King's College London

Caused by acid exposure alongside everyday actions such as grinding or brushing, erosive tooth wear gradually wears down tooth enamel and affects up to 40% of adults.

The consequences can be serious. Patients can experience significant pain and sensitivity, struggle to use their teeth properly, and face complex and costly dental treatment. Visible damage can also affect appearance and confidence.

Researchers now believe artificial intelligence could help improve detection and management of the condition, identifying early signs of damage and supporting more timely, targeted care. A new study in press for the Journal of Dentistry examined 61 adults and analysed 1,600 teeth. It compared traditional dental checks with 3D digital scans and AI analysis.

More accurate detection and consistent results

Digital scans and AI identified more cases of significant tooth wear than routine exams (37% vs 22.3%). This suggests they can pick up early changes that are harder to see during a standard check-up.

AI showed perfect consistency, producing the same result every time it analysed a scan. By contrast, dentists’ assessments varied, with only moderate agreement between different clinicians although consistency improved when the same clinician repeated their own evaluations.

AI also performed well in identifying dentine exposure, a sign of more advanced damage.

Powerful tools, supporting dentists

The researchers emphasise that AI is designed to support dentists, not replace them.

“AI doesn’t replace clinical expertise, but it strengthens it by adding a level of objectivity and consistency that can ultimately improve patient care,” said lead author, Dr Saoirse O’Toole.

“These are powerful new tools that can spot subtle changes that might be missed by the human eye. They have the potential to become a new standard for assessing tooth wear.”

The study was funded by 3Shape.