Artificial Intelligence and Ethics in Dentistry: A Scoping Review.

Area of Science:

• Dental Informatics
• Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
• Bioethics

Background:

• Dentistry is increasingly adopting artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance clinical practices.
• The integration of AI in dentistry presents complex ethical considerations that require thorough examination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review current applications of AI in dentistry.
• To identify and document the ethical concerns and challenges associated with AI use in dental practice.

Main Methods:

• A systematic scoping review was conducted across five major databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, ArXiv, IEEE Xplore).
• 1,553 records were screened, and 178 studies were analyzed by a multidisciplinary team of researchers.
• Data extraction and ethics-related information identification were performed using Covidence and Dedoose, adhering to PRISMA guidelines.

Main Results:

• 53 distinct AI applications in dentistry were identified, with 73% of studies published after 2016.
• Neural learning techniques (42.1%) and traditional learning techniques (42.7%) were the most common AI technologies used.
• Only 22 (12.4%) studies reported ethical issues, focusing on prudence, equity, privacy, responsibility, democratic participation, and solidarity, indicating a lack of focus on AI ethics in dental research.

Conclusions:

• AI is increasingly prevalent in dentistry, yet there is a significant lack of published research addressing its ethical implications.
• The scarcity of shared code hinders replication and further research into responsible AI development and deployment in dentistry.
• Recommendations are proposed to foster a more responsible integration of AI technologies within the dental field.