A hospital radiologist is often pictured as a specialist who sits in a dark room and spends hours poring over X-rays to make diagnoses. Contrast that with your dentist, who in addition to interpreting X-rays must also perform surgery, communicate with patients, manage staff, and run their business. When dentists analyze X-rays, they generally do so in bright rooms and on computers that aren’t specialized for radiology, often with the patient sitting right next to them. [1]

Figure 1. Artificial Intelligence takes the Guesswork Out of Dental Care

Figure 1 shows in addition to helping dentists detect and treat diseases, Overjet’s software is also designed to help dentists show patients the problems they’re seeing and explain why they’re recommending certain treatments.

The company has already analyzed tens of millions of X-rays, is used by dental practices nationwide, and is currently working with insurance companies that represent more than 75 million patients in the U.S. Inam is hoping the data Overjet is analyzing can be used to further streamline operations while improving care for patients. [2]

Today, as a dental X-ray is imported into a computer, Overjet’s software analyzes and annotates the images automatically. By the time the image appears on the computer screen, it has information on the type of X-ray taken, how a tooth may be impacted, the exact level of bone loss with color overlays, the location and severity of cavities, and more.

“Now the dentist or hygienist just has to synthesize that information, and they use the software to communicate with you,” Inam says. “So, they’ll show you the X-rays with Overjet’s annotations and say, ‘You have 4 millimeters of bone loss, it’s in red, that’s higher than the 3 millimeters you had last time you came, so I’m recommending this treatment.” [3]

The operating system of dentistry

Overjet’s FDA clearances account for two highly prevalent diseases. They also put the company in a position to conduct industry-level analysis and help dental practices compare themselves to peers.

“We use the same tech to help practices understand clinical performance and improve operations,” Inam says. “We can look at every patient at every practice and identify how practices can use the software to improve the care they're providing.” [4]

References:

1. https://scitechdaily.com/artificial-intelligence-takes-the-guesswork-out-of-dental-care/
2. https://www.eecs.mit.edu/taking-the-guesswork-out-of-dental-care-with-artificial-intelligence/
3. https://cybersecurity.shwetkanthak.ind.in/artificialintellegence/taking-the-guesswork-out-of-dental-care-with-artificial-intelligence/
4. https://news.mit.edu/2022/overjet-dental-artificial-intelligence-0624

Cite this article:

Thanusri swetha J (2022), Artificial Intelligence takes the Guesswork Out of Dental Care, Anatechmaz, pp.137