The AI & Dentistry Landscape Isn't That Crowded... Yet.

by Ioanna Deni

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The future of smart and bright smiles!

As in other industries, AI in dentistry has started to bloom in recent years, reshaping the landscape with its innovative applications. Contrary to popular belief, dentistry is a complex and diverse field, encompassing much more than just the work of a general dentist. It includes specialists like periodontists, orthodontists, endodontists, prosthodontists, and cosmetic dentists, each benefiting from AI's advancements in unique ways [1]. From enhancing diagnostic precision in endodontics to revolutionizing treatment planning in orthodontics, AI is not just a passing trend but a transformative force across this multifaceted discipline. In this article we explore how AI is disrupting dentistry and we highlight key strategic moves for start-ups implementing AI in this field of healthcare.

Key AI applications in dentistry:

The potential applications of AI in dentistry are numerous, and they all aim to fulfill three main goals:

1. Increase accuracy and efficiency of diagnosis.
2. Improve patient outcomes.
3. Reduce costs for patients and providers.

AI can also be used across dental and oral hygiene specialties. For example, the impact of machine learning algorithms was studied in as many as 10 dental fields according to a recent study [2].

In order to understand the current AI landscape in oral health we will examine the tech innovations in diagnosis and treatment, image analysis, robotics and charting [3].

Diagnosis and treatment

Similar to other industries, AI algorithms can assist with classifying and examining? patient dental records. This can support dentists in making accurate diagnoses and propose personalized treatment plans.

Orthodontic treatment planning traditionally relies on individual preferences and their dentists expertise. We all thought at some point whether or not to have braces. Diagnosing malocclusion (improper position of the teeths and jaws) demands considerable effort from orthodontists, and it can involve numerous variables. In developing young children, those variables can come from studying their cranial growth in cephalometric analyses. AI can be a valuable player in deciding whether braces are a good investment for a child’s oral health. AI can be used to design an orthodontic treatment plan customized to each child’s cranial development, including the simulation of facial appearance before and after treatment.

For example:

• 3D Predict, running on Google Cloud , was concerned with traditional aligner systems that didn’t take a patient's full anatomy into consideration thus they created a technology for root and bone-based orthodontic treatments. Their platform is trained on high-resolution Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) data that shows the position of a patient’s teeth before, during, and at the end of treatment [4].

Other examples of AI platforms for treatment planning in various dental fields:

• OraQ AI , an AI and machine learning platform capable of examining data from patient records and calculating which treatments have the greatest probability of success. They also correlate data to identify missed treatment opportunities and identify possible repercussions if a specific treatment plan is not followed. This strategy empowers patients and expands the dental provider’s repertoire of possible treatment plans.
• OVERJET developed a dental AI platform designed to bolster dental care and streamline administrative tasks for providers and patients. Their sophisticated AI models integrate deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and advanced statistical techniques, to analyze the various data formats and detect, measure, and illustrate dental pathologies such as bone loss, caries, and decay, which can be used in treatment planning and diagnosis [5].

Image analysis and interpretation?????

AI-powered image analysis stands as one of the most potent tools in modern dentistry. Radiographs, intraoral scans, and facial scans rank among the most frequent instruments in a dentist's arsenal. For example, oral and maxillofacial pathology encompasses several severe conditions, including a lesser-known yet aggressive type of oral cancer. This cancer affects approximately 657,000 patients worldwide each year, with a startling mortality rate: according to World Health Organization statistics, about 50% of those diagnosed succumb to the disease annually. AI models are being trained to automatically detect such cancers based on radiographic, microscopic and ultrasonographic images and are demonstrating up to 83% accuracy in diagnostic time of 38 seconds, while it can take a specialist on average 30 minutes to form a diagnosis.

Periodontitis is another widely prevalent dental disease, burdening billions of individuals worldwide. If left untreated, it can lead to tooth loss. Traditionally, early detection of severe periodontitis involves manually probing the pocket spaces between teeth and gums and evaluating the depth of the pocket. This method is both invasive and unreliable, due to missing localized periodontal tissue loss. AI, however, has been employed to diagnose periodontitis and identify potential types of periodontal disease through panoramic radiographs, eliminating the need for invasive localized testing.

