In the dental operatory as well as in life, a picture can often convey an idea much better than words alone. That's what makes the visual information provided by digital imaging and scanning so valuable to dental professionals, especially those working most closely with patients. Radiographs, data from 3D scanners and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and photographs taken with intraoral cameras are valuable tools that can help provide a more informed diagnosis as well as better educate patients about their oral health. New AI-driven diagnostic tools can enhance imaging and scanning capabilities even further.
There are many ways that imaging and scanning can enable dental hygienists to provide better and more comprehensive patient-centered care. "Imaging and scanning technologies offer a comprehensive view of a patient's oral health, allowing hygienists to customize treatment plans to meet individual needs," says clinician and an educator Carissa Regnerus, RDH, MA, FADHA, associate professor in the Department of Dental Hygiene at University of South Dakota. "CBCT scanning provides 3D images, enabling dental professionals to identify and highlight potential issues with oral structures. Digital images provide precise data that can be easily shared with patients, helping them understand their oral health status. Additionally, digital files can be effortlessly shared with other healthcare professionals, enhancing coordination and comprehensive care planning when a patient needs a referral."
For Regnerus, who has been a dental hygienist for over 25 years and who has served as the District VII Director for the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) for the past 4 years and is a fellow of the ADHA, advanced imaging data elevates the level of care hygienists can offer.
"Digital scanners significantly reduce errors and save time for both hygienists and patients, who particularly appreciate avoiding the discomfort of traditional impression materials and bulky trays," Regnerus says. "AI is beginning to significantly advance dentistry by improving the efficiency and accuracy of oral health assessments, minimizing the subjectivity in patient classification, and giving hygienists more time to focus on patient care. By utilizing these advanced technologies, dental hygienists can enhance the quality of care they provide, ensuring it is comprehensive and centered around the patient's needs and preferences."
Educating Patients and Monitoring Their Progress
Hygienist and educator Melia Lewis, MEd, RDH , an adjunct faculty member at Colorado Northwestern Community College, says imaging and scanning tools, especially intraoral cameras, are especially useful when it comes to educating patients about treatments they need as well as coaching them on home care.
"We all know that a picture is worth a thousand words," Lewis says. "Having something a little bit more tangible than an x-ray can solidify what's happening with a patient's health. After all, I can talk to a patient forever about an infected area or a cracked tooth, but the second they can actually see it, especially from a great angle, it highlights how important it is."
For Lewis, who has been a dental hygienist for 15 years and whose website, Hygiene Edge, offers educational information and videos to dental hygienists, letting a patient see what is happening makes a tremendous difference.
"I use this type of technology as a great education tool," Lewis says. "People love images, especially in this world we live in now. We're all very visual, and we're on our phones all the time. We love to see things, so it's such a great tool to teach patients."
Lewis says images are also helpful for record keeping and for tracking a patient's progress over time. "If a patient doesn't want to proceed with treatment or wants to wait, you can track things better with pictures instead of notes or just hoping that you'll remember," she says. "We can assess so many things with scans, for anything that might be shifting like inflammation or biofilm. It gives a general look at your patient's health for that day."
Lewis says advanced imaging capabilities can have a big impact on day-to-day care. "The scans are so beautiful now," she says. "They look so amazing, and just the visual of having that as a provider is helpful as well. And when it comes to educating patients, when they see something with their own eyes, it helps them realize what's going on. They can really see the benefits of treatment or of changing their home care."
Using AI to Further Enhance Care
With AI tools being incorporated into many imaging software systems, the level of care can be advanced even further. "Advanced imaging can help predict potential issues, allowing for preventive measures to be taken before oral health problems become severe," Regnerus says. "These tools provide instant feedback, enabling clinicians to know immediately whether imaging retakes are necessary, saving time. Enhancing and enlarging digital images makes it easier for patients to see areas of concern. AI tools highlight issues such as decay, bone loss, and calculus (tartar) buildup, making it easier for patients to identify their areas of concern. This helps build trust, as patients can clearly see the findings without questioning their providers' ability to interpret assessments."
Another advantage of AI tools is the impartiality that the technology offers. "In a world where trust between patients and providers can be challenging, AI tools offer an unbiased diagnostic image, providing a much-needed solution," Regnerus says.
Lewis says AI is helpful as a tool but cautions that it is ultimately the providers who must rely on their own knowledge, skill, and training. "AI is very interesting," Lewis says. "As a guide, it is helpful. If we're looking at radiographs all day every day, we're totally going to miss things. We're humans, so it's nice to have something highlighted on the radiograph, which might confirm or not confirm things we are seeing."
Lewis says that in her own clinical work she sometimes uses AI as a second opinion, to help solidify a treatment plan, or to just "button up" something she might be thinking of or questioning. "Just the other day I had a patient who hadn't come in for a long time whose bone looked OK on the radiograph, but I was questioning it myself. I pulled up the AI, which confirmed what I was feeling about the treatment plan," she says.
Lewis reminds fellow hygienists to not rely on AI too much. "Sometimes AI will over-diagnose," she says. It's therefore always important, she says, to ultimately rely on the provider's expertise rather than relying on AI for all treatment plans. "We can definitely utilize AI," she says. "It is not perfect and there's definitely a learning curve, but it's nice to have this extra measure as part of what we do every day."
Regnerus says she is optimistic that AI will become even more useful in the future. "I'm genuinely excited about the capabilities that AI brings to dentistry," she says. "These technologies have the potential to greatly enhance our diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. However, it's important to dispel the myth that devices are replacing humans. AI and other advanced technologies are designed to complement our work, not replace it. They support us in our very humanistic role as healthcare professionals, allowing us to provide even better care to our patients."
Empowering clinicians and their patients
The bottom line, the experts say, is that advanced diagnostic imaging technology is transforming the ability of hygienists to provide top-level care, not only improving outcomes for patients but also strengthening hygienist-patient relationships.
"These devices capture high-resolution images of the teeth and gums, enabling hygienists to identify early signs of decay, gum disease, and other oral health issues that might be missed during a visual exam," Regnerus says. "Dental hygienists are prevention specialists, with patient education at the heart of our daily work. While we aim to build trusting relationships and partner with patients to address oral health issues, sometimes seeing is believing. Digital x-rays and intraoral cameras enable patients to identify diseases and view areas of their mouth that would otherwise be difficult to see and understand without this technology."
Lewis says visual tools are beneficial not only for hygienists, but for patients as well. "It is empowering because you visibly see a lot of progress with your patients," Lewis says. "We have a tangible thing that shows improvements in health, and that's empowering and fun as a provider, to know your patient is getting healthier. You're part of that process, and your patient is ultimately healthier and happier."
