Dentistry is a constantly changing industry. As we all know, Artificial Intelligence in dentistry is growing by leaps and bounds as more data is uploaded processed, and analyzed by these amazing smart systems. We've seen tremendous advancement with these systems in a very short amount of time thanks to the amount of data involved as well as by the software engineers that are constantly monitoring and upgrading the neural networks.
Pearl AI, is a leading innovator in dental AI, and they have just announced another advancement in their system with the launch the new Image Comparison Mode. This new feature empowers dentists to leverage the magic of AI for a more efficient, data-driven approach to patient care.
What is the Image Comparison Mode?
Previously, Pearl AI's intelligent assistant, Second Opinion®, excelled at analyzing individual dental x-rays, identifying potential issues like caries, bone loss, and root abnormalities. Now, the Image Comparison Mode takes it a step further. It allows dentists to:
- Compare side-by-side x-rays from different time points (e.g., previous exams vs. current exams)
- Visually track treatment progress and identify subtle changes over time
- Gain deeper insights into a patient's dental health trajectory
Benefits for Dentists and Patients:
The Image Comparison Mode offers a plethora (I love that word) of benefits for both dental professionals and their patients:
- Enhanced Diagnosis: By visualizing changes over time, dentists can gain a more comprehensive understanding of a patient's dental condition, potentially leading to earlier diagnoses and more informed treatment plans.
- Aid in Monitoring Remineralization Therapies: For the right situation, remineralization can be a great option. However, being able to correctly assess areas over time can be difficult. Radiographs don't always clearly show incipient areas in the interproximal region. Being able to monitor those situations over time through the help of AI can help doctors gauge how successful these therapies are. Dentistry is a conservative profession and sometimes the best choice isn't always intervention through restorative means. Comparing areas over time can help doctors make better decisions.
- Improved Patient Communication: Side-by-side comparisons with clear visualizations can simplify communication with patients, allowing them to better understand their dental health and the progress of their treatment.
- Increased Patient Engagement: Seeing the positive impact of treatment through visual comparisons can motivate patients to stay committed to their dental care routine.
- Streamlined Workflow: The efficiency of having all the necessary information readily available in one place can save valuable time for dentists and their staff.
The Future of Dental Care with AI
The introduction of the Image Comparison Mode shows how the continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of dental technology. can bring us more data driven decisions. This innovative feature is a testament to the power of AI in transforming how we as dentists diagnose, treat, and communicate with patients.
Empowering dentists with advanced tools like image comparison paves the way for a future of personalized, data-driven dental care.
Stay tuned for more updates on how Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing dentistry!
We deployed Pearl at a large client about a year ago. It lasted a few months for various reasons. Mostly that every single doctor refused to use it. They said they "don't need a computer to diagnose for them"...then when they were told they *had* to use it "or else"...it frequently had problems. And who gets tasked with the problems? IT. So who do we reach out to? Not Hello Pearl.
ReplyDeleteI mean...I just checked their website a few seconds ago. No phone number anywhere. Just a nebulous "contact us" form that never got us a call back.
Companies like this will be *super* responsive right up until the software is installed and they can send a bill...then they stop responding to everything.
Not having a direct number for your company or technical support on your website is grounds for IT to recommend against using your product.
But also, why are dentists afraid that AI is going to do their job for them? I don't think anyone in their right mind would trust AI with issuing prescriptions or giving my Roomba a drill and pliers to pull a tooth.
I don't have an answer for the phone number thing... but then I'm not really sure about doctors fighting AI either. I've been involved with AI in dentistry for about 8 years.
ReplyDeleteBack in the early days it was helping companies that were trying to develop the systems and train them. I looked at literally thousands of x-rays and marked them up with where I thought decay existed. There was a team of us working on it and we all about went blind staring at images.
To me, AI is no different than an explorer or a perio probe. AI provides data that you should consider. Is it always going to be right? No. But I'm always right either. Simply put, I think AI makes me better at what I do.
The more data I have on a patient, the better I become. I'm not sure why doctors push back on tech, but it's happened on every major advancement that I can think of. Even back in the days when intraoral cameras were new I heard from doctors that were opposed to them. Personally I want anything that makes me better. But hey, that's just me.
BTW, I will pass your concern about no phone number to the folks I know at Pearl. I appreciate that feedback.
I agree with your sentiment. Don't let AI make the decisions, but definitely use the information available at your fingertips.
ReplyDeleteI run plenty of tools at my company for everything from security incident detection to "guessing" possible resolutions to technical problems and providing a list to choose from.
The AI doesn't get to try to automatically fix an issue, but it can tell me "Hey, I think this might be an appropriate fix" and I can agree or reject it.
Heck, I even have my own home-built AI for sorting and categorizing my hundreds of thousands of family photos. But I still have to double-check it. One time my wife dyed her hair, and it was pretty similar to the color of one of our cats...consequently AI wanted to tag all the photos of my wife as "rocky the cat".
You've got to pay attention to your AI and supervise it. :)