DT South Asia No. 12, 2023DT South Asia No. 12, 2023DT South Asia No. 12, 2023

DT South Asia No. 12, 2023

Enhancing oral care in autistic kids with sensory-adapted dental environments / News / Interview: “The concept of the root canal blockage course was born out of the desire to teach and practise different techniques”

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            [1] => 







The World‘s Dental Newspaper
South Asia Edition
Published in India

www.dental-tribune.com

ROOTS SUMMIT

Vol. 1, No. 12

CRISPR

AI

ROOTS SUMMIT calls for submissions
and launches roots magazine contest

Historic world first approval:
CRISPR to treat genetic diseases

Dental
students
say
artificial
intelligence should be included in
curricula

Page 02

Page 06

Page 09

Enhancing oral care in autistic kids with
sensory-adapted dental environments
By Dr Satabdi Saha
Autistic children face diverse
challenges in maintaining optimal
oral health. These challenges encompass difficulties in adhering to
standard oral hygiene practices in
their home environment and experiencing considerable discomfort during dental visits. A major
cause behind this stems from their
heightened sensory stimuli.
Sensory processing challenges
are a widely acknowledged aspect
of autism, with reports suggesting
that as many as 95% of children
with autism spectrum disorder
experience some form of sensory
processing difficulty.1
Today dentists recognise the
importance of making dental visits
inclusive for everyone, including
kids with autism, developmental
disabilities,
and
neurotypical
children. Researchers propose
using a sensory-adapted dental
environment (SADE) to help ease
anxiety and encourage better
cooperation among children on
the autism spectrum. 2
Managing an autistic child in
the dental chair: A challenging
situation
During dental procedures,
autistic children face challenges in
communicating and interacting.
They might find it hard to manage
their
emotions,
engage
in
repetitive movements, or show
hyperactivity due to attention
issues. This can lead to frustration,
irritability, and unusual sounds.
These challenges often come
with sensitivity to sights, sounds,

www.dental-tribune.com

Modifying the sensory environment can help dentists facilitate oral care for children with ASD. (Image: Canva)

smells, tastes, and textures. Even
small changes in the environment
can be overwhelming for them,
and they prefer things to stay
consistent. They often notice
things in their peripheral vision, so
it’s important to avoid moving
objects or toys around them as it
can distract them and affect how
they behave. 3
A trip to the dentist can be
tough for autistic children because
there’s so much happening at
once. The bright lights, loud
sounds, and strange smells can be
overwhelming. It’s no surprise
they might feel super anxious in
the dentist’s chair, which can make
them act out or even avoid going
to the dentist altogether. This
makes it hard for them to get the
care they need. That’s why making
the dental office more calm and
sensory-friendly is crucial. It’s all
about making sure their visit is a
good experience.
SADE: a breakthrough in
managing autistic children
A sensory-adapted dental environment aims to reduce patient
anxiety and discomfort during
dental procedures by addressing
spiking sensory impulses. The science behind sensory adaptation

aligns with the current trend in
healthcare towards holistic, patient-centered approaches that
consider psychological and sensory aspects of care.
Research
highlights
that
adapting the dental environment
to suit the sensory needs of
patients can improve their
comfort, enhancing the overall
dental
experience.
Sensory
adaptations can also reduce the
perception of pain during dental
procedures. Studies confirm that
patients tend to be more satisfied
with their dental experience in
sensory-adapted environments,
increasing the likelihood of regular
dental visits.
Modifying your dental clinic to
create and foster a sensoryadapted dental experience
Dental surgeons and pediatric
dentists have a unique opportunity to enhance their clinics by
proactively incorporating controlled lighting, soothing music,
and calming scents. These adjustments empower them to create
environments that effectively
modulate sensory experiences,
significantly reducing stress for
their autistic patients. Here are
some simple ways to modify your

