ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence software is slowly becoming a major part of our lives. Therefore, ChatGPT’s impact on various industries is being scrutinized. This includes the field of dentistry. Now, a research team has looked into the impact of ChatGPT on dentistry, finding that there are both positive and negatives to its use in the industry.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is gradually becoming a bigger part of day-to-day life. In fact, more and more industries are starting to leverage AI to achieve faster and more effective processes and results.
The best-known AI model is ChatGPT – which within two months of its launch was being used by over 100million users [1]! Therefore, this made ChatGPT the fastest-growing application in history.
ChatGPT has the potential to help many industries. However, it has been questioned whether or not this extends to dentistry. Now, new research has looked into the impact of ChatGPT on dentistry [2].
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is a chatbot that is owned by OpenAI – who themselves are backed by Microsoft. The chatbot is used around the world. ChatGPT is capable of generating essays, jokes, articles or general knowledge – when prompted. The user will write a prompt into a search box, before the chatbot returns an answer.
The popularity of ChatGPT is staggering. To put it into context, as mentioned, ChatGPT attracted over 100million users within two months – something that took TikTok nine months and Instagram over 2 years to achieve [1].
However, there has been some controversy over ChatGPT. There are concerns over how it could be misused to facilitate misinformation and plagiarism from students in education [1]. These concerns extend to dentistry.
The Research
A team of researchers looked to see how ChatGPT and dentistry combined. Their findings were published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science [2].
The researchers aimed to see if ChatGPT could be used as “an outstanding instance of large language models in the fields of public dental health schooling, writing for academic use, research in public dental health, and clinical practice in public dental health based on the available data” [2].
To do this, they used 21 past research papers that had been published between March 2018 and March 2023 [2]. These research papers were vetted to ensure they included data on the link between AI and dentistry [2]. Therefore, this would provide the researchers with a strong understanding of the link between these two areas.
The researchers were looking to see if there were consistent patterns across these research papers. These consistencies would help them to draw conclusions on this topic.
Key findings
The researchers reached a conclusion that praised ChatGPT, but also warned of some potential issues. Yet predominantly, the researchers suggested the findings were positive.
The main finding was that while ChatGPT offers many advantages to public health in dentistry, it shouldn’t replace traditional dentistry, nor should it be entirely relied on. This is especially applicable when it comes to decision making.
The researchers were interested to see if ChatGPT could evaluate medical understanding and logic at the level needed to provide understanding to members of the public [2]. Indeed, the researchers found that ChatGPT was able to provide simple explanations, which can benefit the knowledge of patients.
The research also focused on the implications of ChatGPT on academia. For example, the researchers cautioned that students need to be aware that ChatGPT is not entirely accurate and may provide factual errors [2].
The researchers suggested that programme directors at Universities will need to be aware of ChatGPT and how it can assist in the creation of student essays and assignments [1]. Therefore, being extra vigilant towards plagiarism is crucial.
The researchers found that ChatGPT only has limited effectiveness when it comes to providing the creation of academic writing. There were some positives – such as it being a time-effective approach to writing and offering a good structure to arguments [2]. However, they found that ChatGPT offered a lack of citations and real-world examples – two key elements of academia [2].
When creating their own research papers, the researchers did find that ChatGPT was capable of providing benefits like interpreting data quickly, offering cohesive arguments and rephrasing complex scientific data [2]. With this in mind, the researchers did suggest that ChatGPT has the “potential to be revolutionary” in the future [2].
The importance of dentists
The results of the study affirm the importance of visiting a dental clinic and receiving the professional opinion of a dentist. Otherwise, incorrect decisions could be made. Moreover, ChatGPT does not provide the individualized patient care that a dentist can provide.
Many are worried that patients will seek assistance through ChatGPT rather than through the proper channels. But opinions by AI do not constitute professional medical advice.
The researchers have stated that they hope the public continues to attend dental clinics so that they receive the most successful treatment outcomes [1]. AI cannot replace professional decision-making.
So while ChatGPT can be useful in some scenarios, it cannot replace dentists. After all, physical treatments can only be done by dentists, who are professionally trained to carry out procedures. Visiting a dental clinic will continue to be a crucial part of maintaining and strengthening oral health.
Thinking points…
1) As mentioned above, ChatGPT has some positives, but it cannot replace a dentist’s professional judgment. Therefore, remember to attend regular dental appointments, as this provides a dentist with a chance to analyze your oral health and look for any potential problems. This is not something that ChatGPT is capable of doing! We recommend that you book an appointment now!
2) Some people are turning to ChatGPT for queries on basic health problems. While this can definitely be positive, it can sometimes underestimate problems you are facing. For example, if you are having oral health problems like toothache or gum problems, ChatGPT may downplay its potential consequences. Therefore, remember to speak to your dentist regularly, as they will provide accurate information and guidance.
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a Calgary dental clinic that provide its patients with a wide range of dental treatment options and advice aimed at improving their oral health.
It is crucial to brush your teeth at least twice a day and to floss regularly. Moreover, eating healthily and trying to avoid sugary foods and drink is important.
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a regular dental check-up. When problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Many people find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, all of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.
We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca.
References
[1] Hu, K. (2023). ChatGPT sets record for fastest-growing user base – analyst note. Available: https://www.reuters.com/technology/chatgpt-sets-record-fastest-growing-user-base-analyst-note-2023-02-01/. Last accessed: 16th June 2023.
[2] Tiwari, A., Kumar, A., Jain, S., Dhull, K. S., Sajjanar, A., Puthenkandathil, R., Paiwal, K., & Singh, R. (2023). Implications of ChatGPT in Public Health Dentistry: A Systematic Review. Cureus Journal of Medical Science. 15 (6): e40367. DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.7759/cureus.40367.
