Getting real about AI in dentistry

AI technology is already deeply embedded in our daily lives and looks certain to transform the future of dental practice. But while these powerful, data-crunching applications have obvious benefits, they also pose risks for patients and dental professionals.

Simon Kidd explains what this means for dental students and trails a must-watch webinar about AI in healthcare from the DDU and MDU on 6 November.

How is AI being used in UK dental practice right now and what’s next?

AI has been widely adopted to speed-up record keeping and it’s starting to be used in areas like diagnostics and clinical decision support.

However, a rapid evidence assessment on the how AI is currently being used in dental services which was carried out by Peninsula Dental School for the GDC found that “real-world implementation of AI in dental services remains limited” and there are significant gaps in the evidence relating to UK-specific applications.

According to the study, the US and China are currently leading the way in terms of real-world AI studies and these broadly fall into three categories:

• robotics, especially implant surgery;
• deep learning such as analysing intraoral photos taken on a patient’s smartphone to identify caries; and
• supervised machine learning, which is being used in paediatric dentistry to predict the risk of childhood decay.

Given that the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan has pledged to make the NHS “the most AI-enabled care system in the world”, it’s only a matter of time before these applications reach UK dental practices.

What should dental professionals consider before using AI for record keeping?

Record-keeping apps have the potential to free up time to spend with patients but you need to be aware of the risks, particularly undermining the integrity of records.

Early prompt-driven records programmes brought up templates with suggested content in response to words like local anaesthetic. These might have looked impressive but if a regulator or solicitor found identical wording in multiple entries they would inevitably question whether your records truly reflected what had taken place. The latest Ambient AI record apps are more sophisticated as they create a transcript of the consultation and then summarise this for the dental professional to review and approve. However, the dental professional must still always be happy with the summary that’s going in their name: it should be what you did do, not what the software thinks you might have done.

Data protection is another concern if the application involves a third party storing sensitive personal information. Practices should have privacy and data security policies in place and ensure that third party providers are also compliant with the law. We advise individual dental professionals to only use AI systems that have been approved by your workplace and follow workplace policies rather than going down the DIY route and subscribing to a record keeping app. If you’re a dental student or foundation trainee, speak to your personal tutor, educational supervisor or training programme director.

Should AI technology replace a dental professional’s clinical judgment?

AI will change the way that we work but it won’t replace the important role of clinicians in patient care. With diagnostic tools, for example, you need to be aware of the risk of hallucinations – where the software generates plausible but incorrect data.

For that reason, I’d treat AI output with healthy scepticism and don’t let it override your own clinical experience. If you’re at an early stage in your dental career it’s a good idea to get second set of eyes from your educational supervisor and peers.

There may come a point when AI diagnostic tools are so consistently accurate compared with a human that it would be a mistake not to use them. However, the dental professional always needs to be involved. Ultimately, you’ll be liable for your own actions, including your decision to use the technology.

Is it OK to use AI to draft a letter to a complainant?

This would be a big concern for us. First, it would be difficult to do this without providing the Generative AI platform with patient information which could then be stored in a data centre on the other side of the world. This would be a serious breach of confidentiality.

Second, there’s a big risk that the letter wouldn’t fulfil its primary purpose which is to address the patient’s specific concerns and resolve the complaint. AI generated content might trip you up with information or language from its country of origin rather than the UK. It might omit important points such as the offer of a meeting, the right to refer the matter to the ombudsman or a sincere and specific apology when appropriate. Even worse, it might sound so obviously ‘artificial’ that it only inflames the situation. All this could compromise your position and make it more likely that the complaint will continue.

If you receive a complaint, the best thing to do is to contact the DDU straight away so we can give you personal advice and support.

What’s your message for dental students who are tempted to use AI in their studies?

AI can be useful for summarising documents but I wouldn’t use it to write an assignment. Passing off AI generated work as your own would raise serious questions about your honesty and universities are increasingly using text-matching software to sniff out fakes.

As a dental student, you’ll be held to a higher standard of behaviour than many other undergraduates, starting from day one. If you’re caught cheating, there’s a high chance that you’ll be penalised under your dental school’s fitness to practise process which mirrors the one for qualified dental professionals. And while you may be allowed to remain on the course and graduate, you would need to disclose this fitness to practise history to the GDC when applying to join the register so they can investigate and take a view about your suitability to be a dental professional.

Doubts about your honesty and integrity are often the most troubling and hardest to get past as a dental professional. If an incident raises questions about your performance, you can reflect, train and remediate but it’s much more difficult to demonstrate change if you’re suspected of being untrustworthy.

Tell us about what you’re going to be covering in the AI in Healthcare webinar?

It’s going to be on 6 November at 7pm and I’m co-hosting with Dr Oliver Lord, one of the MDU’s medico-legal advisers who is a wiz on this subject. He’ll be giving a presentation about how AI works and then we’ll discuss how the technology is being used in medicine and dentistry, as well as the legal and ethical implications for our members.

This is the first joint event with the MDU which I’m pleased about as we’re all healthcare professionals and it’s an opportunity to share experiences and learn from each other.

If members would like to attend, they can register here.

Where can students find out more on this topic?

In addition to the webinar, you can find loads more articles about AI on the DDU and MDU websites, including:

AI and record-keeping: risks vs rewards

Adopting AI in healthcare

Using AI safely and responsibly in primary care

 

The DDU is here for you as a student and throughout your dental career. Visit the join DDU pages to explore the benefits of membership now and beyond graduation.

 

Need help? Contact us

Student members can contact our dento-legal advisers for support or call us on 0800 374 626 between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday

This page was correct at publication on 16/09/2025. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.