dental clinic into an autism-friendly
set-up.4
1. Altering the dental chamber:
Sensitive adjustments to the
dental clinic environment can
help alleviate this discomfort.
For instance, softer lighting, the
use of darkening curtains on
the windows rhythmic music,
and a less decorated operatory
provide a sense of security and
is a feasible approach. A wrap
papoose extended from the
child’s shoulders to their ankles,
delivering
firm
“hugging”
pressure helps to induce a
soothing effect.
Having a
designated operating room
solely for the treatment of
autistic children can be
advantageous.
2. The expertise of the dental
surgeon and team: It’s best to
train the assisting team to
understand the autistic child.
They should be guided to avoid
sudden
movements,
and
sudden sounds during therapy.
The use of brief, clear, and
simple oral instructions should
be encouraged. Maintaining
consistent
communication
during and after the visit is
important. A dental surgeon,
trained to deal with autistic

children, can lead the treatment
in the best possible way.
3. Keeping appointments short:
Appointments should be kept
concise and well-organized,
ensuring they are short. It’s
crucial to minimize waiting
times to no more than 10 to 15
minutes, as patients with
limited attention spans can
become upset if kept waiting
for longer periods.
4. Providing
sensory
tools:
Noise-canceling headphones
block out the loud drills and
motors in the dental operatory,
thus
creating
a
more
comfortable dental setting.
Using things like favorite
cartoons, music, or special toys
can help distract autistic
patients and keep their focus
away during dental procedures.
Take-home message
Designing a dental clinic that
caters to sensory needs isn’t just
about
making
patients
comfortable—it’s a smart move.
When people feel good about the
space, they’re more likely to tell
others about it. That means more
patients visit the clinic, spread the
word, and give the clinic a great
reputation. Being more inclusive
improves
the
dentist-patient
relationship. Patients who trust
their dental professionals are
more inclined to engage in open
communication,
leading
to
improved care delivery. This
strengthened bond enhances the
overall experience for both
patients and the dental team,
promoting better outcomes and
long-term success.

References
Available upon request


[2] =>
NEWS

2

Dental Tribune South Asia Edition | 12/2023

ROOTS SUMMIT calls for submissions and
launches roots magazine contest
By Franziska Beier,
Dental Tribune International
ATHENS, Greece: The ROOTS
SUMMIT team is excited to invite
dental professionals to submit
their presentations for inclusion in
the dynamic scientific programme
for the event set to take place from
9 to 12 May in Athens. Contributions
may be in the form of either poster
or
oral
presentations.
The
organisers have also introduced
the roots magazine contest, which
will offer the chance to win free
tickets for the upcoming event.
The main presenting author is
requested to submit an abstract in
English and may submit only one
abstract. Responsibility for the
abstract’s content rests fully on
the presenting author, who must
also confirm that all co-authors
agree with the content prior to
submission. For oral presentations,
case reports can also be submitted.
Oral presentations will be 10
minutes long and followed by 5
minutes for questions and
answers.
Please
note
that
presenting authors must register
for the congress should their
abstract be accepted.
The deadline is 8 December
2023 for oral presentations and 26

Active participation by attendees is an important part of ROOTS SUMMIT. (Image: ROOTS SUMMIT)

April 2024 for poster presentations. The detailed submission
guidelines can be found at www.
roots-summit.com.
Win free entry to ROOTS
SUMMIT 2024

Dental
newspapers

Dental Tribune International,
who is co-organising the event,
would like to invite authors to
contribute
their
endodontic
clinical cases to its print publication
roots—international magazine of
endodontics.
Authors
whose
submissions fulfil the magazine’s

publication criteria have the
chance to win free entry to the
2024 summit.
The deadline for the roots
magazine contest is 29 February
2024. The case submission
guidelines can be found at www.
roots-summit.com. Please use the

subject line “roots magazine
contest 2024” when sending your
clinical case via email.
More information on the event
can be found on the ROOTS
SUMMIT website. News will also
be posted regularly on the event’s
Facebook page.

