AI-Driven Dental Caries Management Strategies: From Clinical Practice to Professional Education and Public Self Care

Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases among both children and adults, despite being largely preventable. This condition has significant negative impacts on human health and imposes a substantial economic burden. In recent years, scientists and dentists have increasingly started...

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Main Authors: Yutong Liang, Dongling Li, Dongmei Deng, Chun Hung Chu, May Lei Mei, Yunpeng Li, Na Yu, Jinzhi He, Lei Cheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:International Dental Journal
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020653925001169
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author Yutong Liang
Dongling Li
Dongmei Deng
Chun Hung Chu
May Lei Mei
Yunpeng Li
Na Yu
Jinzhi He
Lei Cheng
author_facet Yutong Liang
Dongling Li
Dongmei Deng
Chun Hung Chu
May Lei Mei
Yunpeng Li
Na Yu
Jinzhi He
Lei Cheng
author_sort Yutong Liang
collection DOAJ
description Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases among both children and adults, despite being largely preventable. This condition has significant negative impacts on human health and imposes a substantial economic burden. In recent years, scientists and dentists have increasingly started to utilize artificial intelligence (AI), particularly machine learning, to improve the efficiency of dental caries management. This study aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge about the AI-enabled approaches for dental caries management within the framework of personalized patient care. Generally, AI works as a promising tool that can be used by both dental professionals and patients. For dental professionals, it predicts the risk of dental caries by analyzing dental caries risk and protective factors, enabling to formulate personalized preventive measures. AI, especially those based on machine learning and deep learning, can also analyze images to detect signs of dental caries, assist in developing treatment plans, and help to make a risk assessment for pulp exposure during treatment. AI-powered tools can also be used to train dental students through simulations and virtual case studies, allowing them to practice and refine their clinical skills in a risk-free environment. Additionally, AI tracks brushing patterns and provides feedback to improve oral hygiene practices of the patients and the general population, thereby improving their understanding and compliance. This capability of AI can inform future research and the development of new strategies for dental caries management and control.
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publisher Elsevier
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spelling doaj-art-c9c14432e76743e98d272b0df613cd1d2025-08-20T03:12:27ZengElsevierInternational Dental Journal0020-65392025-08-0175410082710.1016/j.identj.2025.04.007AI-Driven Dental Caries Management Strategies: From Clinical Practice to Professional Education and Public Self CareYutong Liang0Dongling Li1Dongmei Deng2Chun Hung Chu3May Lei Mei4Yunpeng Li5Na Yu6Jinzhi He7Lei Cheng8State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; Department of Cariology and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; Department of Cariology and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsFaculty of Dentistry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaSir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandCentre for Oral, Clinical and Translational Sciences, Faculty of Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London, United KingdomNational Dental Centre Singapore, SingaporeState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; Department of Cariology and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Corresponding authors. State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; Department of Cariology and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Corresponding authors. State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases among both children and adults, despite being largely preventable. This condition has significant negative impacts on human health and imposes a substantial economic burden. In recent years, scientists and dentists have increasingly started to utilize artificial intelligence (AI), particularly machine learning, to improve the efficiency of dental caries management. This study aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge about the AI-enabled approaches for dental caries management within the framework of personalized patient care. Generally, AI works as a promising tool that can be used by both dental professionals and patients. For dental professionals, it predicts the risk of dental caries by analyzing dental caries risk and protective factors, enabling to formulate personalized preventive measures. AI, especially those based on machine learning and deep learning, can also analyze images to detect signs of dental caries, assist in developing treatment plans, and help to make a risk assessment for pulp exposure during treatment. AI-powered tools can also be used to train dental students through simulations and virtual case studies, allowing them to practice and refine their clinical skills in a risk-free environment. Additionally, AI tracks brushing patterns and provides feedback to improve oral hygiene practices of the patients and the general population, thereby improving their understanding and compliance. This capability of AI can inform future research and the development of new strategies for dental caries management and control.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020653925001169Dental cariesArtificial intelligenceRisk assessmentDiagnosis and therapeuticsEducation, DentalSelf care
spellingShingle Yutong Liang
Dongling Li
Dongmei Deng
Chun Hung Chu
May Lei Mei
Yunpeng Li
Na Yu
Jinzhi He
Lei Cheng
AI-Driven Dental Caries Management Strategies: From Clinical Practice to Professional Education and Public Self Care
International Dental Journal
Dental caries
Artificial intelligence
Risk assessment
Diagnosis and therapeutics
Education, Dental
Self care
title AI-Driven Dental Caries Management Strategies: From Clinical Practice to Professional Education and Public Self Care
title_full AI-Driven Dental Caries Management Strategies: From Clinical Practice to Professional Education and Public Self Care
title_fullStr AI-Driven Dental Caries Management Strategies: From Clinical Practice to Professional Education and Public Self Care
title_full_unstemmed AI-Driven Dental Caries Management Strategies: From Clinical Practice to Professional Education and Public Self Care
title_short AI-Driven Dental Caries Management Strategies: From Clinical Practice to Professional Education and Public Self Care
title_sort ai driven dental caries management strategies from clinical practice to professional education and public self care
topic Dental caries
Artificial intelligence
Risk assessment
Diagnosis and therapeutics
Education, Dental
Self care
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020653925001169
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