AI in Dental Radiographs

AI in Dental Radiographs: Game-Changer for Diagnosis or Risk for Overdiagnosis?


The Dentaltown thread on AI for radiographic diagnosis reveals a wide spectrum of real-world feedback, enthusiasm, concerns, and skepticism from practicing dentists. Here’s a distilled summary of the core themes:

Clinical Utility and Patient Impact
Many dentists using tools like Pearl, Overjet, and Videa (often integrated with Dentrix or Apteryx) report improved diagnostic consistency, easier communication with patients, and significantly higher treatment plan acceptance. Patients are reportedly impressed by the AI visuals and trust the diagnosis more, which boosts case acceptance and referrals.

AI Strengths
AI excels at detecting interproximal caries, bone loss, calculus, overhangs, and voids. It helps catch previously missed pathologies by analyzing past radiographs. Some platforms offer auto-charting, patient education tools, and practice management alerts tied to AI findings.

False Positives and Diagnostic Caution
A major concern is overdiagnosis. Multiple users report frequent false positives—especially misreading cervical burnout, radiolucent composites, or overlapping contacts as caries. Conservative clinicians are wary that AI could push overtreatment if not used judiciously. Still, many accept its value as a second opinion.

Insurance Implications
A recurring fear is insurance companies using AI (like Overjet) to deny claims, especially when the dentist’s diagnosis doesn’t align with the AI’s. This creates tension around control, reimbursement, and liability. Dentists are worried about being judged or second-guessed based on AI-generated overlays.

Workplace and Power Dynamics
Several associates in DSO settings describe being pressured by non-clinical staff—especially office managers—who use AI output to question diagnoses or push more treatment. This raises alarm about erosion of clinical autonomy and potential misuse of AI to meet corporate production goals.

Ethical and Legal Questions
There’s deep concern about AI calibration, transparency, and accountability. Who sets the diagnostic thresholds? Who audits the system? What happens when different AI platforms (or insurers) disagree? Some advocate for open-source models and user-specific calibration options to avoid one-size-fits-all algorithms.

Future Outlook
Most agree AI will become standard within 5–10 years, particularly for 2D imaging. Some foresee it expanding into CBCT, panoramic analysis, and even clinical decision-making and business ops. Others fear it’s the first step toward de-skilling the profession, commoditizing diagnostics, and handing control to insurers or Wall Street-backed tech firms.

Bottom Line
AI is a powerful diagnostic adjunct, not a replacement for human judgment. Dentists who use it wisely report better patient communication and fewer missed diagnoses. But uncritical use, especially in corporate or non-clinical hands, risks overdiagnosis, loss of autonomy, and ethical dilemmas. Most agree: AI is here to stay, but dentists must stay in the driver’s seat.


Join the Conversation!


Sponsors
Townie Perks
Townie® Poll
Who or what do you turn to for most financial advice regarding your practice?
  
Sally Gross, Member Services Specialist
Phone: +1-480-445-9710
Email: sally@farranmedia.com
©2025 Dentaltown, a division of Farran Media • All Rights Reserved
9633 S. 48th Street Suite 200 • Phoenix, AZ 85044 • Phone:+1-480-598-0001 • Fax:+1-480-598-3450