When I asked one of the leading AI platforms how artificial intelligence is transforming the dental industry, it gave me a straightforward answer:
"AI is improving the dental industry by helping dentists diagnose problems more accurately, detect issues earlier, and provide faster, more personalized treatment for patients." 

All of this is true and incredibly beneficial for the world of dental hygiene, but when I think about AI's impact, I can't help but reflect on the opportunities it could have given my Black immigrant grandfather in the 1960's. 

My grandpa used to create dental molds by having patients bite into gooey impression putty that didn't reveal deeper structures like nerves or bones. These molds had to be packaged, shipped away, and waited on for days. Today, AI‑powered imaging eliminates the mess, the waste, and the long waiting periods, and digital scans can be sent instantly to specialists, speeding up treatment and improving accuracy in ways my grandfather could only dream of. 

But the technical challenges weren't the hardest part of his career. As the first and only black dentist in the small town of Kamsack, Saskatchewan, he faced judgment from every direction. People scrutinized him ten times harder and shamed him twenty times faster. Whatever a white dentist struggled with, my grandfather had to perform flawlessly even when it was difficult just to avoid racial backlash that could drive patients away from his excellent care. 

AI changes that landscape. AI doesn't see race, colour, or stereotype. It doesn't prejudge a dentist's skill based on their skin. With AI supporting diagnostics and treatment planning, patients receive efficient, top‑tier care from qualified dentists like my grandpa without the bias that once stood in the way. And dentists themselves can feel less pressure to prove they belong, because the technology helps level the playing field. 

My smile is one of the biggest parts of who I am. I was even voted "Best Smile" in my senior class. But it wasn't always that way. I used to be insecure about my teeth, and honestly, sometimes about my skin color too. With the help of compassionate dentists, I learned what products and treatments worked for me, and I gained confidence I didn't know I could have. 

I believe AI will help even more people, from more places, with more backgrounds feel proud to show off their pearly whites just like I do. Whether someone is insecure about their smile or unsure if they belong in a dental office, AI can help create a world where people like me, and people like my grandfather, feel seen, supported, and capable of thriving. I know he's smiling down at me. 

Artificial intelligence is now integrated into our lives and rapidly changing workplaces across industries. With dentistry, it is improving accuracy, efficiency, access to care, and patient outcomes. While it doesn’t replace dentists, it increasingly serves as a powerful clinical andadministrative assistant. AI can analyze dental X-rays, digital scans, and patient records to help identify any problems that traditional machines can’t detect. It also assists with treatment planning, orthodontic procedures, and technologies such as Invisalign by creating precise digital models of the patients’ teeth. In addition, AI can automate administration tasks, including appointment scheduling, documentation, and insurance processing, allowing dental professionals to spend more time on patient care. As technology continues to advance, AI is
helping make dental care more accurate, efficient, and accessible for patients.

My own dental journey shows why better diagnostic tools are important. I had crowded spacing and an overbite. I had to wear a palate expander, braces, and retainers over several years of orthodontic treatment to correct my bite. However, the most difficult thing I faced was in 2015 on a long weekend. The right side of my face became very swollen near my cheek. The dentist’s office was closed. My mom consulted with my dentist over the telephone and was unsure of the cause and initially prescribed antibiotics to bring down the swelling until they could see me when their office opened, but my condition did not improve. I was eventually sent to BC Children’s Hospital. A resident dentist examined me and consulted the on-call dentist, who happened to be my dentist that weekend.

They couldn’t detect any abnormalities in the X-ray, but we knew that a tooth was causing me to have a fever and swelling. They decided to remove a tooth, but there was a slim chance that it was the affected tooth. When the tooth came out, there was a black speck; the cavity was
growing horizontally instead of vertically, which made it extremely difficult to see in the X-rays. The resident dentist later explained that the cavity’s unusual growth pattern made it an exceptionally rare case. She brought the case to her school for study and discussion because it
was something most dentists may never encounter in their careers.

Looking back, experiences like this highlight the potential benefits for artificial intelligence to be utilized in dentistry. Advanced AI systems can analyze X-rays and other scans in ways to help identify subtle patterns that are difficult for the human eye to detect. It would help orthodontists create more accurate scans and treatment plans for Invisalign, a treatment that is becoming increasingly popular. AI can analyze digital scans of a patient’s teeth, predict tooth movement more precisely, and help design aligners that fit better and produce more effective results.