doors to new elevated levels of precision, personalization, and efficiency. Orthodontists around the world are leveraging AI to improve treatment planning and quality care for aligner patients. What were once tedious manual processes, can now be augmented using powerful algorithms. It is exciting to see what AI has for us in store in the future.