Artificial intelligence for oral health care: applications and future prospects

  • Falk Schwendicke,
  • Prabhat Kumar Chaudhari,
  • Kunaal Dhingra,
  • Sergio E. Uribe &
  • Manal Hamdan
2025; Springer Cham; £99.99 (eBook); pp. 197; ISBN: 978-3-031-84047-0

Artificial Intelligence for Oral Health Care: Applications and Future Prospects offers a comprehensive and timely exploration of the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) across various domains of oral health. Aimed at dental clinicians, researchers, academics and digital health innovators, the book connects foundational AI principles with clinical utility in modern dentistry.

The introductory chapters lay a solid groundwork by explaining the core concepts of machine learning, deep learning and their practical application in medical image analysis. The book introduces commonly used AI models for image analysis along with key evaluation measures like precision, recall and the Dice score, helping readers understand how these models are tested and validated. The authors also address vital concerns regarding privacy, ethical use and adversarial attacks, ensuring a balanced understanding of both promise and pitfalls.

Subsequent chapters are thematically structured around specialties including orthodontics, periodontology, cariology, prosthodontics, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial medicine, oral radiology, dental education, and data governance. Clinical applications such as AI-based caries detection in radiographs, predicting oral cancer from genetic and clinical data, staging periodontal disease and optimising implant planning demonstrate how AI is moving from concept to clinical practice. Examples from recent literature and clear illustrations enhance the clinical relevance of the content.

Chapters on dental education and data governance are particularly impactful, urging institutions to embrace AI thoughtfully by adapting curriculum and ensuring data quality and transparency. The book provides a balanced perspective, acknowledging AI's current limitations and addressing the regulatory challenges involved.

This book stands out as an authoritative and engaging resource, presenting AI not merely as a technological advancement but as a practical tool for enhancing patient-centred dental care. Its interdisciplinary scope, clarity of presentation and strong clinical relevance make it valuable for readers at all levels of experience. With its in-depth yet accessible style, it is a highly recommended addition to the library of any oral health professional aiming to stay at the forefront of dental innovation through the meaningful integration of AI into clinical practice.