Artificial intelligence continues to grow as technological advancement and AI-powered applications enter many aspects of our lives. In orthodontics, there is excitement and concern over what AI will do, how effective it can be, and where it may affect the future of our specialty. For many, there is a perceived risk that AI will replace us, but at least for now, AI is reaching a level of ability to help us manage routine work within our offices and augment digital workflow.
Artificial narrow intelligence (ANI) is the most common, with a limited and narrow range of abilities. More advanced AI includes Artificial general intelligence (AGI), which is on par with human capabilities, and Artificial superintelligence (ASI), which would be an advancement where the machine is more capable than a human.
Many things we consider AI are, in reality, automation. It is imperative to acknowledge AI is not the same as automation. AI is for non-repetitive tasks. In comparison, automation is for repetitive tasks based on commands and rules. Most AI makes its own decisions with human input, while automation follows pre-defined rules. AI augmenting orthodontist decisions will revolutionize the care we provide patients. At the same time, automation is readily available today to streamline our workflow, help us with efficiency, and save a tremendous amount of doctor time.
Let’s review some of the latest tools that can help orthodontists in clinical care and routine office work:
AI Ceph tracing
WebCeph, AudaxCeph, CephX, and other similar applications offer AI-driven landmark identification and fully automated cephalometric tracing. These websites provide the ability to load cephalometric x-rays. Then with a click of a button, have cephs traced and landmarks identified.
Outcome simulation
Orthodontic outcomes can take months or years to achieve. However, we have software today that allows patients and doctors to preview simulated results to help with patient education, treatment presentation, and planning. Invisalign® Outcome Simulator Pro is the latest treatment presentation tool available through iTero and its newest scanner. It is cloud-based, and after taking an intra-oral scan and a smile image, the teeth and smile images can simulate a treatment outcome with little human intervention.
CAD Tx planning software
Whether indirect bonding setups or clear aligner therapy systems, many available today have some level of AI to create a digital design and remove human intervention in several workflow steps. Clear aligner therapy AI features can help with segmentation, final tooth positions, developing force systems, and staging patterns.
Orthodontic virtual monitoring
Remote treatment monitoring has evolved to integrate AI tools and a telehealth application where patients can capture images with their smartphones, and orthodontists and their teams can evaluate AI-generated notifications and leverage messaging automation. For example, DentalMonitoring and Invisalign® Virtual Care AI are current offerings that leverage AI monitoring tools.
Transcription
Have you hosted team meetings or attended lectures and wished you had a transcript? AI-generated notes from online meetings are possible with speech recognition software such as Otter.ai. This application leverages machine learning to serve as your AI meeting secretary. This application will show live captions and transcribe meetings. It works best with clear and simple speech, and we can edit to clarify misinterpreted words.
Noise cancellation
Krisp.ai is a software that will filter noise during online meetings. We can record videos or attend web conferences where the only sound is when you speak into the mic. With this application, there will no longer be problems with a dog barking, kids yelling, or other background noise that can distract attendees from online meetings from home or the office.
AI writing tools
Grammarly and similar applications are AI-driven grammar and writing tools. Now, AI can be your writing assistant and editor to help you write clearly and with more than spell check. The AI in Grammarly is a great tool to improve your writing and editing workflow.
