Missing teeth affect many of us, especially the elderly. It is important for any replacement tooth to simulate the exact characteristics of the original tooth. When we seek an implant or dentures, the dentist will go through a time-consuming design process. But now, researchers have developed technology using artificial intelligence, which could result in improved accuracy and success of false teeth – potentially improving the oral health of millions of people.
Having missing teeth presents a range of problems – including our appearance, the process of chewing, and our ability to bite, among other issues. Elderly people are typically affected the most.
Missing teeth is usually down to severe tooth decay or gum disease. However, trauma is also a possible cause. Either way, most people seek treatment for the problem.
The most common solution is to get either dentures or implants. These false teeth are time-consuming to create however, and unfortunately do not always work as intended for patients – owing to design issues.
But now, a team of researchers have found that Artificial Intelligence could greatly improve the accuracy and effectiveness of false teeth, which could herald a new era of better false teeth.
Missing teeth and their impact
Missing teeth can have a big impact on life. For example, research has showed that those with teeth missing have a poorer quality of life, self-esteem and wellbeing [1].
While most people will replace a missing tooth with either an implant or dentures, there are issues. For example, both treatments are costly, and accessing dental services remains challenging for many.
Moreover, for those that choose not to replace a missing tooth, it can result in many problems. For example, it can affect the mouth’s appearance, how we chew, cause jawbone muscle problems, biting difficulties and even impact the teeth around it [2].
But even for those who can get implants and dentures, they present their own potential problems. It is crucial for false teeth to resemble the patient’s original tooth closely. Therefore, this helps to keep functions in the mouth the same.
However, a big problem in dentistry currently is how time-consuming it is to design appropriate dentures and implants in order to ensure they are suitable for the patient. If they are not designed adequately, they can cause discomfort and problems for the patient [2].
Now though, researchers have looked at how artificial intelligence could revolutionize this process and improve both the accuracy and time spent while designing the false teeth.
The Research
Researchers from the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Hong Kong and colleagues at the Chu Hai College of Higher Education, worked together to complete the research. Subsequently, their work was published in the journal PLOS ONE [3].
The researchers sought to find out if the use of artificial intelligence could result in an improvement in the accuracy and performance of dentures and implants [3]. They hoped that they could eventually automate the design of individualized false teeth.
Their motivation was to enhance the effectiveness of treatment and improve the patient experience and outcomes. Ultimately, the aim of false teeth is to provide a solution to the permanent issue of tooth loss.
The researchers used technology based on 3D Generative Adversarial Network – a type of artificial intelligence [3]. The aim was to train the technology to be able to automatically create a design of false teeth.
The technology was tested on 175 participants from the University of Hong Kong [3]. They provided teeth models which were then inputted into the technology. This gave the technology a wide range of knowledge that it could use to gain an understanding of each tooth, its texture and ideal measurements.
The study showed that artificial intelligence technology was capable of reconstructing the shape of a naturally healthy tooth – which were those of the participants [3]. Therefore, it was also able to automate the process of designing false teeth with high accuracy [3].
The new approach only requires a digital model of a patient’s mouth to function. Impressively, the technology can learn the features of a patient’s individual teeth [3]. It can then generate a false tooth design that will look and act like the missing tooth [3].
What this means
By making the process of designing false teeth automated, it could have a great impact on dentistry. For example, patients would have better fitting false teeth, increasing their comfort. Getting more individualized treatment would ensure longer lasting teeth.
Meanwhile, dentists could see more patients, due to the fact that they would need to spend less time in designing false teeth. This is a situation which would benefit all parties.
Dr. Walter Lam took part in the research [2]. He commented on the findings by saying that the technology will “facilitate the treatment workflow for dentists in replacing a missing tooth, as the preparation and fitting process will require minimal time, and a patient will not need to stay at the clinic for long hours” [2].
This overall case is another example of how artificial intelligence is proving beneficial to dentistry. Hopefully as time goes on, the technology will be widely implemented, resulting in a range of benefits.
Thinking points…
1) It is important to remember that it is possible to avoid losing teeth. The best way of doing this is to ensure that you take great care of your oral health. As part of this, you should make sure that you attend regular dental check-ups. Any problems will be able to be addressed, with a treatment plan created if needed. We recommend booking an appointment soon!
2) Do you, or someone you know, have poor-fitting dentures? If so, it is important to not suffer in silence. Treatment is always available, and at the very least, a dental professional may be able to make practical suggestions to increase comfort. By seeing a dental professional, any treatment options can be discussed. Why not make an appointment with a dentist now?!
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a Calgary dental Clinic that provide its patients with a range of treatment options and advice aimed at improving 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 dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website.
References
[1] Gerritsen, A. E., Allen, P. F., Witter, D.J., Bronkhorst, E., & Creugers, N. HJ. (2010). Tooth loss and oral health-related quality of life: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. 8 (126). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-8-126
[2] The University of Hong Kong. (2022). AI-designed single molar dental prostheses. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-07-ai-designed-molar-dental-prostheses.html. Last accessed: 22nd July 2022.
[3] Chau, R. C. W., Chong, M., Thu, K. M., Chu, N. S. P., Koohi-Moghadam, M., Hsung, R. T-C., McGrath, C., & Lam, W. Y. H. (2022). Artificial intelligence-designed single molar dental prostheses: A protocol of prospective experimental study. PLOS ONE. 17 (6): e0268535. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268535.