Specialty
magazines

CE
webinars

Online
dental news

WE CONNECT THE DENTAL WORLD
Media | CME | Marketplace

www.dental-tribune.com

Advertisement


[3] =>
NEWS

3

Dental Tribune South Asia Edition | 12/2023

Improving oral health in India using mobile
dental vans
lower socio-economic classes,
children, the homeless, and
migrant populations can also
benefit immensely from the
correct utilisation of these
vehicles”.

Researchers say that the use of mobile dental vans in India could reduce or eliminate a number of barriers to oral health by
facilitating mobile, low-cost dental services. (Image: reddees/Shutterstock)

By Jeremy Booth,
Dental Tribune International
WARDHA, India: Health authorities in India face several obstacles in the efficient delivery of
dental care, including a dentist-to-population ratio that is far
below that recommended by the
World Health Organization. The
subcontinent’s vast rural population have inequitable access to
dental care, and a review compiled
by researchers at Sharad Pawar
Dental College and Hospital in
Wardha in Maharashtra state says
that mobile dental vans (MDVs)
could help to improve the oral
health of those living in underserved areas.

According to the review, India
faces significant challenges in
dental care, besides having a
dentist-to-population ratio of
1:30,000. Many Indians live in rural
areas, but the majority of the
country’s dental practitioners are
based in major cities. Economic
factors also play a significant role,
as the cost of dental treatments
often
discourages
visits,
particularly among lower socioeconomic groups, leading to
exacerbated dental conditions
and thus higher costs for care.
Rural areas also lack healthcare
resources and other resources
necessary for oral hygiene, such as
water, resulting in lower standards

of dental care and poorer oral
health compared with urban areas.
Transportation barriers further
complicate access, especially in
isolated communities, where
inadequate public transport and
challenging terrain limit access to
dental services.
The authors of the review
found that MDVs could reduce or
eliminate a number of the barriers,
primarily by facilitating mobile,
low-cost oral care in areas with
underserved populations and
poor access. “MDVs can be a
catalyst in eliminating rural–urban
inequality in terms of dental care,”
they wrote, adding that “rural
communities, people belonging to

The review reported that
MDVs are utilised by universities in
India
to
provide
training
opportunities to dental interns
and
postgraduate
students,
visiting rural areas and treatment
camps and aiming to improve
community health and provide
oral health education. Dental
teams working in the MDVs deliver
various treatments and procedures
and provide screening services for
oral and systemic disease.
However, “no Indian governing
body maintains data regarding the
quantity and quality of MDVs in
the country,” co-author Dr Ali John
Hussain told Dental Tribune
International.
Although MDVs were found to
have a greater impact than a single
independent dental practitioner,
they also had disadvantages and
limitations, such as high cost and
complexity of maintenance and
limitations in the treatment that
can be provided.
Dr Hussain said: “MDVs have
their limitations; for example, it
cannot be expected that the treatment of a complex procedure like
excision of the lesion in a patient
with carcinoma be done in such a
place. Some procedures require a
completely sterile environment,

and some procedures require
large and bulky equipment, which
cannot be carried in a vehicle.
Also, many procedures require a
multidisciplinary approach, so fitting a group of specialists in a
small space would be a problem
too.” Dr Hussain said that some of
these limitations can be overcome,
but that some patients treated in
MDVs did have to travel for procedures of greater complexity.
Asked who would stand to
benefit most from greater use of
MDVs in India, Dr Hussain
commented that those living at
either of the two extremes of the
economic spectrum stood to
benefit most. He said: “It is a fact
that the majority of Indians live in
rural areas and many people in
these areas cannot afford proper
healthcare. [However], running an
MDV is a pricey affair, and if a
hospital in an urban area is
providing that service, then it will
charge a high fee for it to recoup
the costs and eventually make a
profit. Hence wealthy patients can
also make use of this, as they will
not have to travel to the hospital
for simple procedures.”
The review, titled “Overcoming
barriers to dental care in India by
the use of mobile dental vans”, was
published online on 27 October
2023 in the Cureus Journal of
Medical Science.

