Face the Future-Artificial Intelligence in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Medical Technology
• Artificial Intelligence

Background:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing healthcare with predictive, preventative, and individualized approaches.
• AI encompasses machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks, offering a platform for surgical enhancement.
• AI applications are increasingly integrated into various medical fields, including oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of current scientific knowledge on AI in OMFS.
• To summarize AI's existing and potential applications in improving surgical workflows and patient outcomes.
• To identify future research directions for AI in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review of English-language papers from PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase databases.
• Searches conducted from database inception to December 1, 2022, using terms related to OMFS and AI.
• Manual examination of reference lists from retrieved articles and systematic reviews to identify pertinent studies.

Main Results:

• AI is currently utilized in OMFS for improving radiographic image quality, diagnosing cysts and tumors, and locating cephalometric landmarks.
• AI demonstrates potential in enhancing preoperative planning, intraoperative decision-making, and postoperative monitoring.
• Advanced analysis of medical imaging data by AI can support virtual surgical simulations and personalized treatment strategies.

Conclusions:

• AI holds significant promise for advancing oral and maxillofacial surgery and addressing clinical challenges.
• Continued research into AI applications can provide additional support for practitioners across various surgical disciplines.
• AI can improve surgical accuracy and reduce complications through real-time feedback and risk prediction, such as for bleeding.