How is AI being used in my care?
Ask your dentist to explain how AI supports your exam — whether it helps highlight areas on X-rays, compare images over time, or assist with documentation. They should be able to describe this in plain language.
Which AI product or tool is being used?
Ask for the name of the AI tool and what it does. Knowing the product name makes the conversation concrete — and lets you ask whether it has been reviewed by regulators such as the FDA.
What decisions are still made by you?
AI does not diagnose or replace a dentist. Ask how your dentist uses the information AI provides, and how the final judgment remains with the clinician.
Is this AI tool accurate and safe?
Ask where the AI system was tested, what kinds of images it performs well on, and whether the dental team has evaluated its reliability in their own practice.
What does FDA clearance or approval actually tell me — and what doesn’t it tell me?
Most dental AI tools are FDA-cleared rather than FDA-approved. Clearance means the company showed its device is substantially equivalent to another legally marketed device — it does not mean the FDA tested the algorithm itself, that the AI is better than a dentist, or that it works equally well in every setting. And neither clearance nor approval tells you how skillfully the tool is being used. What matters most is understanding how your dentist makes decisions: the AI highlights, but your dentist decides.
Could the AI miss anything or make mistakes?
Every tool has limits. Ask your dentist to explain where AI is strong, where it struggles, and what safeguards the practice uses to avoid over-reliance.
How is my data protected?
Ask how your X-rays and health information are stored, who can see them, and whether the AI system complies with privacy rules.
Do I have a choice about whether AI is used?
Your dentist can explain when AI is optional, when it’s part of the standard workflow, and how you can opt out if you prefer.
If my dentist isn’t using AI, is that a problem?
Not at all. AI is helpful, but not required for good dental care. Many excellent dentists don’t use AI yet, and their clinical skills remain the foundation of safe, reliable treatment.
If my dentist is using AI, should I trust it?
AI can be a useful second set of eyes, but good dentists never rely on it alone. You can trust the process when your dentist explains how AI helps and uses it thoughtfully alongside clinical judgment.
Our Commitment to the Public
AAAI-D does not endorse or promote commercial products.
Our role is to educate, and support educational and research endeavors, to explain AI clearly, support transparency, and help the public and professionals understand benefits and limitations so AI is used responsibly, ethically, and in the patient’s best interest.
This page is reviewed and updated periodically. The information on this page is current as of October 2026.
AAAI-D does not endorse, certify, or promote commercial products. However, as the field evolves, the Academy may develop neutral, education-focused frameworks that help the public and professionals understand how different AI tools describe their capabilities, provide transparency, or share supporting information. It is intended only to help people make sense of a rapidly changing technology landscape in a balanced, informative way.