The Use and Accuracy of Artificial Intelligence for Detecting Gingivitis

Nhia T. Nguyen and Madison L. Plumley

Dental Hygiene Program, Lamar Institute of Technology

DHYG 2301: Dental Hygiene Care I

Mrs. Rogers, RDH, BS

April 11, 2024

 The Use and Accuracy of Artificial Intelligence for Detecting Gingivitis

The topic chosen for our research project is the use and accuracy of artificial intelligence

(AI) for detecting gingivitis. The goal of the research project is to provide us the chance to learn

more about a particular topic of interest that interests us. As aspiring dental hygienists, our goal

is to continuously be learning and staying on top of current topics that could benefit the patient

and encourage better outcomes. The use of AI in dentistry has drastically evolved in recent years

and has shown to be an innovative tool for not only the patient, but also to health care providers.

From presenting the research topic we hope to spark the curiosity of others in our profession and

perhaps provide further information on a topic they are already familiar with or bring awareness

to a topic they are not familiar with. We believe this technology can be useful to practicing

dental hygienists, Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), and patients. We hope to use visual aids to

show the audience how the system was able to accurately detect the abnormalities of the gums

and give a diagnosis based on the results.

Technology known as artificial intelligence, or AI, makes it possible for computers and

software/other devices to imitate human intelligence and problem-solving abilities. (Wikimedia,

2024). First used in academia and government research institutes, but with recent advances, AI

has also been integrated into industry, commerce, medicine and dentistry. (Wikimedia, 2024). AI

has quickly become a new innovative tool used in dental because AI-powered tools can analyze

dental images such as, radiographs and intraoral photographs, to identify abnormalities in the

gums and aid in early disease detection. Which can be beneficial for not only the health care

provider, but as for the patient because it aids in accuracy and also speeds up the diagnostic

process. Going back to the very beginning, in the 1950s, Alan Turing, known as a founding

father of artificial intelligence, was the first person to conduct substantial research in the field
that he called machine intelligence. He wrote the framework and is one of many that created the

concept of intelligent machines. (Anyoha, 2020). Resulting from this, in 1956, John McCarthy

hosted the Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence (DSRPAI). It brought

together top researchers from various fields for an open-ended discussion on artificial

intelligence. McCarthy coined the term artificial intelligence at the event. (Anyoha, 2020).

Artificial intelligence continued to grow and make advances to become the AI we know and use

today.

AI in the use of dentistry can provide additional guidance in dental images/radiographs

treatment recommendations, and future dental disease predictions. Using AI in connection to

dental imaging including radiographs (x-rays), cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide an automatic recommendation for the

interpretation of dental images. Through the process of uploading X-rays, CBCT, or MRIs to AI

software, AI assists dental professionals in interpreting these diagnostic exams. Treatment

recommendations may also be assisted through AI, by submitting subjective and objective

patient information to AI software that can use the data to recommend different treatments that

the dentist and dental hygienists may look over at first glance of the patient's information.

Applying AI to the patient's care plan /patient's treatment plan can provide a more effective

outcome for the patient’s long-term care. Furthermore, AI can give future dental disease

predictions that can allow for early detection of diseases which can lead to a more rapid

diagnosis and aggressive treatment of any terminal conditions such as periodontitis or oral

cancer.

The detection of gingivitis using AI can assist dental professionals in providing sufficient

care for their patients. Gingivitis is one of the most common plaque-initiated dental diseases that
most patients face. Luckily, gingivitis is preventable with early detection, and can be managed

with proper oral hygiene instruction and patients will not have any issues with the condition.

However, it can be challenging to maintain satisfactory plaque control without continuous

professional advice (Chau, 2023). This is when AI is beneficial in being able to give automatic

visual plaque control advice based on intraoral photographs. For example, the deeplabv3 is an AI

system that uses a deep learning structure for semantic segmentation, the system assigns labels to

each pixel on an image based on what is on the image (Chau, 2023). The AI system examines the

gingival margin and gingival conditions of the individual areas and classifies the photos as

healthy, diseased, or questionable. These photographs can provide the patient with a real-time,

and accurate score, that they can monitor on their own and allow them to treat the problem areas.

One of the most important factors with artificial intelligence detecting and diagnosing

gingivitis is the accuracy and the research to back it up. The research tested the accuracy of

artificial intelligence for detecting gingivitis by taking frontal view intraoral photographs (Rana,

2017). Artificial intelligence is already providing new information on plaque control with this

new technology and is now able to tell the patient and or hygienist where the plaque is building

up mostly in the gingival margin. AI could analyze intraoral photographs of patients and

diagnose inflammation with over 90% accuracy, matching the performance of dentists (Chau,

2023). The artificial intelligence could identify specific sites with or without gingival

inflammation that match with a visual examination by a dentist.

The benefits of AI for gingivitis detection are many-sided. Firstly, AI addresses the

common fears associated with dental visits, as many patients either dread or lack the financial

means to access regular dental care. Secondly, this AI system offers a method of monitoring the

effectiveness of patients' plaque control, providing valuable feedback for patients and dental
professionals. In addition, by enhancing accessibility to this technology developers aim to

minimize health inconsistency and improve oral health outcomes, particularly within low-income

communities (Chau, 2023). Ultimately, the potential of AI aids dental hygienists, dentists and

patients in diagnosing gingivitis could transform early detection, leading to better health

outcomes.

In conclusion the use and accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting gingivitis is still

under research. With further advancements to the technology, it could be an innovative tool for

practicing dental hygienists, dentists, and patients for detecting and diagnosing gingivitis and

could lead to earlier detection and better health outcomes.

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