Various sections and compartments in a mobile dental van: (A) registration area; (B) sink area; (C) area for compressor; (D) patient waiting area; (E) area for dental chair; (F) generator and driving area.
(Image: Dr Ali John Hussain/Sharad Pawar Dental College and Hospital in Wardha)


[4] =>
INTERVIEW

4

Dental Tribune South Asia Edition | 12/2023

“The concept of the root canal
blockage course was born out of
the desire to teach and practise
different techniques”

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Dr Antonis Chaniotis will be holding a workshop and a lecture on root canal blockage management at ROOTS SUMMIT 2024. (Image: ROOTS SUMMIT)

By Franziska Beier,
Dental Tribune International

To make the wait for ROOTS
SUMMIT 2024 a little sweeter, the
organisers would like to spotlight
some of the speakers for next
year’s edition, which will take place
from 9 to 12 May in Athens in
Greece. Among the highlights will
be the lecture and workshop
presented by Dr Antonis Chaniotis,
a prominent endodontist who has
run a dedicated microscopic
endodontics practice in Athens for
20 years. Attendees can look
forward to his lecture on root
canal blockage management and
his workshop on the same topic.
His workshops are limited to a
small number of participants, and
based on prior experience, it is
expected that they will sell out
quickly.
Dr Chaniotis, to what extent do
calcified canals, ledge formation
and file fractures pose a unique
challenge in root canal system
disinfection?
Although the existence of
pathological, age-related or iatrogenic root canal blockages (calcifications, ledges and broken files) is
not the direct cause of root canal
treatment failure, it does adversely
affect prognosis in the treatment
of periapical periodontitis. These
blockages make it difficult for the
clinician to eliminate intra-canal
infections.
How
can
endodontists
measure calcified canals in the

first place, and how can they
manage these complex situations?
The diagnosis of root canal
blockages is done most of the time
with a 2D periapical radiograph.
Current high-resolution CBCT
imaging provides an additional 3D
tool for the evaluation of the
geometry and topography of the
blockage. The ultimate evaluation
of the dimensions, content and
negotiability of the blockage is
always done clinically. Our ability
to negotiate beyond the root canal
blockage depends upon various
factors. All the factors affecting
the negotiability and elimination
of root canal blockages will be
highlighted
in
my
lecture.
Moreover, suggestions on how to
overcome these difficulties will be
presented.
The day before ROOTS
SUMMIT begins, you will be
holding a hands-on course on root
canal blockage. What makes this
course of special interest to
endodontists?
The challenging nature of the
management of root canal
blockages during non-surgical
retreatment was a great inspiration.
The concept of the root canal
blockage course was born out of
the desire to teach and practise
different techniques for managing
current and future blockages.
Special models of simulated
conditions are used to practise
and tackle challenging cases. All
participants
work
under
magnification and light provided
by dental operating microscopes,

and they use top-notch equipment.
All this equipment is constantly
updated. Attendees will be able to
practise the bypassing of ledges,
the removal of cast and fibre posts,
the negotiation of calcified canals
and the management of broken
files. These characteristics make it
of unique interest to every lover of
endodontics!
What instruments will be used
during the course, and what
techniques will be taught?
Microscopes,
ultrasonic
instrumentation,
engine-driven
files, digital sensors and phosphor
plates will be available for use in
simulated
conditions.
Each
participant will have his or her own
equipment to use in working on
custom-made phantom heads and
special teeth. Instruments and
materials
from
the
best
manufacturers in endodontics will
be provided. Traditional and outof-the-box techniques will be
demonstrated and practised.
Some new techniques were
inspired by this course and
specially developed for it. So,
attendees should be prepared for
a unique experience.
In a recent study, you spoke
about future developments in
managing root canal blockage.
Could you tell us something about
these developments and how you
handle them in your courses?
Machine-assisted 3D irrigation
devices, lasers, digital workflows,
advanced planning software programs, guided endodontic tech-

niques and artificial intelligence
will shape the future of endodontics. We always try to highlight and
reflect on these future developments in our canal blockage
courses.
Why did you decide to present
at next year’s ROOTS SUMMIT,
and what are you personally
looking forward to?
Accepting the invitation to
present at ROOTS SUMMIT 2024
was an instant decision. No one
can resist the temptation of being
a part of it. Having the event take
place in Greece for 2024 will be an
amazing
experience.
ROOTS
SUMMIT is all about gathering
endodontic enthusiasts from
around the globe. It’s not only a
scientific event but also a cultural
blending of endodontists of
different origins, cultures and
perspectives. I would like to invite
you all to visit my home country
and to keep the spirit of ROOTS
SUMMIT alive.

