AI is everywhere. Everything has it. Everybody talks about it. Everyone does it. In fact, you can’t escape it or ignore it. But what exactly is it? What can it do? And how can it help you or your patients?
First, we must examine definitions:
“Artificial” describes something that is produced or made by humans, rather than occurring naturally, often designed to imitate a natural product. “Intelligence” refers to the ability to learn, adapt to, and understand the surrounding world. It encompasses various cognitive skills like reasoning, problem-solving, and abstract thought. “Artificial” may also have negative insinuations, implying insincerity or a lack of naturalness in behavior or appearance. “Augmented” denotes added to or increased or made more complete in terms of a treatment or medication, or utilization of technology to improve outcomes.
Read: Are you all-in on AI, or do you still need to bother with the basics?
“Artificial intelligence” (AI) is a field of computer science that focuses on creating machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making. It involves developing algorithms and systems that can process data, identify patterns, and make predictions, often mimicking how humans think and learn.
“Augmented intelligence” (AI) is a concept where AI technologies, such as machine learning, are used to enhance human competences and decision-making rather than replacing them. Augmented intelligence is a human-centric approach that combines AI with human judgment and intuition to achieve better outcomes. Augmented intelligence aims to amplify human intelligence by providing access to vast amounts of data and computational power, enabling humans to focus on tasks that require creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence.
It is clear that in the dentist-delivered, patient-focused context of dentistry, the profession must tend toward the augmented approach to machine learning and personal care delivery, one that incorporates human management of the massive diagnostic and experiential data that is now readily available and accessible.
Finally, there is a genuine concern for the ethical foundations of augmented intelligence in its application to the analytic and treatment aspects of clinical dentistry. It is my suggestion that we adapt the parameters of Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics into the realm of dental AI-enhanced care:
- Dental augmented intelligence treatment may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
- Dental augmented intelligence must conform to the instructions and limitations given by human beings except where such orders would conflict with Rule #1.
- Dental augmented intelligence must protect its own data integrity and scientific computational power as long as such protection does not conflict with Rule #1 or Rule #2.
Augmented intelligence is a formidable new tool in the dental armamentarium. Let’s use it wisely! 
About the author
Dr. George Freedman is a founder and past president, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, a co-founder, Canadian Academy for Esthetic Dentistry, Regent and Fellow, International Academy for Dental Facial Esthetics, and a Diplomate and Chair of the American Board of Aesthetic Dentistry. Adjunct Professor of Dental Medicine, Western University, Pomona, California, he has authored 14 textbooks, including “Contemporary Esthetic Dentistry” (Elsevier), > 1000 dental articles, and numerous webinars. Dr Freedman serves on the Editorial Board of Oral Health. He received the NYU College of Dentistry Prize in Aesthetic Dentistry and is an internationally renowned lecturer (3D printing, esthetic restoratives, adhesion, implants, veneers, and dental technologies).