ChatGPT in orthodontics: limitations and possibilities

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) simulates human intelligence in machines capable of rational response and actions. AI’s growth in healthcare, particularly in dentistry, has been remarkable in aiding clinical practices from appointment scheduling to treatment outcome predictions. In orthodontics, AI effectively handles tasks such as automated landmark detection, diagnosing orthodontic needs, assessing maxillary constriction, and selecting appliances. ChatGPT, an AI-based program by OpenAI, excels in generating human-like responses, making it useful across many applications, including those in dentistry. AI enhances personalised patient communication, supports diagnosis and decision-making, digitises patient data, and aids in disease prevention and treatment. In addition, ChatGPT offers support in personalised care, billing, and patient health monitoring. Patients benefit from its help in finding providers, scheduling initial appointments, accessing health information, improving healthcare access and service effectiveness. However, there are limitations. ChatGPT sometimes produces nonsensical responses and poses privacy risks associated with patient data. Generated medical advice might not therefore match professional expertise. Despite these issues, if trained properly, ChatGPT could significantly enhance medical knowledge dissemination. Future studies should weigh the benefits of AI against its risks, and users must verify AI-generated information with reliable sources to ensure effective patient care.