A Survey of Patient Perspectives on AI in Dentistry

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to make inroads into healthcare, a recent multinational study has provided insight into dental patients' perspectives regarding its expanding role in diagnostics. The findings indicate that while patients are generally optimistic about the advantages AI could bring, they emphasize the necessity for human oversight in its implementation.

The study, conducted by researchers from Aarhus University, investigates patient attitudes towards the application of AI in dental imaging--a field that has seen increasing adoption despite limited understanding among patients regarding its implications. Associate Professor Ruben Pauwels from the Department of Dentistry and Oral Health at Aarhus University noted the importance of incorporating patient feedback in the conversation about AI in dental care.

The research, published in the journal Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, revealed that patients recognize AI as a valuable tool that can improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. Nevertheless, concerns regarding data privacy and potential increases in healthcare costs persist. Importantly, a significant majority of respondents expressed that AI should always be coupled with professional human supervision.

The study also highlighted variations in attitudes based on cultural differences among participants from six different nations. For example, patients from Brazil exhibited a greater willingness to consider AI in roles traditionally held by dentists, likely influenced by frustrations with lengthy wait times and inconsistent quality of care within the country's healthcare system.

These findings are consistent with those from dental professionals, who also acknowledge the promise AI holds while underscoring the need for ethical safeguards and thorough validation before full-scale implementation.

According to Pauwels, these results underscore the necessity of treating AI as a supplementary tool in healthcare while ensuring it does not supplant human expertise. He emphasized the importance of transparency regarding the use of AI, advocating for educational initiatives for both healthcare providers and patients to clarify the capabilities and limitations of AI technologies. Continuous evaluation and validation of AI systems are also deemed essential for maintaining their reliability and effectiveness in clinical settings.

Looking ahead, researchers anticipate that public sentiment regarding AI will continue to evolve as its presence in healthcare becomes more common and better understood. In response to this trend, Aarhus University is set to incorporate AI training into its dental curriculum starting in 2026, while also developing communication resources to assist clinics in effectively conveying the role of AI to their patients.