Chicago-based Aspen Dental has seen the great potential of artificial intelligence after using it across its nearly 1,100-practice network for the last several years.
Aspen Dental is one of dozens of DSOs that have added AI technology to their networks with the goal of optimizing practice operations and enhancing patient care.
Alex Mehler, DMD, Aspen Dental's vice president of endodontic support services, said the DSO is using this technology in several ways, including digital dentures, clear aligner monitoring, diagnostic screening and digital dental assistants. The company is also evaluating the use of AI for radiographic interpretation.
Dr. Mehler said some of the benefits of AI in these areas include better care for patients and easing the load of work on providers.
"There's a distinct path forward we see," he told Becker's. "One of the great things about being at Aspen Dental is thinking about it on a much bigger scale and thinking about, not where we are today or where it's going to go in a year or two, but where can we be in a few years to make everything a lot easier, from diagnosis to treatment planning to delivery of care, so we're able to fully and comprehensively diagnose and treat patients from start to finish."
Although AI has grown in popularity among dentists, some may still hesitate to make the investment due to several factors, including uncertainty about its results and the cost. The decision is ultimately about doing what's best for patients, Dr. Mehler said.
"What really needs to be the focus is patient care. How do we provide a better experience for the patient so we're fully treating everything that needs to be done and making sure we have patients who are fully informed of what's going on in their mouth and in their body, the importance of why we need to treat it, and then being able to treatment plan and deliver that care in the best way possible," he said. "Today, the standard of care in a lot of places is to get the full 3D image so you have more information. It's been really interesting to see that the more information you have, the better your diagnosis is, the better your care is, the more predictable it is and the better the outcomes are."
Many experts in dentistry believe the industry could lead the way in AI innovation and utilization in comparison to the overall healthcare field, a sentiment Dr. Mehler shares.
Dr. Mehler added that he is most looking forward to future innovations with AI in dentistry, such as with radiography and treatment planning.
"[By] being able to truly diagnose and treatment plan and see how you're able to get a patient in from the very beginning, map [out their treatment] in a way that delivers the best care, does not miss anything, helps get providers reimbursed for the work that's done, and getting patient education at a higher level, we create a much more informed patient and consumer who understands the need for dental care, because a lot of patients don't fully understand how important their oral healthcare is and and how you really need to address that. The next few years are going to be very exciting, both on the clinical side and the patient side."