Bytes or bites? How AI is changing dentistry

Let's talk about AI in dentistry.

You can't really use the internet nowadays without seeing AI this or AI that. Despite the technology still being in its infancy in the grand scheme of things, the tech is accelerating at a rapid speed and we're starting to see it crop up across the whole of the medical devices space. And dentistry is no exception. 

Back in 2023 Dentaly.org surveyed over 1000 licensed dentists and patients and found that:

• 47% thought they'd be likely to adopt these technologies in future
• 76% thought it would make workflows faster and more efficient
• 40% thought it could improve data accuracy for diagnosing conditions

Two years on, and the tech in the space has grown rapidly. So who's leading the way? And how might we see AI dental tech pan out over the next few years?

Who are the big names?

DentalMonitoring

One of the most well established names in the space, DentalMonitoring are all about managing the oral health of patients through remote monitoring. They're the only company with FDA De Novo and MDR approval for their AI-powered software, so they're leading the way in the orthodontics software space. From virtual treatment monitoring to virtual consultations, their tech aims to revolutionise patient experience in orthodontics, as well as making things faster and more effective.

DentalXr.ai

Boosting confidence in treatment recommendations and reducing time spent on analysing and reporting on X-ray images are the main missions of DentalXr.ai. Their tech detects pathologies and automatically generates written documentation about it, saving dentists time and improving their communication with patients. 

Overjet

Not only do they boast a very cool website, but Overjet also boast ultra-precise AI tools that help insurance claims go smoothly because of their accuracy. From supporting dentists to diagnose patients, to providing insight to DSOs, to reducing admin work for insurers by 90%, their tech is a popular choice for a reason. They raised $53 million this time last year to support their work, too. 

Pearl.ai

Pearl - a Cali-based startup - are 'reimagining dentistry' with their AI powered tech. They're the only company with FDA clearance for patient-facing detection tech, software that can identify lots of common dental issues that affect the teeth from dental x-rays - think of it as a 'second pair of eyes' for dentists. Back in July of last year they raised the largest ever dental AI investment with a backing of $58 million to keep them innovating. Definitely one to watch!

Relu

Relu's fully automated implant planning tool uses AI to generate implant planning from CT or CBCT scans in minutes. It's designed to automate the workflow, saving dental pros time and giving them more face to face time with patients. It's currently in beta testing phase - getting FDA and CE mark approval in October 2024 - so it'll be interesting to watch where this tech goes once it gets full regulatory clearance for wider use.

VideaHealth

VideaHealth's dental AI is used by over 40,000 dental clinicians and has analysed over 500 million x-rays to date. Using their bank of millions of dental images, their AI powered platform identifies almost all oral conditions to make sure patients get the right treatment when they need it, as well as presenting the clinical info to patients in an easily accessible way. They're popular with dentists, but they're also popular with investors after raising $40M in an oversubscribed Series B funding round recently! 

Where do you think dental AI will go in the next few years?

I'm excited to watch all the developments in the space as the tech continues to improve patient outcomes and diagnostic capabilities. 

If you're a dental tech company looking to grow your team this year, then get in touch on charlotte.clancy@fmctalent.com