Courtesy Family Dentistry
By Rod Bacon
The technologies used by dental professionals have steadily improved over the years, offering a less stressful experience for patients while helping dentists and hygienists provide the best care possible.
One technology that has only recently been widely accepted in the dental field is artificial intelligence, or AI. While AI was first described in 1950, several limitations in early models prevented widespread acceptance and application to medicine. In the early 2000s, many of these limitations were overcome by the advent of deep learning. Today, artificial intelligence is used in dentistry primarily for radiographic analysis, orthodontic treatment planning, clinical documentation and practice management. Programs such as Pearl, Overjet and VidealHealth are becoming increasingly popular in the diagnosis and treatment of oral health issues.
In 2024, Gregory P. Dodd, DDS, FAGD, owner of Family Dentistry based in Saratoga Springs, attended the annual Yankee Dental Conference in Boston. When he returned, he integrated Pearl Dental AI into his practice, where dentists in all nine of his locations use the technology.
In addition to offices on Church Street and Maple Avenue in Saratoga Springs, the practice offers a range of services in Clifton Park, Queensbury, South Glens Falls, Lake George, Greenwich, East Greenbush, and Gloversville.
“The program helps to read radiographs,” said Alex Ruckert, DDS, one of 15 dentists in the practice. “Instead of looking at a black-and-white image there are digital sensors that can be pulled up on a computer and then they can change colors so patients can see the parts of a tooth and understand the issue and how to correct it. It makes diagnosis much easier and communication with patients more focused.”
“A qualified dentist does not need artificial intelligence to identify obvious decay, bone loss, or other dental conditions,” added Dr. Dodd. “What AI does exceptionally well is present that information in a visual format that is easier for patients to understand. It transforms what can often feel like a complex grayscale image into a more intuitive educational tool. The result is that patients become more engaged in the discussion of their oral health.”
Pearl Dental AI and similar programs can be pricey, with monthly costs for a single-location practice running between $299 and $500 and a setup fee as high as $1,500. Group practices and dental service organizations can usually secure custom, tiered pricing that reduces the per-site cost as volume increases.
“From a purely financial standpoint the additional discussion (involved with AI programs) may actually lengthen appointments and reduce efficiency. However, our goal is not simply to maximize production. Our goal is to provide the highest quality patient experience possible. If a technology helps patients better understand their health, improves communication, and increases confidence in the recommendations being made then it has achieved its purpose,” said Dr. Dodd.
Other important tools are Galilean and Keplerian dental loupes. The former, which provide 2.5x to 3.5x magnification, are typically used for general dentistry, dental hygiene and diagnostic exams. The latter, with 6x, 8x or even 10x magnification, give dentists clear views for operations such as root canals, microsurgery and implantology.
“These help us see the details of the procedure we’re doing, ensuring that we’ve thoroughly cleaned out a cavity before filling it, for example,” said Dr. Ruckert. “The higher magnification is especially important in dental surgery.”
The practice uses iTero digital intraoral scanners, an advanced imaging system that captures high-definition scans of teeth and gums, eliminating the need for putty impressions.
“It takes thousands of pictures every minute so we can digitally stitch our indirect restorations back together and send that to the lab to have the restoration fabricated,” said Dr. Ruckert. “It allows you to show the patient what their tooth looks like before and after any restorative procedure.”
Other advanced technologies used by the practice include soft tissue diode lasers and piezoelectric polishing in the hygiene departments, as well as 3D printing capabilities that allow them to fabricate appliances such as retainers, night guards, surgical implant guides and cosmetic diagnostic guides in-house. They also have adopted cone beam computed tomography, or CBCT, which provides three-dimensional visualization of teeth, bone, airways, sinuses, nerves and surrounding anatomical structures.
Regarding the cost of cutting-edge technologies, Dr. Dodd said, “The same principle (as that of AI) applies to many of the technologies we have adopted throughout our practice. The return on investment is often measured in improved patient comfort, better diagnostics, increased precision, and enhanced treatment outcomes rather than direct revenue generation.”