A Survey on the Use of Artificial Intelligence by Clinicians in Dentistry and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Abstract

Background: Applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine and dentistry have been on the rise in recent years. In dental radiology, deep learning approaches have improved diagnostics, outperforming clinicians in accuracy and efficiency. This study aimed to provide information on clinicians’ knowledge and perceptions regarding AI. Methods: A 21-item questionnaire was used to study the views of dentistry professionals on AI use in clinical practice. Results: In total, 302 questionnaires were answered and assessed. Most of the respondents rated their knowledge of AI as average (37.1%), below average (22.2%) or very poor (23.2%). The participants were largely convinced that AI would improve and bring about uniformity in diagnostics (mean Likert ± standard deviation 3.7 ± 1.27). Among the most serious concerns were the responsibility for machine errors (3.7 ± 1.3), data security or privacy issues (3.5 ± 1.24) and the divestment of healthcare to large technology companies (3.5 ± 1.28). Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, insights into the acceptance and use of AI in dentistry are revealed for the first time.