AI algorithms are becoming increasingly specialized in analyzing and interpreting dental images to identify abnormalities and assist dentists in making more informed decisions.

Here are some examples of companies leading the frontiers in image analysis and interpretation.

• DentAI has an FDA approved detection tool capable of processing dental X-rays in a snap, highlighting even minor oral issues and drastically cutting diagnostic time. It promotes minimally invasive dentistry and demonstrated a 26% increase in suggested treatment opportunities compared to others.
• Pearl , was created as an augmented tool for dental practitioners and is offering their Second Opinion AI assistant to help ensure that practitioners consistently consider all issues that appear in their patients' radiographs. The model can detect signs of various dental pathologies and other treatable conditions found in dental radiographs–including hard-to-spot issues like incipient caries or the early signs of a periapical radiolucency.
• ORCA Dental AI analysis solutions uses state of the art machine learning technologies that automatically analyze X-Ray and CBCT scans and provide reports on teeth segmentation, airway measurements and volume and cephalometric tracing.
• Diagnocat offers an automatically-generated panoramic reconstruction providing a quick case review. The quality of this reformation gives the dental professional the ability to detect up to 65 modalities from within the reformation.

Dental robotics

The dental field has been more conservative in embracing robotic advancements. This slower technological integration can be attributed to certain barriers to entry in the industry including initial costs and time required for mastering the technologies. Robert S. Glickman, professor and chair of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the New York University - College of Dentistry , said, "As with any new technology, early adopters face decisions on resources related to cost, personnel, physical space and the learning curve.” [6]. Managing these challenges via educating both dentists and patients is allowing AI-powered dental robots to perform tasks with high accuracy and minimal patient discomfort.

For example:

• Yomi, a FDA-cleared computerized robotic navigational system by Neocis , is assisting dentists during preoperative and intraoperative phases of dental implantation surgery. Yomi has a robotic arm that uses haptic technology, light forces, vibrations, or motions to inform the dentist of their movements during surgery. It also combines AI, visualization and audio cues to improve accuracy, precision and safety during surgery for the patient and the dentists, resulting in fewer complications and higher surgery success.

There are a couple of key players in robotic dental surgery tools and we can see them ranked via “Application diversity”? which measures the number of different applications identified for each patent and “Geographic reach” which refers to the number of different countries each relevant patent is registered in [7].

Charting

Augmented AI and virtual assistants are being employed to streamline administrative tasks in dental practices. These assistants are offered by most of the aforementioned companies and can be specialized to handle appointments, or for patient communication and billing processes with the overall goal to enhance overall practice efficiency. AI-powered assistants are particularly valued due to their 24/7 accessibility to working customers and emergencies. They also reduce the waiting times for patients and highlight patient profiles to dentists.

For example:

• VideaHealth provides real-time chairside assistance to dentists by annotating images in front of patients to help them visually understand their oral diseases. It aims to build trust between patient and healthcare provider which results in significantly increasing treatment acceptance.
• Peerlogic , promises a conversational and intelligent dental software designed to save time and schedule more appointments. It provides call analytics, automation and communication tools for business growth.
• Bola AI promises a level of accuracy that’s unparalleled, ensuring that every piece of information is perfect, 99% of the time. With the efficiencies Bola AI brings, dental practices are allowed to reduce overtime, ensuring a healthier work-life balance for practitioners.

Exploring the AI-Driven Future of Dentistry

In the realm of dentistry, artificial intelligence (AI) is paving the way for remarkable innovations, promising smarter solutions and brighter smiles for patients worldwide. At the forefront of this transformative wave are dynamic startups, harnessing the power of AI to redefine dental care.

