How Artificial Intelligence Is Reshaping Patient Care

In the ever-evolving landscape of dental hygiene clinical expectations, improving care and workflow by incorporating new technology is a necessary step to advance the profession. One of the latest advancements in dentistry is artificial intelligence (AI). Thousands of literature reviews on the role of AI in healthcare and hundreds on the use of AI in dentistry have already been published.^1–4 However, little of this research speaks specifically to how AI can benefit dental hygienists and improve the standards for dental hygiene practice. Like any emerging technology, it’s essential to understand what’s available; evaluate how it will affect workflow, efficiency, and quality; and identify the best ways to incorporate it into practice.

AI is defined as software capable of executing cognitive tasks similar to those of humans, including perception, reasoning, interacting with surroundings, and solving problems. To put it simply, AI is trained and AI learns.⁵ Figure 1 demonstrates the results of the 2024 AI in Dental Hygiene Survey conducted by Heartland Dental and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association on how AI is gaining traction in the dental hygiene profession.⁶

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* References and figures can be found in the original article via the link above.