Artificial Intelligence Systems in Prosthodontics: Current Applications and Challenges

The rapid development of artificial intelligence systems (AIS) in prosthodontics requires an overview of their applications, capabilities, opportunities and challenges.

This narrative review provides insights into AIS in prosthodontics and their applications. AI systems were classified into five main categories: (1) automated image handling and annotation; (2) classification and decision support; (3) visualisation and modelling; (4) optimisation and simulation; and (5) recording and communication.

These AIS in prosthodontics can be used to delineate restorative margins in computer-aided design and manufacturing workflows, digital restoration design to generate crown proposals from intraoral scanning data, or conversational interfaces to provide clear, accessible and personalised explanations to patients. These systems offer significant capabilities, such as in diagnostic and treatment planning support, optimisation of prosthetic design, improved efficiency of digital workflows and enhanced patient communication. However, important challenges must be considered including the risk of automation bias, the lack of system transparency and explainability, issues related to equity and data protection and the ethical and medico-legal uncertainties surrounding accountability in the event of treatment failure.

These systems offer significant capabilities in prosthodontics, but important challenges must be considered.