The infographic above illustrates the multifaceted AI & Dentistry landscape, where AI is not merely a tool but a catalyst for revolutionary change. It showcases five key areas where AI is making significant inroads:

1. AI Diagnostics & Treatment Planning: Companies like OVERJET are excelling in using AI to analyze dental data for precise diagnostics and treatment strategies.
2. Tele-dentistry & Virtual Care: Innovators such as Dentulu Inc are breaking barriers, providing dental care and consultations through advanced telehealth services.
3. Practice Management & Support Services: Solutions from CareStack? - Dental Practice Management and Cloud Dentistry are streamlining practice operations, demonstrating the efficiency AI brings to the administrative side of dentistry.
4. Dental Equipment & Technology Innovation & Education: Convergent Dental and Imagoworks Inc. are examples of companies at the cutting edge of dental technology, driving advancements in equipment and professional education.
5. Health & Wellness, Including Financial Solutions: Startups like Beam Dental Clinics are integrating AI to offer digital dental benefits, focusing on preventative care and cost-efficiency.

More on each of these companies (and others) below:

• OVERJET - Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Overjet uses AI to analyze dental data, accurately diagnosing and determining necessary treatments for each patient.
• Zenyum - A Singapore-based smile cosmetics company, Zenyum offers expert dental care and experiences across Asia.
• Dentalcorp - A Canadian company revolutionizing dentistry as a business.
• PlusDental - A Berlin-based digital dentistry-focused health-tech startup.
• moons - A dental services provider specializing in health, wellness, and fitness based in Mexico City.
• CareStack? - Dental Practice Management - A practice management platform in Kissimmee, Florida, enabling dental practices to manage all operations from a single location.
• Beam Dental Clinics - A digital dental benefits provider in Columbus, Ohio, emphasizing preventative care.
• Dentalcorp - This Canadian firm acquires and partners with top dental practices to provide resources and technology for quality oral care.
• Cloud Dentistry - An online interactive platform based in Houston, Texas, for dental offices to connect with staff in real-time.
• Sonendo, Inc. - A medical technology company focused on saving teeth from decay using innovative technology.
• Convergent Dental - A dental equipment and technology company offering the Solea laser for various dental procedures.
• Imagoworks Inc. - Offers a web-based Dental CAD solution using AI to streamline workflows for dental professionals.
• Calcivis - Develops imaging technology to visualize and treat early active decay.
• MouthWatch - A dentech company offering affordable intraoral cameras and teledentistry software.
• BIOLASE, Inc. - A leader in dental lasers providing precision and patient comfort in treatments.
• Two Front - Builds orthodontic practices through a high-tech services platform, allowing for virtual practices.
• Dentulu Inc - Offers accessible dental care and resources through telehealth services and virtual consultations.
• Medismart.live - A Latin American company focusing on medical technology and telemedicine services.
• Klar Smile - An Indonesia-based startup manufacturing tailor-made clear dental aligners.
• Silver Creek Dental Partners - A support organization partnering with dental practices in California.
• Smiletronix - Provides home dental check-ups and tele-dentistry solutions using AI.
• Lightwave Dental - Supports dental practice leaders in various administrative and operational tasks.
• Inference Analytics AI - Offers a real-time AI platform for generating detailed radiology reports.
• Digital Aligner - A Brazilian manufacturer of innovative invisible aligners.
• Gumzzz - A tech startup aiming to revolutionize dental clinic and customer interactions digitally.
• Coviu Global - Provides an all-in-one virtual care engagement platform for healthcare practices.
• Asvin Tech (DENTRA) - Offers an AI-powered, scalable, and affordable IntraOral 3D Scanning Platform.
• Dentigi - A marketplace for efficient and convenient dental service appointments.
• Denti.AI - Specializes in automated diagnostics and charting for dental X-rays, CBCT, and voice data.
• CoTreat - An AI diagnostics platform combining artificial intelligence technology with evidence-based dentistry.
• Dentaverse - A web3 platform connecting dental students, universities, and professionals in virtual reality.
• Apex Dental Partners - Provides non-clinical and administrative support services to dentists.
• MCA Dental Group - Manages dental practices across Canada, supporting dentists in non-clinical aspects.
• 5 Quarters - Provides dental education.
• Sensory Health - Works with providers to accommodate patients with sensory needs and dental anxieties.
• VoxelDance - A 3D printing software company serving various industries including healthcare.
• Today's Dental Network - A dental partnership organization in Florida providing business solutions.
• sikka.ai - Uses AI and predictive analytics to rethink retail healthcare and life insurance industries.
• Greyfinch - An all-in-one platform to manage and grow orthodontic practices.
• Ackuretta - Focuses on high-precision dental 3D printing equipment.
• Cloud 9 - A cloud-based practice management solution for various dental practices.
• 美迪特 - Produces dental scanners and provides 3D measuring and CAD/CAM solutions.
• Fotona d.o.o. - A medical laser company with systems for aesthetics, dentistry, surgery, and gynecology.
• Panthera Dental Panthera Dental - Designs and manufactures custom-made dental restorations and sleep disorder solutions.
• Verena Solutions - An online platform simplifying business for dental and mental industries.
• Foglaljorvost.hu - An online appointment booking platform connecting clinics, doctors, and patients.
• Oxtex Ltd - Manufactures tissue expanders based on hydrogel technology.
• dentalzon Dentalzon - A marketplace for dental supplies.
• InPronto, Inc. - Enables dentists to outsource the entire dental implant procedure.
• Innovative Dental Technologies, Inc. Innovative Dental Technologies - Develops dental products and works with dentists to bring ideas to market.
• Dent&Co - Provides a medical and patient management system with chatbots for customer management.

