Will the development of software and devices based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) sound the death knell for the dental assistant profession? If machines seem to have an unlimited potential for the autonomous realization of specific tasks, are they able to replace those who accompany the dentist and his patients on a daily basis? Elements of an answer.
AI's potential in dentistry seems limitless
Digital imaging, 3D printing of prostheses, genetic algorithms for prognosis in orthodontics, image analysis for diagnosis in dentistry...
The potential of applications developed from artificial intelligence seems almost unlimited and, in the long run, a large part of the work of dentists will undoubtedly be done by the machine.
Five years after the presentation of Yomi, the Chinese robot capable of adjusting two implants on a patient in just one hour without shaking, we are still far from seeing dentists replaced by agile and quasi-autonomous machines.
But, clearly, we are entering an era where artificial intelligence will play an increasingly important role in the daily lives of healthcare professionals.
AI can handle a multitude of tasks
The machine becomes the practitioner's right hand, boosting his intelligence and increasing his productivity. From making appointments to managing small material orders and liaising with prosthetists, a large part of the tasks that dental assistants are responsible for could, in theory, also be taken over by automated systems.
Under these conditions, will the dentist still need physical (and human!) assistance in his office? The question is legitimate and the answer, finally, obvious: yes!
Because if AI theoretically seems to have an unlimited potential in terms of data analysis and technical gestures, there is a quality that it will not be endowed with so soon: empathy. This ability to listen, to reassure, to advise is, for some time to come, reserved for humans... and humans are in great need of it!
Indeed, if patients need to have a technical expert in front of them in order to understand and accept their treatment, they also need to be welcomed and reassured to feel confident. This is particularly the case when they consult their dentist: the oral sphere is considered to be particularly intimate and, as we know, stomatophobia, even if it is decreasing, is still a reality for a large part of the population.
The dental assistant, an essential human link in the practice
Beyond the administrative management and technical tasks such as the maintenance of the treatment room and its equipment, orders and coordination with the dentist's partners, the mission of the dental assistant is to know how to guide, reassure and advise the patient.
The dental assistant actively contributes to oral hygiene education through his/her presence and support during the treatment process. Although the patient's experience is of course based primarily on the medical and human skills of the dental practitioner, the assistant plays a key role in the smooth running of a dental practice.
It seems highly unlikely that an accumulation of software or a robot will ever replace the ultra-polyvalence of this collaborator. Nevertheless, artificial intelligence can support you in your daily practice. Do you know AllisoneArtificial intelligence for the dentist of tomorrow? Click here to learn more.