Editorial note:
Dr Antonis Chaniotis will be
giving a workshop covering root
canal blockage on 8 May 2024.
More information on the workshop
can be found here. He will also be
giving a lecture titled “Ledges,
bricks and broken tips—root canal
blockage
management”
on
12 May 2024 from 1:30 p.m. to
3:30 p.m. More information on the
programme and registration can
be found on the ROOTS SUMMIT
website, www.roots-summit.com..

Dental Tribune International GmbH
makes every effort to report clinical
information and manufacturers’ product news accurately but cannot assume responsibility for the validity of
product claims or for typographical
errors. The publisher also does not
assume responsibility for product
names, claims or statements made
by advertisers. Opinions expressed
by authors are their own and may
not reflect those of Dental Tribune
International GmbH

DENTAL TRIBUNE SOUTH ASIA
EDITION

PUBLISHER
Ruumi J. DARUWALLA
CHIEF EDITOR
Dr. Meera VERMA

CLINICAL EDITOR
Dr. Dilip DESHPANDE

RESEARCH EDITOR
Dr. Shobha DESHPANDE

ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Dr. GN ANANDAKRISHNA
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Dr. Rajeev CHITGUPPI

ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Dr. Riddhi D. TELISARA
DESIGNER
Anil LAHANE

PRINTER
Mehernosh MISTRY
Burzin MISTRY
Ampersand, Mumbai, India


[5] =>
NEWS

5

Dental Tribune South Asia Edition | 12/2023

Are haptic dental trainers better than
phantom heads for dental curricula?
By Anisha Hall Hoppe,
Dental Tribune International
LONDON, UK: For dentists in
training, options for honing their
skills have been historically limited
to phantom heads or patients at
university dental clinics. Both options limit the dental student’s
ability to repeat specific techniques, procedures and conditions. However, a study conducted
at the Institute of Dentistry of
Queen Mary University of London
has found that including haptic
training in the undergraduate
dental programme was helpful in
training for rare clinical scenarios,
provided realistic feedback and allowed students to practise repeat
procedures with the same patient
parameters. This led to accelerated skill learning and improved
confidence.
The COVID-19 pandemic and
the immediate need to control
aerosolised pathogens led to a reduction in patient-facing training,
necessitating the exploration of
safe, sustainable alternatives. With
funding received for digital transformation, the institute invested in
advanced virtual reality haptic stations and intra-oral scanners, aiming to enhance the clinical competency-based dental curriculum.
The haptic dental trainers by Simodont were chosen to introduce
this haptic technology, and the addition was guided by a simulation-based
dental
education
framework, which focuses on psychomotor skill acquisition and the
collective impact on the teaching
staff, curriculum and facilities.
The curriculum development
followed a phased approach,
rooted in the concept of deliberate
practice, a method emphasising
active engagement in taskfocused training with immediate
feedback. This approach was
extended to haptic simulation
training, aligning with the school’s
existing education pedagogy and
aiming to improve psychomotor
skills through structured, repetitive
practice and feedback.
The integration process involved collaborative work between the e-learning team and a
newly appointed haptics teacher,
focusing on transitioning preclinical learners’ psychomotor skills to
a virtual reality environment. Staff
and students underwent comprehensive training to familiarise
themselves with haptic technology. This included face-to-face
presentations, online materials
and hands-on sessions. The staff’s
involvement was crucial in adapting the curriculum and creating
new haptic cases that mirrored
traditional training while leveraging the advantages of virtual reality simulation. Utilising existing Si-

