By Dr. Donald DeNucci, Chair, AAAI-D PBRN Committee, AAAI-D Founding Advisory Board Member
As artificial intelligence continues to enter clinical dentistry, questions surrounding real-world implementation, evaluation, clinician oversight, and patient-centered outcomes are becoming increasingly important. While many discussions around AI have focused on emerging technologies themselves, there is also growing interest in how these tools can be studied responsibly within everyday practice environments.
One infrastructure already positioned for this type of work is the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (National Dental PBRN), an NIDCR-supported research network that engages practicing clinicians in real-world clinical research across the United States.
Having previously served as the NIDCR program official for the Network during its first and second funding cycles, I recently reconnected with Dr. Gregg Gilbert, DDS, MBA — National Director of the Network and Distinguished Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham — to discuss areas of mutual interest related to artificial intelligence in clinical dentistry.
These discussions have included broader questions relevant to the profession, including how AI technologies may ultimately be evaluated in diverse clinical settings, how implementation challenges may differ across practice models, and how practicing clinicians can help inform evidence development as these tools continue to evolve.
For AAAI-D, these conversations are also consistent with the Academy’s broader educational and professional mission: encouraging thoughtful dialogue around responsible AI integration while helping connect clinicians, educators, and researchers working in this rapidly developing area.
Participation in the National Dental PBRN is voluntary and flexible. Depending on interest and availability, clinicians may choose to participate in surveys, observational studies, or other practice-based research activities.
Some specialty organizations have established dedicated PBRN-related committees or working groups to help coordinate member engagement in practice-based research activities. AAAI-D is exploring whether similar efforts may be worthwhile in the future as interest and activity in this area continue to grow.
Members interested in learning more about the National Dental PBRN may visit:
https://www.nationaldentalpbrn.org/become-a-member/
The National Dental PBRN is supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Institutes of Health.