Tech Bytes-Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Pediatric Oral Health: A Scoping Review.

Aim and background: The applications of artificial intelligence (AI) are escalating in all frontiers, specifically healthcare. It constitutes the umbrella term for a number of technologies that enable machines to independently solve problems they have not been programmed to address. With its aid, patient management, diagnostics, treatment planning, and interventions can be significantly improved. The aim of this review is to analyze the current data to assess the applications of artificial intelligence in pediatric dentistry and determine their clinical effectiveness.

Materials and methods: A search of published studies in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases was included till January 2024.

Results: This review consisted of 30 published studies in the English language. The use of AI has been employed in the detection of dental caries, dental plaque, behavioral science, interceptive orthodontics, predicting the dental age, and identification of teeth which can enhance patient care.

Conclusion: Artificial intelligence models can be used as an aid to the clinician as they are of significant help at individual and community levels in identifying an increased risk to dental diseases.

Clinical significance: Artificial intelligence can be used as an asset in preventive school health programs, dental education for students and parents, and to assist the clinician in the dental practice. Further advancements in technology will give rise to newer potential innovations and applications.

How to cite this article: Tanna DA, Bhandary S, Hegde SK. Tech Bytes-Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Pediatric Oral Health: A Scoping Review. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(11):1289-1295.