Haptic dental trainers have been perceived as useful in the early stages of integration into the dental curriculum at Queen Mary University of London; however, their longer-term
benefits are yet to be established. (Image: Frame Stock Footage/Shutterstock)

Advertisement

modont cases helped ensure the
curriculum was designed to progressively develop the students’
manual dexterity and technical
skills.
The use of haptic simulators is
regarded as far superior to working
with artificial teeth in a phantom
head; however, the study pointed
out the need for further,
comprehensive
research
to
establish the long-term benefits
and pedagogical effectiveness of
haptic
training.
Given
the
substantial financial investment
required for haptic technology, it
is crucial to understand its impact
on traditional training methods
and patient clinics and to ascertain
whether it offers any measurable
advantages in terms of patient
safety and educational outcomes.
The study authors suggested that
answers to these questions are
vital for justifying the investment
to funders and professional
regulators in the UK and globally.
The
study,
titled
“The
integration of haptic training into
the QMUL dental curriculum”, was
published online on 24 October
2023 in the European Journal of
Dental Education, ahead of
inclusion in an issue.

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[6] =>
NEWS

6

Dental Tribune South Asia Edition | 12/2023

Historic world first approval: CRISPR to treat
genetic diseases
By Dr Rajeev Chitguppi
Dental Tribune South Asia
In a groundbreaking move, the
UK Medicines and Healthcare
products Regulatory Agency
(MHRA) has approved the use of
CRISPR gene editing technology
to treat diseases, setting a
significant
milestone
in
biotechnology. The approved
therapy—Casgevy, targets blood
conditions such as sickle-cell
disease
and
β-thalassaemia,
offering a potential paradigm shift
in their treatment. However, the
efficacy comes at a cost, as the
cutting-edge technology proves
to be expensive.
Casgevy, developed by Vertex
Pharmaceuticals in Boston, Massachusetts, and CRISPR Therapeutics
in Zug, Switzerland, has received
approval based on promising results from clinical trials. Adminis-

Advertisement

tered through intravenous infusion, the one-time treatment
demonstrated remarkable outcomes in alleviating the symptoms
of sickle-cell disease and β-thalassaemia.
For sickle-cell disease, 28 out
of 29 participants experienced
complete relief from debilitating
pain for at least one year
post-treatment. In the case of severe β-thalassaemia, where conventional
treatment
involves
monthly blood transfusions, 93%
of the 54 participants did not require red-blood-cell transfusions
for at least a year after receiving
Casgevy.
The gene therapy leverages
the Nobel Prize-winning CRISPR
technology, targeting errors in the
DNA sequence responsible for
haemoglobin production. Both
sickle-cell disease and β-thalas-

The landmark approval could transform the treatment of sickle-cell disease and β-thalassaemia — but the technology comes at a
considerable cost

saemia result from these genetic
anomalies, leading to abnormal
haemoglobin and severe health issues.
Casgevy uses CRISPR to edit
genes encoding for haemoglobin
in blood-producing stem cells
taken from the bone marrow of
patients. The edited cells, once
infused back into the body,
produce
fetal
haemoglobin,
mitigating
the
abnormalities
associated with adult haemoglobin
in affected individuals.
While the treatment shows
promise, safety concerns persist.
Participants in ongoing trials
experienced side effects like
nausea, fatigue, fever, and an
increased infection risk. The
potential for unintended genetic
modifications, a known challenge
with CRISPR, remains a point of
cautious consideration among
experts.
As the US Food and Drug
Administration contemplates the
approval of Casgevy for sickle-cell
disease, and the European
Medicines Agency reviews it for
both diseases, the therapy’s
accessibility remains a concern.
The intricate process of obtaining
and editing patients’ blood stem
cells makes it challenging to
implement in low- and middleincome countries, limiting its reach
to
nations
with
advanced
healthcare systems.

