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Published on: February 23, 2024
Diagnostic Accuracy and Efficiency of AI-Assisted Radiographic Interpretation Compared to Conventional Methods in
Hardikkumar B Patel1, Jasmine Marwaha2, Nidhi Hirani3
1Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Siddhpur Dental College and Hospital, Siddhpur, Gujarat, India.
Background:
Early detection of dental caries is critical for implementing preventive measures and avoiding invasive treatments. Traditional radiographic interpretation by clinicians, though effective, is prone to variability. Artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted interpretation has emerged as a promising adjunct.
Objective:
To assess and compare the diagnostic accuracy and efficiency of AI-assisted radiographic interpretation with conventional clinician-based evaluation in the early detection of dental caries.
Methods:
A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 400 bitewing radiographs from 200 patients aged 18-40 years. Two groups were compared: Group A (conventional method) with three experienced clinicians, and Group B (AI-assisted method) using a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based software. The reference standard was consensus diagnosis after clinical validation. Diagnostic performance was evaluated using sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and time-efficiency metrics.
Results:
AI-assisted interpretation showed significantly higher sensitivity (91.2% ± 3.5) than conventional interpretation (84.6% ±4.2; P = 0.01). Specificity was marginally better in the conventional group (89.5% ±3.1) compared to AI-assisted (87.1% ± 2.9; P = 0.14). Overall diagnostic accuracy was higher in the AI group (89.4% ± 3.2 vs. 87.0% ±3.6; P = 0.04). Mean interpretation time was significantly lower in the AI group (21.5 ± 5.3 seconds) than in the clinician group (48.2 ± 6.7 seconds; P < 0.001).
Conclusion:
AI-assisted radiographic interpretation demonstrated superior diagnostic accuracy and markedly improved efficiency compared to conventional methods in early caries detection. AI tools can serve as reliable diagnostic adjuncts, enhancing clinical workflow and reducing diagnostic variability.
