Dentistry as a Test Case for Responsible Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Why External Validation Matters More Than Marketing

Artificial intelligence (AI) is moving rapidly from research into clinical practice. In 2024, commercial dental AI systems that claim to detect caries and periodontal disease on radiographs are being marketed directly to clinicians and insurers. Accuracy figures are prominently displayed, yet most derive from developer-generated datasets with limited independent scrutiny. This reflects a broader challenge in digital health: marketing often advances faster than evidence. If AI struggles to demonstrate reliability in a structured field like dentistry, the risks for other disciplines are even greater.