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| Management WhatsApp : +91 99304 50163/+91 99997 86275

Moreover, the exorbitant cost
of Casgevy raises questions about
global accessibility. Estimated at
around $2 million per patient, the
therapy’s high price tag emphasizes the need to address affordability and equitable access. As the
UK establishes reimbursement
and access frameworks, the global
community awaits further devel-

opments in the pursuit of this
groundbreaking CRISPR treatment.
What is CRISPR?
According to the genetics
glossary of National Human
Genome
Research
Institute
“CRISPR (short for “clustered
regularly
interspaced
short
palindromic
repeats”)
is
a
technology that research scientists
use to selectively modify the DNA
of living organisms.”
Modifying the genes inside
the cells was always thought to be
time-consuming, difficult and
sometimes impossible. However,
CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors are
making it possible to change the
life code over the course of a few
weeks.
Using CRISPR as genetic
scissors researchers can change
the DNA of living organisms with
extremely high precision, because
of which it is making a revolutionary
impact on the life sciences, by
helping develop new cancer
therapies and making the dream
of curing genetic diseases come
true.
Two scientists— Emmanuelle
Charpentier and Jennifer A.
Doudna— who pioneered the
revolutionary
CRISPR
geneediting technology won the Nobel
Prize in Chemistry in 2020.


[7] =>
NEWS

7

Dental Tribune South Asia Edition | 12/2023

Dental students say artificial intelligence
should be included in curricula
on integrating AI into dental
education.
The study, titled “Attitude,
perception and barriers of dental
professionals towards artificial
intelligence”, was published in the
September/October 2023 issue of
Journal of Oral Biology and
Craniofacial Research.

Dental students in India have reported that they gained most of their knowledge about artificial intelligence from social media. (Image: Alexander Limbach/Shutterstock)

By Anisha Hall Hoppe,
Dental Tribune International

LUCKNOW, India: Artificial
intelligence (AI), a rapidly evolving
technology, is increasingly relevant
in various medical fields, including
dentistry, for tasks like diagnosis,
treatment planning and data
handling. A new study seeking to
understand how AI is perceived by
dental students in India has
identified potential obstacles to its
integration into dental practice.
While a majority found AI in
dentistry exciting and believed it
would lead to major advancements,
there were mixed feelings about AI
replacing dentists and its role as a
definitive diagnostic tool.
The cross-sectional descriptive
study was conducted across eight
randomly selected dental schools
in India, and the participants
included both undergraduate and
postgraduate dental students. The
study, which ran from August to
October 2022, used a questionnaire
that included both close-ended
and
open-ended
questions
covering
socio-demographic
information,
sources
of
AI
knowledge and perceptions of AI’s
scope and application in dentistry.
Out of the 937 respondents, the
majority were female (67.7%), and
undergraduates made up 84.3% of
the participants.
The study found that awareness and basic knowledge of AI in
dentistry were relatively high
among both undergraduates and
postgraduates, 62.8% understanding AI’s working principles,
but that awareness of its dental
applications was divided. The primary source of information about
AI for these students was social
media (55.4%). Based on this finding, the researchers recommended
integrating AI into current dental

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curricula to ensure dental students
are actually receiving relevant, evidence-based information.
According to the study, while
the students saw AI as a significant
advancement in dentistry, they did
not believe it would replace
dentists, mainly owing to the
sensory and interpersonal aspects
of dental care—although very few
said that AI is not patient-friendly
or that it has a limited future.
Indeed, the majority of the dental
students found AI exciting and saw
it as a valuable tool for diagnosis,
prognosis and treatment planning.
They recognised its potential in
areas like radiographic diagnosis,
soft-tissue lesion diagnosis, 3D
implant positioning and forensic
dentistry.

and

‘’

Significant barriers to AI
adoption in dentistry were also
reported, including insufficient
training at dental school and a lack
of awareness and of technical
resources. Additionally, concerns
about the cost-effectiveness of AI
and its inclusion in the dental
curriculum were noted.

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Most students agreed that
data used in machine learning
must be handled carefully to comply with data protection regulations, ensuring patient data confidentiality. The findings also suggest that combining data using AI
requires collaboration among clinicians, researchers, policymakers
and the industry to maximise benefits and minimise patient harm.
Limitations of the study
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