How AI Is Changing the World of Dental Technology

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming dental technology and the world of dentistry. Here’s how…

Thanks to advancements in technology, including AI technology, dental work of the future will be less invasive, less painful, and much more effective, with better long-term results for patients. Even today, we are already seeing amazing changes in dental technology for crowns, bridges and dentures.

But the benefits of AI go far beyond assisting technicians in making dental materials. Here are some ways that AI will be able to change the entire industry:

Advanced dental restorations

There’s never been a better time to study a master’s in dental technology if you’re interested in improving your skills. Things are moving quickly, with AI leading the way on dental restorations.

Some of the biggest changes we’ll see are crowns and bridges with perfect fit and ideal function. Furthermore, AI can help dental technicians create materials that look and feel realistic, helping to improve patient smiles and patient confidence.

Improved care for elderly patients

We have an ageing population, creating a growing need for high quality prosthodontics. As we get older, our teeth become more sensitive and can be at greater risk of decay. This is especially true for people taking medications that cause side effects such as dry mouth.

For dentists and dental technicians, being able to replace lost or missing teeth is vital in ensuring patients can enjoy a healthy diet and maintain optimum jaw structure.

AI can drastically improve outcomes thanks to 3D prosthodontics. Today, there are many dental technology companies that make 3D dentures after analysing radiographs with the assistance of AI.

Dental imaging

With improved imaging of patients’ teeth, both dentists and dental technicians will be able to provide a better service. Dentists can offer enhanced treatment plans, and can suggest the most suitable treatments. 

In terms of supporting dental technology, imaging is essential because it helps technologists make the most accurate materials for the patient. Ill-fitting prosthetics and implants are not only uncomfortable, but they can prevent a patient from having full function of their teeth, whether for eating or talking.

Poorly aligned implants can also cause problems further down the line, so being able to make dental imaging more accurate is highly beneficial. Through AI integration, imaging systems such as MRI can be used to identify abnormalities that would be otherwise unnoticeable by the human eye.

AI may also improve imaging for the diagnosis of diseases like oral cancer, with things such as algorithm-guided detection.

Does a master’s in dental technology sound interesting to you? This is a fantastic time to return to university if you’ve already been working in the industry. If you’re a clinical dental technician with an appropriate Level 6 qualification, then we encourage you to apply!

As a leading Greater Manchester university that puts students and their needs first, there’s nowhere better to study in this subject. And taking place in our £4.8 million Centre for Dental Sciences, our courses provide access to state-of-the-art laboratories. We also pride ourselves on our industry connections, ensuring we give students practical training opportunities in real clinical settings.

To find out more about applying in 2022, see our MSc Master’s in Dental Technology course details.

Or our full list of Dental Technology courses here.