# AI Acceptability in Dentistry: Insights from Dental Professionals and Students in the Netherlands: A Pilot Study

## TL;DR

A pilot study in the Netherlands explores how dental professionals and students view the use of AI in dentistry, finding general acceptance and a need for AI education.

## Contribution

This study provides new insights into AI acceptability and educational needs among Dutch dental professionals and students.

## Key findings

- Respondents viewed AI as a supportive tool rather than a threat, especially for tasks like pathology detection and treatment planning.
- AI education was considered essential at multiple stages of dental training and professional development.
- Participants were optimistic about AI's potential to save time and improve dental care across various fields.

## Abstract

There is an increasing worldwide interest and investment in the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the dental field is no exception. AI shows promise in all dental disciplines. However, uptake in clinical practice is slow, and there is limited understanding of users’ acceptability in the Netherlands. This study aims to provide insights into the acceptability of Dutch dental professionals and students regarding AI in the dental field.

This cross-sectional, observational study was conducted using an anonymous online questionnaire (Qualtrics). Participants included dental students, dentists, and maxillofacial surgeons in the Netherlands. Data collection took place between April and May 2023, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

The survey was completed by 166 participants: 61% were dentists, 34% dental students, and 5% maxillofacial surgeons. Overall, respondents were positive about working with AI, regarding it as an opportunity to, for example, save time and improve care in all dental fields. They did not perceive AI as threatening, but as a useful support tool. The tasks for which AI was regarded most useful were: detection of pathologies in the jaws, evaluation of treatment success, planning jaw surgery, detection of caries, endodontic abnormalities, periodontal abnormalities, and 3D implant planning and positioning. AI education was deemed necessary at dental/medical school, postgraduate levels, and conferences.

This study contributes to filling the literature gap regarding AI acceptability in the dental field and provides evidence to justify the structural incorporation of AI education. It is necessary to prepare current and future dental professionals to work with AI, and to play an active role in the co-development, implementation, and sustained adoption of this technology. Only such an integrated strategy will allow us to generate AI that will positively transform clinical practice.