When AI gives dental advice: managing patient risk in a new diagnostic landscape

Artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly shapes the dental patient journey long before the clinical examination begins. Large language models, chatbot interfaces and symptom-checker apps increasingly provide laypeople with diagnostic suggestions, oral health interpretations and treatment recommendations. While these tools are widely accessible and often persuasive in tone, they operate without clinical oversight, are trained on heterogeneous datasets, and may rely on outdated or insufficiently contextualised information. As a result, patients may arrive at appointments with firm expectations shaped by algorithmic guidance. This article examines how AI-generated advice influences patient behaviour, risk perception and decision-making; outlines the emerging ethical and clinical challenges; and discusses practical strategies for dentists navigating this new diagnostic environment. Rather than replacing professional judgement, AI has amplified the need for careful communication, contextualisation and recalibration of expectations within evidence-based care.