A Pilot Investigation Into the Use of Teledentistry and Artificial Intelligence to Assess Dental Erosion in Competitive Swimmers

Objective

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of dental erosion in competitive swimmers using teledentistry and artificial intelligence.

Materials and Methods

An opportunistic sample of 20 competitive swimmers was recruited. The participants reported that they carried out an average of 2.40 h of training per day, 4.45 days per week. Data gathering was carried out remotely. The subjects completed a digital questionnaire and uploaded three photos of their mouth. Intraoral photographs were analyzed using the “Intact-Tooth” application to assess dental erosion. A statistical analysis was carried out to verify a possible correlation between the collected data.

Results

The average calculated Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) index was 13.95, and 11 subjects (55%) had a severe BEWE (≥ 14). More than 40% of the participants disagreed about having social issues related to tooth hypersensitivity. Considering only subjects with a severe total BEWE value, we have observed an indirect correlation between the degree of dental erosion and diet (Pearson coefficient r = −0.57), whereas a direct correlation was observed between dental erosion and age (r = 0.493) and between BEWE and weekly training hours (r = 0.217).

Conclusions

Because of their lifestyle, competitive swimmers can be considered at a higher risk of developing dental erosion. In this context, teledentistry and AI tools can be effectively used to intercept those at the highest risk and prevent the occurrence of conditions.

Summary

Dental erosion assessment in competitive swimmers using teledentistry and AI.