As artificial intelligence reshapes dentistry—from education to clinical care—leaders are drawing a sharp line: machines can support, but never replace, thinking.
That message is coming from both New York and Florida.
In Buffalo, N.Y., dentist and attorney Dr. Chester J. Gary earned top editorial honours for his cautionary words on AI. In Gainesville, Fla., the University of Florida (UF) is branding itself the nation’s “first AI university” while building a similar safeguard into its dental curriculum: AI should be a partner, not a substitute for reasoning.
“Despite its advances to the dental profession, AI cannot think, feel or have a soul,” Gary told the University at Buffalo. His essay True Confessions of an Artificial Intelligence System won first place in the 2025 William J. Gies Editorial Awards, co-sponsored by the American Association of Dental Editors & Journalists and the American Dental Education Association’s ADEAGies Foundation.
“AI in its best form is still only a computer,” added Gary, who has served as a clinical assistant professor of restorative dentistry at the UB School of Dental Medicine since 1996.
Gary, who holds both dental and law degrees from UB, said his legal training sharpened his ability to think critically—a skill he considers essential in the age of AI.
South of the border, UF has staked its reputation on AI innovation. In 2020, it announced a $70-million public-private partnership with NVIDIA, co-founded by alumnus Chris Malachowsky. The deal combined a $25-million personal gift from Malachowsky, $25-million in NVIDIA hardware, software and training, and $20-million from UF. The investment produced HiPerGator, now the fastest AI supercomputer in higher education.
Since 2021, UF has hired more than 100 AI-focused faculty to increase education and research in AI.
But in the College of Dentistry, the rollout comes with a caveat. Carrie Wells, Ed.D., an instructional designer hired in 2024, is tasked with ensuring AI becomes a “learning partner” without dulling clinical reasoning. Her work is part of UF’s AI Across the Curriculum initiative, which treats AI literacy as essential as writing or mathematics.
Wells says AI can serve many roles: tutor, visual designer, coursework planner, editor, even interviewer to guide student reflection. Her favourite? “Just a brainstorming tool,” she told UF News.
AI can be a great debate partner,” she added, noting another way students can sharpen their reasoning. “I actually encourage debating the side you don’t support.”
– Oral Health