Don’t see your company on this list? Please reach out, we are looking for you!

The challenges of embracing AI in oral health:

On one hand, AI technologies in the various types of dentistry are growing revenues and helping both practitioners and patients but on the other hand, dental data, similar to all patient records, are challenging to handle. Diagnoses are usually based on multiple sources and AI models often require a large amount of data for training. Data in dentistry are difficult to access but AI precision does not depend only on large training data. The training of these models heavily relies on the quality of the data, and there is a significant disparity in diagnoses among dentists. According to a study by Pearl dentists agreed upon only 4% of diagnoses when examining the same sources.

American Dental Association released earlier in the year the Overview of Artificial and Augmented Intelligence Uses in Dentistry where they highlight further challenges in the field including [7]:

• Patient safety: Regulations are crucial in prioritizing patient safety and enable dentists to guarantee the accuracy, reliability, and safety of artificial/augmented intelligence systems for their patients. This involves rigorous testing and evaluations to validate the performance and effectiveness of the algorithms and systems.
• Data privacy: Artificial/augmented intelligence systems in dentistry often depend on sensitive patient data for analysis and decision-making. Creating protocols for data privacy and security, can ensure that patient information is safeguarded and managed in compliance regulations as well as fosters trust in artificial/augmented intelligence technologies in dentistry.
• Ethical considerations: The guidelines for AI and augmented intelligence into dentistry address transparency of algorithms, the necessity for patient informed consent, and the mitigation of biases in data and decision-making. These standards promote fairness, and accountability in AI and augmented intelligence implementations in dentistry.
• Interoperability and integration: Standards streamline the interoperability and integration of artificial/augmented intelligence systems with existing dental technologies and workflows are necessary. The standards define common data formats, communication protocols, and interfaces, allowing the seamless integration of AI and empowering dentists to effectively leverage these technologies without significant disruptions to their workflow.
• Training and education: Regulating the training and education of young dentists in the use of AI and augmented intelligence can promote informed professionals in the future. This involves curriculum development and certification programs, conveying the necessary knowledge and skills to understand, evaluate, and responsibly use artificial/augmented intelligence technologies.

The future of AI in dentistry looks promising

So why are we so bullish on dentistry? Well, if you take a look at the above chart, you'll see that many would think radiology is the "lowest hanging fruit" for AI applications. And sure, that makes good sense - if you can train AI to differentiate a picture of a blueberry muffin from a dog, why not use it for broken bones etc? Seems that the vast majority of AI/ML medical device companies are thinking this way, yet the chart also shows an interesting phenomenon - there are barely any dental companies throwing their hat in the ring. Less competition = more opportunity to win the market, which makes it attractive from a VC standpoint.

