The Future Of Orthodontics: AI And Machine Learning

Many of us expected to flying cars by the start of 2020 but that didn’t happen. However, the closest we can get to technology as good as a flying car is artificial intelligence. AI is shaping the future of every field and continues to change the world as we know it.

Luckily, there has been good news for healthcare professionals because, since its advent, AI has fully throttled the progress of healthcare and dentistry. So, today we are grabbing our crystal balls to look into the future of orthodontics with AI and machine learning!

What Would Future Orthodontics Look Like With AI?

We have seen plenty of advantages of automation in recent years. Based on the developments we can predict the following future enhancements by machine learning:

Quick Diagnoses And Treatments

Advanced AI algorithms have already taken up laborious tasks like cephalometric tracing and shrunk the landmark identification time from hours to seconds. Reports suggest that automated cephalometrics takes 80 times less time than manual processing. So, we can expect to see accurate cephalometric reports being generated in a few minutes. Quicker analysis lays the foundation for fast diagnosis. Thus, in the future, we can expect shorter treatment durations.

Greater Efficiency

AI doesn’t just lend a hand in radiographic analysis but also provides a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan for patients. The diagnosis and treatment plans of present AI + machine learning algorithms are highly accurate, efficient, and clinically reliable. So, it is natural to expect further improvements in orthodontic efficiency in the future.

Reduced Human Reliance

With AI, we expect to see a paradigm shift. The development of reliable and accurate software is drastically reducing the need for human involvement in medicine. With automated accurate diagnosis and perfect treatment plans, the role of a clinician is shrinking day by day.

For now, ethical considerations prove to be a hurdle in AI replacing humans. Today’s scientists debate that AI may not be able to solve the human crisis in healthcare for various reasons. However, we feel betterment of automated systems in the near future will make them a good sidekick for orthodontists across the globe.

Minimal Errors

The ultimate goal for healthcare systems is to minimize diagnostic errors. The implementation of artificial intelligence and machine learning has upscaled the standard of diagnosis and treatment planning. Most of the algorithms are clinically reliable and, therefore, are readily adopted by dentists.

Research shows that AI reduces misdiagnosis risk and can significantly reduce overall healthcare expenditure. We can expect AI to improve in the error reduction department because government and healthcare systems are spending a lot of time and effort in this matter.

Decreased Patient Burden

The routine activation of orthodontic treatment requires a special allocation of time and appointments. This was the norm until the advent of teledentistry services. Nowadays, orthodontists are capable of monitoring patients remotely, thanks to clear aligner treatment and remote dental monitoring.

Clear aligner therapy is a big step in the advancement of orthodontic treatment. AI-powered smartphone apps enable patients to effectively communicate with doctors. Present studies indicate a world of teleorthodontics with significant revolutions in CAD/CAM and 3D printing in the future.

Enhanced Interdisciplinary Approach

AI is playing an essential role in bridging the gap between different disciplines of dentistry. Orthodontists frequently approach oral surgeries to perform orthognathic surgeries. The present methods of data exchange between dental consultants need to be better. Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the interdisciplinary approach, and we hope to see streamlined communication and data sharing between consultants.

Precision Orthodontics

Expert health professionals now advocate the provision of precision medicine to patients. Modern medicine believes that treatment success depends on multiple factors in a patient’s life including lifestyle habits, diet, genetics, etc. Thus, present healthcare aims to deliver a customized treatment. An overall approach requires the acquisition of different types of data (from medical devices, sensors, monitors, etc.). Managing such large amounts of data is possible only with AI. With the widespread use of AI-powered medical smartwatches and devices, the day is near when precision orthodontics will be practiced in all orthodontic clinics.

AI Chatbots

Generative AI is a field of artificial intelligence that is empowering the general public. Leading companies like Meta, OpenAI, and Google are actively developing chatbots that answer almost every question asked. ChatGPT4.0 is a recent entry in the field of chatbots. We expect AI chatbots to become more reliable and factually correct. Guidance by medical experts can enhance the accuracy of offered answers. With these changes, access to basic medical information will become easy for everyone.

Robotics

We are seeing an increased use of robotics in the field of surgery. Advanced machines developed on the principle of deep learning-powered neural networks have the potential to perform detailed procedures. According to studies, robots/machines are improving orthodontic treatment efficacy and prognosis by bending archwires and manufacturing appliances.

Lowered Expenses

One more pleasant change we can expect to see in future orthodontics is reduced clinical expenses. The incorporation of AI can solve the critical issue of the rising cost of healthcare. AI-driven automation lowers administrative costs because it performs the duties of multiple professionals like billers, coders, and claim processors. Moreover, AI optimization tools streamline data management and appointment scheduling leading to less hassle and expenditure.

Final Word

AI has shown promising results in the field of orthodontics. We expect to see multiple positive changes in orthodontic AI. In the future, there will be greater patient satisfaction with quicker AI-supported diagnosis and treatment. Orthodontic clinics will have better efficiencies. Future healthcare will be less reliant on human decisions and thus free of errors. Widespread use of teleorthodontics and clear aligners will decrease patient burden and improve clinician’s efficiency. Precision orthodontics will be possible on a large scale and people will benefit from AI chatbots. Robotics will reduce the labor of dentists and improve prognosis. All these maneuvers can significantly lower expenses and may address the issue of rising healthcare costs.

References

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