CATEGORY AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST 111 FEATURE: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE The technology also fosters patient trust and engagement. In the 21st century, humanity has put its faith in technology, data, and the precision they offer. Patients don’t always trust their dentists, but they tend to trust computers, or a combination of both. To illustrate this further, consider a scenario where you take your car for service, and the mechanic recommends getting new brake pads. Without a background in automotive mechanics, you might hesitate to replace them, knowing that it is an additional cost to you. You may want to seek out a second opinion, as your brake pads felt normal when you dropped off the car. However, if the mechanic could take an image of your brake pads and present it on a screen with AI insights, showing the percentage of wear, it would help you trust the mechanic’s advice and understand the urgency for new brake pads. Similarly, radiologic AI serves as a visual aid in patient education about diagnoses and treatment options. Patients essentially receive an unbiased second opinion on their diagnosis while still in the dental chair, which helps build trust and improve treatment outcomes. With an AI-backed report in hand, dentists can focus less on justifying their professional opinions and more on clearly communicating their treatment plan with compassion and empathy. This results in a notable boost in patient retention, and an increase in case acceptance by up to 38%. Why Pearl is leading the charge Pearl’s advantage in this space is evident in various aspects. Firstly, its founder, Ophir Tanz, saw the potential of computer vision, which is a field of computer science and subfield of artificial intelligence, long before many of us even had a mobile phone. In 2008, he founded Gum Gum, Pearl’s parent company, which leverages computer vision in advertising and sports sponsorship. Today, Gum Gum is used by 70% of the Fortune 100 companies, with a 2022 revenue reaching $155 million. However, Ophir set his sights on the medical field and stepped away from his CEO role, to focus on Pearl. Growing up with a father as a dentist, and understanding firsthand the life of a dentist, Ophir applied his skill set to help dentists, like his father, and their patients. Having the prerequisite tools and experience made all the difference the second time around. Ophir and his team were able to collect the largest dataset of dental x-rays, which was annotated by thousands of expert dentists from around the globe and used to train neural networks (also known as AI algorithms). Their efforts have earned multiple technology awards and an impressive 12 U.S. patents, emphasising their stronghold on technological advancements. Notably, Pearl’s Second Opinion® software stands as the first, real-time chairside pathology detection AI software cleared by the TGA and Medsafe. A glimpse into the future With the widespread adoption of AI expected within the next decade, dentists’ day-to-day life is poised for a revolution. The current suite of AI tools available enhances their efficiency, enabling them to work faster, smarter, and with greater precision than ever before. As these advancements gain traction and the synergy between AI and other technologies strengthens, a future unfolds with improved access to dentistry and an enhanced quality of life for both dental professionals and patients. Dentists embracing these new technologies will experience heightened accuracy, profitability, and increased trust from patients. While there are certainly risks and challenges that need to be addressed, the potential benefits of AI in dentistry are too significant to ignore. In a decade, encountering AI in every dental practice will likely become the norm. u AI can be used to detect tooth decay, open margins, and bone loss in x-rays. With an AI-backed visual aid, dentists can build trust and communicate their findings effortlessly. SYDNEY AUCKLAND MELBOURNE ADELAIDE BRISBANE 9 March 5 April 11 May 1 June 22 June
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