Beyond the Algorithm: Guiding Principles for AI-Enhanced Dentistry

Background Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming an increasingly visible force in dentistry – shaping imaging and diagnostics, treatment planning, robotics and automation, virtual and augmented reality, predictive analytics, and administrative support. Yet the United States has limited AI-specific regulation in health care, leaving professional self-governance and ethical stewardship as primary safeguards. To maintain public trust and protect patients, dentistry must define how AI should be used, how accountability is preserved, and what competencies are required for safe adoption.Case Description Dentistry should formally embrace an augmented intelligence (AUI) posture – a “human-in-the-loop” model in which AI supports, but does not replace, clinical judgment and professional responsibility. An education-forward strategy grounded in four learning domains (fundamentals, applications, assessment, and governance/ethics) is proposed to ensure dentists can evaluate AI outputs, recognize signs of bias, and apply AI appropriately within clinical and operational contexts. Building on this framework, three profession-level priorities are emphasized: (1) curricular reform to establish consistent AI competencies across training programs; (2) improved clinical governance to guide selection, validation, monitoring, and documentation of AI tools in practice; and (3) data democratization to strengthen transparency, equity, and shared learning across institutions and settings.