Where Is the Artificial Intelligence Applied in Dentistry? Systematic Review and Literature Analysis

Abstract

This literature research had two main objectives. The first objective was to quantify how frequently artificial intelligence (AI) was utilized in dental literature from 2011 until 2021. The second objective was to distinguish the focus of such publications; in particular, dental field and topic. The main inclusion criterium was an original article or review in English focused on dental utilization of AI. All other types of publications or non-dental or non-AI-focused were excluded. The information sources were Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, queried on 19 April 2022. The search string was "artificial intelligence" AND (dental OR dentistry OR tooth OR teeth OR dentofacial OR maxillofacial OR orofacial OR orthodontics OR endodontics OR periodontics OR prosthodontics). Following the removal of duplicates, all remaining publications were returned by searches and were screened by three independent operators to minimize the risk of bias. The analysis of 2011-2021 publications identified 4413 records, from which 1497 were finally selected and calculated according to the year of publication. The results confirmed a historically unprecedented boom in AI dental publications, with an average increase of 21.6% per year over the last decade and a 34.9% increase per year over the last 5 years. In the achievement of the second objective, qualitative assessment of dental AI publications since 2021 identified 1717 records, with 497 papers finally selected. The results of this assessment indicated the relative proportions of focal topics, as follows: radiology 26.36%, orthodontics 18.31%, general scope 17.10%, restorative 12.09%, surgery 11.87% and education 5.63%. The review confirms that the current use of artificial intelligence in dentistry is concentrated mainly around the evaluation of digital diagnostic methods, especially radiology; however, its implementation is expected to gradually penetrate all parts of the profession.

Keywords: artificial intelligence; deep learning; dentistry; endodontics; evidence-based practice; forensic odontology; maxillofacial surgery; orthodontics; periodontics; prosthodontics.

Figure 1

Visualization of 1st, 2nd and current 3rd waves of AI generations (booms) in human history does not correspond to the history of Google Scholar dental-AI publications, thus indicating that only the current 3rd AI generation is mature enough to offer undisputed potential for research and application in dentistry. Visualized prediction for the next decade of dental AI publications was calculated by simple extrapolation using a linear regression, and is just for illustration.

Figure 2

General AI categorization defines three types: artificial narrow intelligence (ANI), artificial general intelligence (AGI), and artificial super intelligence (ASI).

Figure 3

Objective 1: the number of dental publications focused on AI utilization. The PRISMA flow chart diagram depicts the flow of information through the different phases of the systematic review for the first objective.

Figure 4

Annual counts of AI-focused dental publications (2011–2021).

Figure 5

The PRISMA flow chart diagram depicts the flow of information through the different phases of a systematic review. It maps out the number of records identified, included, and excluded, and the reasons for exclusions. Different templates are available depending on the type of review (new or updated) and sources used to identify studies.

Figure 6

Simplified pie graph visualizing proportionality of current AI focus in dentistry (1 January 2021–19 April 2022), where the focus on implants and cancer treatment is covered by Surgery, and Restorative dentistry also covers Endodontics and Prosthodontics. * Restorative dentistry in this chart covers also Endodontics and Pediatric dentistry. ** Surgery represents also Cancer diagnostics and Dental implantology.

Figure 7

Venn diagram illustrating where dental AI use is currently focused, with relationships among the groups.