The future is knocking on the door of dental practices, bringing with it the prospect of artificial intelligence (AI) integration. The discussion around AI in dentistry is heating up, and there are many perspectives, opinions, and attitudes about incorporating it into clinical practice and patient care. But where do dental hygienists stand on the topic of AI as the next frontier in patient care? Are we looking forward to it or do we have doubts? Are we informed enough to take a point of view?
In February 2024, the ADHA, in partnership with Heartland Dental, conducted a survey of dental hygienists to gauge their knowledge, attitudes, and practices around AI and how it can be used in clinical practice. There were 600 respondents representing a response rate of 6.3%. The insights gained ranged from enthusiastic to cautious skepticism and will contribute to an important discussion that can help educators, clinicians, and dental organizations prepare for AI in dental hygiene practice.
Most of the respondents (68.7%) hold a bachelor’s degree or higher and just under half (45.5%) work in a private dental office. Over three-quarters (76%) have more than 11 years of practice experience and the majority (55.9%) have 20 or more years working in professional practice.
Familiarity with AI platforms
Most hygienists surveyed indicated they are not familiar with AI technology in dental practice and nearly half indicated their practice is not prepared to adopt it. Only 8.1% of respondents were either very or extremely familiar with AI technology. When it comes to dental AI, 90% of respondents reported they were not aware of any of the dental AI platforms listed in the survey, including Pearl, Overjet, ORCA Dental AI, and Videa AI.
How well do RDHs understand AI?
AI can be used in a variety of applications in dental practice among all dental team members. Survey respondents identified diagnosis, claim submission, case acceptance, and predicting disease outcomes as areas most likely to be positively impacted by AI.
However, nearly two-thirds (59.7%) reported they felt that AI would have little to moderate impact on dentistry in the next one to three years and 19% noted that none of the options could be positively impacted. These findings indicate there are opportunities for greater awareness and understanding of dental AI functionality.
When asked about the impact of dental AI on daily workload, respondents were generally divided. Nevertheless, a majority (43.3%) noted that AI would make their job harder in the short term but easier in the long term. With respect to work quality, most respondents (68.6%) reported that AI would improve efficiency, clinical effectiveness, or both. Only 8.2% of respondents foresee a negative impact on work quality.
Will AI replace us in practice?
Dental hygienists see AI as a tool that can enhance their capabilities. More than 80% expressed no concerns about being replaced by AI technology. Respondents also revealed positive sentiments about potential benefits of AI in practice, with top choices including quantifying disease progression, earlier detection in problems undetectable by the human eye, and improved ability to show areas of concern to patients. Their enthusiasm was tempered by concerns about cybersecurity and inaccuracy, both weighing in at 51.7%, followed by apprehensions about declines in provider diagnostic skills (37.8%) and loss of diagnostic control (37.3%).
An opportunity for more education
The results paint a clear picture: the developing world of dental AI remains largely unexplored among those who responded to the survey. Only 6.9% reported that they regularly use dental AI, while over half (53.3%) have had no exposure to this technology, and three-quarters (75.3%) have never used it. However, within these numbers lies opportunity—a chance to engage in informational and educational activities that generate greater awareness and experience with dental AI.
While dental AI offers innovative capabilities, its adoption and utilization are minimal by dental hygienists who participated in this study. There is a clear need for improved educational programs to help dental hygienists and other members of the dental team understand the various options and applications of dental AI. The journey toward embracing AI has begun, and the voices and perspectives of dental hygienists will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in charting the course ahead.
To learn more about this collaborative study from ADHA and Heartland Dental, visit adha.org/AIsurveyreport.
JoAnn Gurenlian, PhD, MS, RDH, AAFAAOM, FADHA, is the Director of Education, Research & Advocacy for the ADHA. She is also Professor Emerita at Idaho State University, a fellow in the ADHA and an affiliate academic fellow in the American Academy of Oral Medicine, past president of the International Federation of Dental Hygienists and the ADHA, and consultant to the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs. JoAnn is author of more than 350 publications and has conducted move than 650 presentations.