AI is making significant strides in various aspects of dental care, encompassing diagnosis and treatment planning, image analysis, predictive analytics, virtual reality simulations for patient education, dental robotics, and automated patient communication. These AI applications have the potential to revolutionize dentistry by enhancing patient outcomes, streamlining processes, and lowering costs. The future of AI in dentistry holds promise, and we anticipate witnessing even more sophisticated applications in the years ahead. By harnessing the capabilities of AI, we hope at Intelligence Ventures to encourage more efficient, effective and accessible oral care.

We also identified various emerging trends and innovation for the coming years, including:

• Enhanced diagnostic precision tools for personalized oral health and treatments.
• Advancements in predictive analytics via refined AI ability to analyze patient data.
• Increased use of dental robotics due to their capability of executing complex procedures with heightened accuracy and efficiency.
• Augmented reality integration, enabling dentists to visualize and plan treatments.
• Advancements in digital impressions of patients' teeth which will diminish the reliance on uncomfortable and time-consuming traditional impression techniques.
• Enhanced AI-powered patient communication or teledentistry.

If your company belongs in the mentioned categories or if you believe it is encompassing both innovation in dental care and addresses the concerns outlined from ADA we want to hear from you! At Intelligence Ventures, we will evaluate the transformative power of dental healthcare start-ups and scrutinize the use of AI in the field. We are particularly interested in those breakthrough innovations that will not only fill gaps but create new opportunities for improving oral health both for providers and patients.

We are committed to strategically invest in and nurture companies that have the potential to emerge as the next wave of leaders in AI-driven healthcare. Through our AI Health Fund I, we stand ready to empower innovations that align with our criteria, propelling advancements in the dental health industry and transforming the oral health lansdscape change on a scale.

More about Intelligence Ventures

We are an emerging venture capital firm dedicated to cultivating innovation at the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare within the United States. Our commitment lies in the strategic investment and nurturing of pre-seed, seed, and Series A companies, fueling their growth and fostering the next generation of industry leaders.

Our initial fund, AI Health Fund I, is focused on companies that use artificial intelligence to increase efficiencies and/or solve computationally intractable problems that place a ceiling on our ability to develop new drugs, advance them through clinical trials, and ultimately diagnose and treat patients. We are industry vertical agnostic and believe that generative AI and more specific ML models can be used to accelerate innovation in biotech, pharma, medtech, and diagnostics.

For more information, visit our website at www.intelligencevc.com or reach out to [email protected] for any inquiries. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter, and subscribe for further installments of The Intelligence Report.

References:

1. Ding, H., Wu, J., Zhao, W., Matinlinna, J. P., Burrow, M. F., & Tsoi, J. K. (2023). Artificial Intelligence in dentistry — A Review. Frontiers in Dental Medicine, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdmed.2023.1085251
2. 6 Innovative Artificial Intelligence Applications in dentistry. V7. (2021, October 26). https://www.v7labs.com/blog/ai-in-dentistry
3. The Future of Dentistry: How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Oral Healthcare: Needham, Bedford, Franklin, MA. Chestnut Dental. (2023, April 25). https://chestnutdental.com/blog/the-future-of-dentistry-how-artificial-intelligence-is-changing-oral-healthcare/
4. 3D predict uses AI to accelerate orthodontic treatments | google cloud blog. Google. (2023, October 26) https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/startups/3d-predict-uses-ai-to-accelerate-orthodontic-treatments
5. Overjet named to Forbes AI 50 list of most promising A.I. companies shaping the future. Overjet. (2022, May 11). https://www.overjet.ai/news/overjet-named-to-forbes-ai-50-list-of-most-promising-a-i-companies-shaping-the-future
6. Pallardy, C. The latest in Dental Robotics. (2023, April 17). https://www.agd.org/constituent/news/2023/04/17/the-latest-in-dental-robotics
7. Bhavyasahni. Robotics innovation: Leading companies in Robotic Dental Surgery Tools for the medical devices industry. Medical Device Network. (2023, February 17). https://www.medicaldevice-network.com/data-insights/innovators-robotics-robotic-dental-surgery-tools-medical-devices/?cf-view&cf-closed
8. Artificial Intelligence and dentistry. American Dental Association. (2023, June 7). https://adanews.ada.org/ada-news/2023/june/artificial-intelligence-and-dentistry

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